"Eleven?The sleepers have all gone, young man." "G-g-gone?""Yes."
"But I thought--"
"Went out regular on the 9:30 express."
Teddy groaned.Here he was, left behind before the show had all gotten away from its winter quarters.But he noted that the train bearing the cages and other equipment was still in the yard.There was yet a chance for him.
"Wha--what time does that train go?" he asked pointing to the last section.
"Going now.Why, what's the matter with you youngster? The train is moving now.""Going? The matter is that I've got to go with them," cried the lad, suddenly darting toward the moving train.
"Come back here!Come back!Do you want to be killed?""I've got to get on that train!" Teddy shouted back at the superintendent.
The great stock cars were rumbling by as the boy drew near the track, going faster every moment.By the light of a switch lamp Teddy could make out a ladder running up to the roof of one of the box cars.
He could hear the yard superintendent running toward him shouting."He'll have me, if I don't do something.Then I will be wholly left,"decided Teddy."I'm going to try it."
As the big stock car slipped past him the lad sprang up into the air, his eyes fixed on the ladder.His circus training came in handy here, for Teddy hit the mark unerringly, though it had been considerably above his head.The next second his fingers closed over a rung of the ladder, andthere he hung, dangling in the air, with the train now rushing over switches, rapidly gaining momentum as it stretched out headed for the open country.