not think of breakfast this morning. His experience of the
night before seemed to have taken away his appetite entirely, and his
only thought was to walk as fast as possible, so that he could reach the
city soon. About nine o'clock he entered the outskirts of a busy town,
and while there he observed that the railroad going to the city passed
through the place. All at once a new idea occurred to him. He had so
often heard men and boys tell of how they had stolen a ride from one
town to another. Why shouldn't he be able to get a ride on a freight
train to the city. Would it be wrong? Archie thought not, since so
many men did it. And anyhow it didn't seem a wicked thing to cheat the
railroad. He had heard people say that the company ought to be cheated
whenever possible, since it cheated so many others. So, from being so
tired and so anxious to reach New York, Archie decided to try and steal
a ride. He entered the yards, where a train was being made up for the
south, and there he saw a cattle-car with an open door. He immediately
jumped inside and shut the door, squeezing himself into the farthest
corner, hoping that he wouldn't be discovered. He soon found that he
wasn't alone, for a couple of tramps were in the opposite corner, and
they whispered to him not to make any noise. "The brakie," they said,
"will soon be 'round, and if he finds ye he'll put us all in jail."

Poor Archie grew pale at the thought of being put in jail, and huddled
himself closer in the corner. After a time the train started, and the
tramps, he noticed, climbed up into some sort of compartment under the
roof of the car, where they wouldn't be observed, leaving Archie alone
down-stairs. Things went smoothly for a time. The train went flying
along, and Archie counted every mile which brought him nearer to the
city. Finally the train pulled up at a crossing, and a brakeman came
along and threw open the door of the car. He was not long in discovering
the cowering figure in the corner, and his wrath was dreadful to look
upon. "So, ye cussed vagabond," he growled, "ye thought ye'd steal a
ride, did ye? Get out o' this now. Quick, out with ye." Archie could
have fainted, and, as it was, he almost fell out of the car, propelled
by the brakeman's boot. For awhile he stood dazed beside the track, and
finally moved on. "I'll keep a 'stiff upper lip,'" he said, "whatever
happens." But this was by far the most discouraging adventure yet.

CHAPTER VII.