at the handle of the door; but the sash
worked stiffly, and before he succeeded in making it drop, the train had
run the length of the platform, and the station was left behind.

The four boys gazed at one another for a moment in blank astonishment,
and then burst into a simultaneous roar of laughter.

"You'll have to go as far as Chatton now," said Carton. "Never mind; you
can get back by the next train."

"Yes; but the question is if we've got any money," answered Jack Vance
ruefully. "It's fourpence the single journey, so the fare there and
back for three of us'll be two bob. Here's threepence; that's all the
tin I'm worth.--what have you got, Diggy?"

"Four halfpenny stamps, and half a frank on my watch-chain," was the
reply. "But I don't think these railway Johnnies 'ud take either of
those."

On examination, the only articles of value Mugford's pockets were found
to contain were an aluminium pencil-case which wouldn't work, and a
dirty scrap of indiarubber.

"Look here," cried Carton, "I'll give you two shillings. It's my fault;
and I've got something over from my journey-money."

The offer was gladly accepted, and at length, when the train reached
Chatton, the three chums wished their companion good-bye, laughing
heartily over their unexpected journey.

"What time's the next train back to Ronleigh?" asked Jack, as he paid
the money for their fare to the ticket-collector.

"Let's see," answered the official: "next train to Ronleigh--5.47."

Jack's face fell. "Isn't there any train before that?" he asked.
"We've got to be back at the school by half-past five."

"Can't help that," returned the man; "next train from here to Ronleigh's
5.47. And," he added, encouragingly, "she's nearly always a bit late."

The boys wandered disconsolately through the booking-office of the
little country station, and halted outside to consider what was to be
done.

"It's five-and-twenty past four," said Jack Vance, looking at his watch,
"and it's a good six miles by road; we shall never walk it in the time."

"It's a good bit shorter by rail," mused Diggory, "if we could walk
along the line. That tunnel under Arrow Hill cuts off a long round."

"We couldn't do that," said Mugford; "there are notice-boards all over
the shop saying that trespassers on the railway will be prosecuted."

"Oh, bother that," cried Jack Vance, suddenly smitten with Diggory's
idea. "Who cares for notice-boards? We'll go home along th