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level of the swamp； at an elevation higher even than that of the
embankment。 It was as though the man had been sitting on the limb of a
tree。 David crossed the tracks and found that on the side of the
embankment opposite the shed there was solid ground and what once had
been a wharf。 He advanced over this cautiously； and as he did so the
clouds disappeared； and in the full light of the moon he saw a bayou
broadening into a river； and made fast to the decayed and rotting wharf an
ocean…going tug。 It was from her deck that the man； in lighting his pipe；
had shown his face。 At the thought of a warm engine…room and the
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company of his fellow creatures； David's heart leaped with pleasure。 He
advanced quickly。 And then something in the appearance of the tug；
something mysterious； secretive； threatening； caused him to halt。 No lights
showed from her engine…room； cabin； or pilot…house。 Her decks were
empty。 But； as was evidenced by the black smoke that rose from her
funnel； she was awake and awake to some purpose。 David stood
uncertainly； questioning whether to make his presence known or return to
the loneliness of the shed。 The question was decided for him。 He had not
considered that standing in the moonlight he was a conspicuous figure。
The planks of the wharf creaked and a man came toward him。 As one who
means to attack； or who fears attack； he approached warily。 He wore high
boots； riding breeches； and a sombrero。 He was a little man； but his
movements were alert and active。 To David he seemed unnecessarily
excited。 He thrust himself close against David。
〃Who the devil are you？〃 demanded the man from the tug。 〃How'd you
get here？〃
〃I walked；〃 said David。
〃Walked？〃 the man snorted incredulously。
〃I took the wrong train；〃 explained David pleasantly。 〃They put me off
about a mile below here。 I walked back to this flag station。 I'm going to
wait here for the next train north。〃
The little man laughed mockingly。
〃Oh； no you're not；〃 he said。 〃If you walked here； you can just walk
away again！〃 With a sweep of his arm； he made a vigorous and
peremptory gesture。
〃You walk！〃 he commanded。
〃I'll do just as I please about that；〃 said David。
As though to bring assistance； the little man started hastily toward the
tug。
〃I'll find some one who'll make you walk！〃 he called。 〃You WAIT；
that's all； you WAIT！〃
David decided not to wait。 It was possible the wharf was private
property and he had been trespassing。 In any case； at the flag station the
rights of all men were equal； and if he were in for a fight he judged it best
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to choose his own battle…ground。 He recrossed the tracks and sat down on
his suit case in a dark corner of the shed。 Himself hidden in the shadows
he could see in the moonlight the approach of any other person。
〃They're river pirates；〃 said David to himself； 〃or smugglers。 They're
certainly up to some mischief； or why should they object to the presence
of a perfectly harmless stranger？〃
Partly with cold； partly with nervousness； David shivered。
〃I wish that train would come；〃 he sighed。 And instantly？ as though in
answer to his wish； from only a short distance down the track he heard the
rumble and creak of approaching cars。 In a flash David planned his course
of action。
The thought of spending the night in a swamp infested by alligators
and smugglers had become intolerable。 He must escape； and he must
escape by the train now approaching。 To that end the train must be stopped。
His plan was simple。 The train was moving very； very slowly； and though
he had no lantern to wave； in order to bring it to a halt he need only stand
on the track exposed to the glare of the headlight and wave his arms。
David sprang between the rails and gesticulated wildly。 But in amazement
his arms fell to his sides。 For the train； now only a hundred yards distant
and creeping toward him at a snail's pace； carried no head…light； and
though in the moonlight David was plainly visible； it blew no whistle；
tolled no bell。 Even the passenger coaches in the rear of the sightless
engine were wrapped in darkness。 It was a ghost of a train； a Flying
Dutchman of a train； a nightmare of a train。 It was as unreal as the black
swamp； as the moss on the dead trees； as the ghostly tug…boat tied to the
rotting wharf。
〃Is the place haunted！〃 exclaimed David。
He was answered by the grinding of brakes and by the train coming to
a sharp halt。 And instantly from every side men fell from it to the ground；
and the silence of the night was broken by a confusion of calls and eager
greeting and questions and sharp words of command。
So fascinated was David in the stealthy arrival of the train and in her
mysterious passengers that； until they confronted him； he did not note the
equally stealthy approach of three men。 Of these one was the little man
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from the tug。 With him was a fat； red…faced Irish…American He wore no
coat and his shirt…sleeves were drawn away from his hands by garters of
pink elastic； his derby hat was balanced behind his ears； upon his right
hand flashed an enormous diamond。 He looked as though but at that
moment he had stopped sliding glasses across a Bowery bar。 The third
man carried the outward marks of a sailor。 David believed he was the
tallest man he had ever beheld； but equally remarkable with his height was
his beard and hair； which were of a fierce brick…dust red。 Even in the mild
moonlight it flamed like a torch。
〃What's your business？〃 demanded the man with the flamboyant hair。
〃I came here；〃 began David； 〃to wait for a train〃
The tall man bellowed with indignant rage。
〃Yes；〃 he shouted； 〃this is the sort of place any one would pick out to
wait for a train！〃
In front of David's nose he shook a fist as large as a catcher's glove。