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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 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 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 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。 〃Don't you lie to ME！〃 he bullied。 〃Do you know who I am？
Do you know WHO you're up against？ I'm〃
The barkeeper person interrupted。
〃Never mind who you are；〃 he said。 〃We know that。 Find out who HE
is。〃
David turned appealingly to the barkeeper。
〃Do you suppose I'd come here on purpose？〃 he protested。 〃I'm a
travelling man〃
〃You won't travel any to…night；〃 mocked the red…haired one。
〃You've seen what you came to see； and all you want now is to get
to a Western Union wire。 Well； you don't do it。 You don't leave
here to…night！〃
As though he thought he had been neglected； the little man in
riding…boots pushed forward importantly。
〃Tie him to a tree！〃 he suggested。
〃Better take him on board；〃 said the barkeeper； 〃and send him
back by the pilot。 When we're once at sea； he can't hurt us any。〃
〃What makes you think I want to hurt you？〃 demanded David。 〃Who
do you think I am？〃
〃We know who you are；〃 shouted the fiery…headed one。 〃You're a
blanketty…blank spy！ You're a government spy or a Spanish spy；
and whichever you are you don't get away to…night！〃
David had not the faintest idea what the man meant； but he knew
his self…respect was being ill…treated； and his self…respect
rebelled。
〃You have made a very serious mistake；〃 he said； 〃and whether you
like it or not； I AM leaving here to…night； and YOU can go to the
devil！〃
Turning his back David started with great dignity to walk away。
It was a short walk。 Something hit him below the ear and he found
himself curling up comfortably on the ties。 He had a strong
desire to sleep； but was conscious that a bed on a railroad
track； on account of trains wanting to pass； was unsafe。 This
doubt did not long disturb him。 His head rolled against the steel
rail； his limbs relaxed。 From a great distance； and in a strange
sing…song he heard the voice of the barkeeper saying；
〃Ninetenand OUT！〃
When David came to his senses his head was resting on a coil of
rope。 In his ears was the steady throb of an engine； and in his
eyes the glare of a lantern。 The lantern was held by a
pleasant…faced youth in a golf cap who was smiling
sympathetically。 David rose on his elbow and gazed wildly about
him。 He was in the bow of the ocean…going tug； and he saw that
from where he lay in the bow to her stern her decks were packed
with men。 She was steaming swiftly down a broad river。 On either
side the gray light that comes before the dawn showed low banks
studded with stunted palmettos。 Close ahead David heard the roar
of the surf。
〃Sorry to disturb you；〃 said the youth in the golf c