of the freight train had momentarily forgotten the presence of his
youthful charge, and when at last he did remember, it was with the
supposition that he had remained in the cab with the engineer.

Accordingly, upon receipt of orders to proceed, Hosmer decided to let
Bob ride longer in the cab, and shouted to his men to get aboard, waving
his arm in the "go ahead" signal to the engineer.

But Bob had heard the shouts, and divining their meaning, jumped to the
track, having no relish for riding farther in his dangerous position
between the cars.

Fortunately, both the engineer and conductor saw the boy, as he leaped
to the ground, and the signal to start was not obeyed.

Recovering his balance, Bob ran toward Hosmer.

As he drew near enough for the conductor to see his white, excited face,
he exclaimed:

"Where have you been? I thought you were in the cab with Barney."

"I--I tried to go back over the cars," stammered Bob.

"Barney shouldn't have let you. It's too dangerous for a greenhorn."

Wincing at the words, which slipped out unconsciously as the conductor
thought of what might have happened to the boy, Bob hastened to defend
the engineer by saying:

"Mr. Barney didn't know I was going. I wanted to surprise you by showing
you I could go back without your help. And--and then the train started,
and I had to hang on to a coal car."

"Well, so long as you didn't get hurt, it's all right. But don't try it
again. Now, run back and climb into the caboose. Let's see how quick you
can do it."

The last was a diplomatic means to make the boy hurry, for the conductor
was anxious to start the train, yet would not until he saw his charge
safe in the caboose.

And his ruse was successful, for Bob, eager to show his speed, raced
down the track and quickly swung aboard.

Smiling, Hosmer again signalled to Barney, the train started, and as
the last car reached him, the conductor climbed on.

"Have any trouble when we started?" one of the brakemen was asking Bob
as Hosmer entered the car.

"Pretty near. I was just crossing from a high to a low car, when the
jerk came. But I managed to hang on."

"Good boy," chorused the train crew, all of whom realized too well the
danger to which the boy had been subjected.

"But when we stopped on the siding, why didn't you get down?" asked the
conductor.

"Because I was listening," announced Bob with a manner of mystery that
would have been droll were his face not so seri