THE TURKEY DRIVE 25 



the boys tried to explain the situation. But their 

 explanation only made a case of sheer negligence 

 out of what at first had seemed a mystery to the 

 trainmen. Both the engineer and the conductor were 

 anxious and surly. Their train was already an hour 

 late; there was a through express behind, and the 

 track must be cleared at once. 



And they fell at once to clearing it conductor, 

 fireman, brakemen, and the two boys. Those railroad 

 men had never tried to clear a track of roosting tur- 

 keys before. They cleared it, a little of it, but 

 it would not stay cleared, for the turkeys slipped 

 through their hands, squeezed between their legs, 

 ducked about their heels, and got back into place. 

 Finally the conductor, putting two men in line on 

 each rail, ordered the engineer to follow slowly, 

 close upon their heels, with the train, as they scat- 

 tered the birds before them. 



The boys had not once thought of themselves. 

 They had had no time to think of anything but the 

 danger and the delay that they had caused. They 

 helped with all their might to get the train through, 

 and as they worked, silently listened to the repeated 

 threats of the conductor. 



At last, with a muttered something, the conductor 

 kicked one of the turkeys into a fluttering heap be- 

 neath the engine, and, turning, commanded his crew 

 to stand aside and let the engineer finish the rest 

 of the flock. 



