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Teddy Tucker was not on board。 Then the lad went through the train in
the hope that his panion had gotten on the wrong car。 There was no
trace of Teddy。
In the meantime Teddy had slowly clambered to the roof of the stock
car； where he stretched himself out； clinging to the running board； with the
big car swaying beneath him。 The wind seemed； up there； to be blowing
a perfect gale； and it was all the boy could do to hold on。 After a while
he saw a light approaching him。 The light was in the hands of a
brakeman who was working his way over the train toward the caboose。
He soon came up to where Teddy was lying。 There he stopped。
〃Well； youngster； what are you doing here？〃 he demanded； flashing his
light into the face of the unfortable Teddy。
〃Trying to ride。〃
〃I suppose you know you are breaking the law and that I'll have to turn
you over to a policeman or a constable the next town we stop at？〃
〃Nothing of the sort！ What do you take me for？ Think I'm some
kind of tramp？〃 objected the lad。 〃Go on and let me alone。〃
The brakeman looked closer。 He observed that the boy was soaking
wet； but that； despite this； he was well dressed。
〃What are you； if not a tramp？〃
〃I'm with the show。〃
The brakeman laughed long and loud； but Teddy was more interested
in the man's easy poise on the swaying car than in what he said。
〃Wish I could do that；〃 muttered the lad admiringly。
〃What's that？〃
〃Nothing； only I was thinking out loud。〃
〃Well； you'll get off at the next stop unless you can prove that you
belong here。〃
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
〃I won't；〃 protested Teddy stubbornly。
〃We'll see about that。 e down here on the flat car behind this one；
and we'll find out。 I see some of the show people there。 Besides； you're
liable to fall off here and get killed。 e along。〃
〃I can't。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃I'll fall off if I try to get up。〃
〃And you a showman？〃 laughed the brakeman satirically； at the same
time grabbing Teddy by the coat collar and jerking him to his feet。
The trainman did not appear to mind the giddy swaying of the stock
car。 He permitted Teddy to walk on the running board while he himself
stepped carelessly along on the sloping roof of the car； though not relaxing
his grip on the collar of Teddy Tucker。
Bidding the boy to hang to the brake wheel； the brakeman began
climbing down the end ladder； so as to catch Teddy in case he were to fall。
After him came the Circus Boy； cautiously picking his way down the
ladder。
〃Any of you fellows know this kid？〃 demanded the trainman； flashing
his lantern into Teddy's face。 〃He says he's with the show。〃
〃Put him off！〃 howled one of the roustabouts who had been sleeping
on the flat car under a cage。 〃Never saw him before。〃
〃You sit down there； young man。 Next stop； off you go；〃 announced
the brakeman sternly。
〃I'll bet you I don't；〃 retorted Teddy Tucker aggressively。
〃We'll see about that。〃
〃Quit your music； we want to go to sleep；〃 growled a showman surlily。
The brakeman put down his lantern and seated himself on the side of
the flat car。 He did not propose to leave the boy until he had seen him
safely off the train。
〃How'd you get wet？〃 questioned Tucker's captor。
〃Some fellows ducked me。〃
The trainman roared； which once more aroused the ire of the
roustabouts who were trying to sleep。
They had gone on for an hour； when finally the train slowed down。
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
〃Here's where you hit the ties；〃 advised the brakeman； peering ahead。
〃Where are we？〃
〃McQueen's siding。 We stop here to let an express by。 And I want
to tell you that it won't be healthy for you if I catch you on this train again。
Now； get off！〃
Teddy making no move to obey； the railroad man gently but firmly
assisted him over the side of the car； dropping him down the embankment
by the side of the track。
〃I'll make you pay for this if I ever catch you again；〃 threatened Teddy
from the bottom of the bank； as he scrambled to his feet。
Observing that the trainman was holding his light over the side of the
car and peering down at him； Teddy ran along on all fours until he was out
of sight of the brakeman； then he straightened up and ran toward the rear
of the train as fast as his feet would carry him； while the railroad man
began climbing over the cars again； headed for the caboose at the rear。
Teddy had gained the rear of the train by this time； but he did not show
himself just yet。 He waited until the flagman had e in； and until the
fellow who had put him off had disappeared in the caboose。
At that； Teddy sprang up； and； swinging to the platform of the caboose；
quickly climbed the iron ladder that led to the roof of the little boxlike car。
He had no sooner flattened himself on the roof than the train began to
move again。
Only one more stop was made during the night and that for water。 Just
before daylight they rumbled into the yards at Atlantic City； and Teddy
scrambled from his unsteady perch； quickly clambering down so as to be
out of the way before the trainmen should discover his presence。
But quickly as he had acted； he had not been quick enough。 The
trainman who had put him off down the line collared the lad the minute his
feet touched the platform of the caboose。
〃You here again？〃 he demanded sternly。
Teddy grinned sheepishly。
〃I told you you couldn't put me off。〃
〃We'll see about that。 Here； officer。〃 He beckoned to a policeman。
〃This kid has been stealing a ride。 I put him off once。 I turn him over
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to you now。〃
〃All right。 Young man； you e with me！〃
Teddy protested indignantly； but the officer； with a firm grip on his
arm； dragged the lad along with him。 They proceeded on up the tracks
toward the station； the lad insisting that he was with the show and that he
had a right to ride wherever he pleased。