The trouble is, replied Rod, looking first at Conductor Tobin and then at Brakeman Joe, that I dont know all about it myself. Nobody does except the fellow who just left here in such a hurry, and Smiler, who cant tell.
Here the dog, hearing his name mentioned, dragged himself rather stiffly to the boys side; for now that the excitement was over, his hurts began to be painful again, and licked his face.
SMILER DRIVES OFF THE TRAMP.(PAGE41.)
Well, you must be one of the right sort, at any rate, said Conductor Tobin, noting this movement, for Smiler is a dog that doesnt make friends except with them as are.
He knows whats what, and whos who, added Brakeman Joe, nodding his head. Dont you, Smiler, old dog?
My name, continued the boy, is R. R. Blake.
Railroad Blake? interrupted Conductor Tobin inquiringly.
Or Runaway Blake? asked Brakeman Joe who, still somewhat suspicious, was studying the boys face and the M. I. P. bag attached to his shoulders.
Both, answered Rod, with a smile. The boys where I live, or rather where I did live, often call me Railroad Blake, and I am a runaway. That is, I was turned away first, and ran away afterwards.
Then, as briefly as possible, he gave them the whole history of his adventures, beginning with the bicycle race, and ending with the disappearance of the young tramp through the rear door of the caboose in which they sat. Both men listened with the deepest attention, and without interrupting him save by occasional ejaculations, expressive of wonder and sympathy.
Well, Ill be blowed! exclaimed Conductor Tobin, when he had finished; while Brakeman Joe, without a word, went to the rear door and examined the platform, with the hope, as he afterwards explained, of finding there the fellow who had kicked Smiler off the train, and of having a chance to serve him in the same way. Coming back with a disappointed air, he proceeded to light a fire in the little round caboose stove, and prepare a pot of coffee for supper, leaving Rodmans case to be managed by Conductor Tobin as he thought best.
The latter told the boy that the young tramp, as they called him, was billed through to New York, to look after some cattle that were on the train; but that he was a worthless, ugly fellow, who had not paid the slightest attention to them, and whose only object in accepting the job was evidently to obtain a free ride in the caboose. Smiler, whom he had been delighted to find on the train when it was turned over to him, had taken a great dislike to the fellow from the first. He had growled and shown his teeth whenever the tramp moved about the car, and several times the latter had threatened to teach him better manners. When he and Brakeman Joe went to the forward end of the train, to make ready for side-tracking it, they left the dog sitting on the rear platform of the caboose, and the tramp apparently asleep, as Rod had found him, on one of the lockers. He must have taken advantage of their absence to deal the dog the cruel kick that cut his ear, and landed him, stunned and bruised, on the track where he had been discovered.
Im glad hes gone, concluded Conductor Tobin, for if he hadnt left, we would have fired him for what he did to Smiler. We wont have that dog hurt on this road, not if we know it. It wont hurt him to have to walk to New York, and I dont care if he never gets there. What worries me, though, is wholl look after those cattle, and go down to the stock-yard with them, now that hes gone.
Why couldnt I do it? asked Rod eagerly. Id be glad to.
You! said Conductor Tobin incredulously. Why, you look like too much of a gentleman to be handling cattle.
I hope I am a gentleman, answered the boy with a smile; but I am a very poverty-stricken one just at present, and if I can earn a ride to the city, just by looking after some cattle, I dont know why I shouldnt do that as well as anything else. What I would like to do though, most of all things, is to live up to my nickname, and become a railroad man.
You would, would you? said Conductor Tobin. Then, as though he were propounding a conundrum, he asked: Do you know the difference between a railroad man and a chap who wants to be one?
I dont know that I do, answered the boy.
Well, the difference is, that the latter gets what he deserves, and the former deserves what he gets. What I mean is, that almost anybody who is willing to take whatever job is offered him can get a position on a railroad; but before he gets promoted he will have to deserve it several times over. In other words, it takes more honesty, steadiness, faithfulness, hard work, and brains to work your way up in railroad life than in any other business that I know of. However, at present, you are only going along with me as stockman, in which position I am glad to have you, so we wont stop now to discuss railroading. Lets see what Joe has got for supper, for Im hungry and I shouldnt be surprised if you were.
Indeed Rod was hungry, and just at that moment the word supper was the most welcome of the whole English language. First, though, he went to the wash-basin that he noticed at the forward end of the car. There he bathed his face and hands, brushed his hair, restored his clothing to something like order, and altogether made himself so presentable, that Conductor Tobin laughed when he saw him, and declared that he looked less like a stockman than ever.
How good that supper, taken from the mammoth lunch pails of the train crew, tasted, and what delicious coffee came steaming out of the smoke-blackened pot that Brakeman Joe lifted so carefully from the stove! To be sure it had to be taken without milk, but there was plenty of sugar, and when Rod passed his tin cup for a second helping, the coffee makers face fairly beamed with gratified pride.
After these three and Smiler had finished their supper, Conductor Tobin lighted his pipe, and, climbing up into the cupola of the caboose, stretched himself comfortably on the cushioned seat arranged there for his especial accommodation. From here, through the windows ahead, behind, and on both sides of the cupola, he had an unobstructed view out into the night. Brakeman Joe went out over the tops of the cars to call in the other two brakeman of the train, and keep watch for them, while they went into the caboose and ate their supper. They looked curiously at Rod as they entered the car; but were too well used to seeing strangers riding there to ask any questions. They both spoke to Smiler though, and he wagged his tail as though recognizing old friends.
The dog could not go to them and jump up to be petted because Rod was attending to his wounds. He carefully bathed the cut under the left ear, from which considerable blood had flowed, and drew its edges together with some sticking plaster, of which he always carried a small quantity in his M. I. P. bag. Then, finding one of the dogs fore shoulders strained and swollen, he soaked it for some time in water as hot as the animal could bear. After arranging a comfortable bed in one corner of the car, he finally persuaded Smiler to lie there quietly, though not until he had submitted to a grateful licking of his face and hands.
Next the boy turned his attention to the supper dishes, and had them very nearly washed and wiped when Brakeman Joe returned, greatly to that stalwart fellows surprise and delight; for Joe hated to wash dishes. By this time Rod had been nearly two hours on the train, and was so thoroughly tired that he concluded to lie down and rest until he should be wanted for something else. He did not mean to even close his eyes, but within three minutes he was fast asleep. All through the night he slept, while the long freight train, stopping only now and then for water, or to allow some faster train to pass it, rumbled heavily along toward the great city.