re you." And, in spite of all remonstrances, he prepared
to set out on his delicate and dangerous mission.

"What's your plan?" asked Friend Othniel, immensely interested now there
was a chance of an adventure.

"I'm going to crawl along in the dry ditch beside the railroad track
till I get up to the station, and then trust to luck. I used to be able
to do a hundred yards in pretty decent time in my Oxford days, and if I
can get into the refreshment-room without being seen, I don't think
they'll catch me."

"Well, good luck to yer," said the tramp, "and if yer should come across
a hunk of pumpkin pie, don't forget your friend Othniel."

Banborough slipped off his overcoat, and donning a pair of heavy dogskin
gloves, the property of the driver of the Black Maria, which the tramp
produced, he watched his opportunity when no one was in sight at the
station, and, cautioning the rest of the party not to betray by their
actions that anything unusual was going on, stole across the open field
and, dropping into the shallow ditch, began his perilous journey.

Within three feet of the edge of the platform all means of concealment
ceased; but feeling that a bold course was the only one which gave any
hope of success, Cecil rose quickly, and, slipping across the exposed
place in an instant, glided into the great woodshed which in that part
of the world, where coal is expensive, forms an important adjunct to
every station. He felt himself practically secure here, as no one was
likely to come for logs so early in the morning; and after waiting for a
few moments to make certain that his presence had not been discovered,
he threw himself down on his face, and, crawling noiselessly on
all-fours across the twenty feet of open platform which intervened
between the woodshed and the main building, achieved the precarious
shelter afforded by the side wall of the house. He then wormed himself
forward till he was close to the front corner; and here his patient
efforts were at last rewarded, for he heard a few scraps of a
conversation which, had he been in a less dangerous position, would have
afforded him infinite amusement.

"I tell you what it is," came the strident voice of the station-master.
"It ain't no mortal manner of use. Why, they spotted me to onct; said
how was they to know I drawed the line correct."

"Ha!" said one of the policemen. "Couldn't you go out and dicker with
them some more?"

"Nope," rejoined the other shortly