"
Picking up the bar, Billie inserted the claw under one of the
wheels while Adrian stood with his hand on the car rail ready to
spring aboard.
At the first attempt the claw slipped and nothing happened, but
at the second attempt the wheels yielded a little.
"This time she'll go," Billie called. "All aboard!"
Adrian sprang onto the car as Billie bore down upon the bar and
the wheels began to revolve.
"Never mind the bar," cried Adrian as he saw that Billie was
raising the implement to throw it onto the platform. "Jump
aboard!"
Billie started to obey, but the advice came too late. As he
dropped the bar it struck one end of a tie, flopped over and hit
him on the shin.
"Wow!" he yelled, grabbing his ankle with both hands.
"Never mind your leg," shouted Adrian. "Jump on or you'll be
left."
Billie tried to obey, but the car was now under headway and
although he sprinted his best, he was soon left behind.
Adrian started to jump off the car, but seeing his intention
Billie called to him not to do it.
"I'll get there some time," he called. "Just tell them I'm
coming," and he stood in the middle of the track looking ruefully
after the rapidly disappearing car.
After some moments he picked up the claw-bar and threw it
spitefully into the ditch beside the track, as much as to say,
"Lay there! You're the cause of all the trouble.
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