Doctor, as he withdrew, "he
ain't in there. There's nothing under any of the seats. Your boy'll be
comin' on by the next train, most likely--the 8.40. We're all behind.
Right!"

"Good night, sir," said the first passenger as he leant out of the
window, to the baffled schoolmaster on the platform. "You've put us to
all this inconvenience for nothing, and in the most offensive way too. I
hope you won't find your boy till you're in a better temper, for his
sake."

"If I had you out on this platform, sir," shouted the angry Doctor, "I'd
horsewhip you for that insult. I believe the boy's there and you know
it. I----"

But the train swept off and, to Paul's joy and thankfulness, soon left
the Doctor, gesticulating and threatening, miles behind it.

"What a violent fellow for a schoolmaster, eh?" said one of Paul's
companions, when they were fairly off again. "I wasn't going to have him
turning the cushions inside out here; we shouldn't have settled down
again before we got in!"

"No; and if the guard hasn't, as it is, injured that Indian shawl in my
parcel, I shall be---- Why, bless my soul, that parcel's not under the
seat after all! It's up in the rack. I remember putting it there now."

"The guard must have fancied he felt something; and yet---- Look here,
Goldicutt; just feel under here with your feet. It certainly does seem
as if something soft was--eh?"

Mr. Goldicutt accordingly explored Paul's ribs with his boot for some
moments, which was very painful.

"Upon my word," he said at last, "it really does seem very like it. It's
not hard enough for a bag or a hat-box. It yields distinctly when you
kick it. Can you fetch it out with your umbrella, do you think? Shall we
tell the guard at the next----? Lord, it's coming out of its own accord.
It's a dog! No, my stars--it's the boy, after all!"

For Paul, alarmed at the suggestion about the guard, once more felt
inclined to risk the worst and reveal himself. Begrimed with coal,
smeared with whitewash, and covered with dust and flue, he crawled
slowly out and gazed imploringly up at his fellow-passengers.

After the first shock of surprise they lay back in their seats and
laughed till they cried.

"Why, you young rascal!" they said, when they recovered breath, "you
don't mean to say you've been under there the whole time?"

"I have indeed," said Paul. "I--I didn't like to come out before."

"And are you the boy all this fuss was about? Yes? And we kept the