Part 8 (1/2)
”Well, I'll go the next time,” was the answer, with a smile.
In another five minutes the boys and girls and Dunston Porter were off for the depot, the others waving their hands as the travelers disappeared. Tears came to Mrs. Wadsworth's eyes, at the parting with Jessie, yet she did her best to smile.
”We'll be back in six weeks!” called out Dave. ”And as brown as berries and as strong as oxen!” And this caused everybody to laugh. Little did any of them realize what adventures those six weeks were to contain.
The train for Buffalo was on time, and when it rolled into the station they climbed on board, and the boys found the right seats in the parlor car and settled the girls. Ben was there, and had a seat with the crowd.
”I've got news,” said Ben, as the train went on its way. ”Nat Poole isn't back yet.”
”Who told you?”
”Tom Marvin. He called this morning to see Nat about something. Nat had sent a telegram home from a place called Halock, stating he had been carried off on a freight train.”
”Humph! then he went further than we supposed he would,” mused Phil.
”Where is Halock?”
n.o.body knew, and they consulted a time-table taken from a rack in the car.
”It's a flag-station not far from Buffalo,” announced Roger. ”Say, he certainly was carried some distance!”
”What if he didn't have any money to get home with?” asked Laura.
”Maybe he telegraphed for some,” said Phil.
”He could p.a.w.n his watch--he always wears one,” added Ben. ”But it is queer that he didn't get off at Jack's Junction.”
”Perhaps he liked to ride--after he once got used to it,” returned the senator's son.
On and on went the train, stopping at several towns of more or less importance. The girls and boys amused themselves studying the time-table and in gazing out of the window, and Dunston Porter told them of some of his experiences while roving in various portions of the globe, for, as my old readers are aware, he was a great traveler. At noon they went into the dining-car for lunch, and Dave and Roger sat at one table with Laura and Jessie opposite to them.
”Say, this puts me in mind of a story, as Shadow Hamilton would say,”
said the senator's son, as the train rushed along while they ate. ”A little girl had a sandwich on a train like this, once, and then boasted afterwards that she had eaten a sandwich three miles long.”
”Well, I think I'll eat some roast beef ten miles long,” said Dave. ”And two miles of apple pie to boot!” And this caused the girls to giggle.
They reached Buffalo in the middle of the afternoon and there had to wait until half-past ten for the night express to Chicago. Here Ben left them, for the boat he was to take was waiting at the dock.
”Send me a letter to Duluth,” he said, on parting, and Dave promised to do so.
”I'll tell you what we might do,” said Dunston Porter. ”We can take a trolley trip to Niagara Falls and come back on a train. We have plenty of time.”
”Oh, yes, I'd like to see Niagara!” cried Jessie, clapping her hands.
The others all voted the suggestion a good one, and soon, having checked their baggage at the depot, they boarded a trolley car bound for the Falls.
”We can look at the Falls for an hour, get supper, and still have time in which to return to Buffalo,” said Mr. Porter. ”When we get there we can get a carriage to drive us around.”
The trolley car made good time and it was still daylight when Niagara was reached. Hackmen were numerous, and Dunston Porter soon engaged a turnout to take them around Goat Island and other points of interest.