Page:Ralph on the Railroad.djvu/870

46 Fairbanks, I don't know who that fellow Wheels is, but I'd be interested and proud to make his acquaintance. Now steam up and air brake ready, while we pass the crossing!"

"Passing the crossing," as Clark designated it, proved, however, to be no difficult proceeding. The crowd of hoodlums had got a set-back from the boy with the piston-rod arm, it seemed. They scanned Ralph and Clark keenly as they passed by, but made no attempt to either hail or halt them.

"We've run the gauntlet this time," remarked Clark. "Hello—four times!"

The vigilant companion of the young engineer was glancing over his shoulder as he made this sudden and forcible remark.

"Four times what?" inquired Ralph.

"That fireman of yours."

"Mr. Fogg?"

"Yes."

"What about him?"

"Say," replied Clark, edging close to Ralph, "just take a careless backward look, will you? About half the square down on the opposite side of the street you'll see Fogg."

"Why such caution and mystery?" propounded Ralph.

"I'll tell you later. See him?" inquired Clark,