TURTLE EGGS FOR AGASSIZ 111 



was serious, or might be, and rather desperately 

 funny at its best. I must in some way have shown 

 my new fears, for both men watched me more sharply. 



" Suddenly, as we were nearing the outer freight- 

 yard, the train slowed down and came to a stop. I 

 was ready to jump, but still I had no chance. They 

 had nothing to do, apparently, but to guard me. I 

 looked at my watch again. What time we had made! 

 It was only six o'clock, a whole hour left in 

 which to get to Cambridge! 



" But I didn't like this delay. Five minutes 

 ten went by. 



" ' Gentlemen/ I began, but was cut short by an 

 express train coining past. We were moving again, 

 on into a siding on to the main track on with 

 a bump and a crash and a succession of crashes, 

 running the length of the train on, on at a turtle's 

 pace, but on, when the fireman, quickly jumping 

 for the bell-rope, left the way to the step free, and 



" I never touched the step, but landed in the soft 

 sand at the side of the track, and made a line for 

 the freight-yard fence. 



"There was no hue or cry. I glanced over my 

 shoulder to see if they were after me. Evidently 

 their hands were full, or they did n't know I had 

 gone. 



" But I had gone ; and was ready to drop over 

 the high board-fence, when it occurred to me that I 

 might drop into a policeman's arms. Hanging my 



