Keep cool and have your wits about you." He dropped his voice slightly.

"Perhaps something's happened that you'll have to show yourself a little man again for, Clarence!" The door closed, and the boy heard the same muffled hoofs and voices die away towards the front.

He began to dress himself mechanically, almost vacantly, yet conscious always of a vague undercurrent of thrilling excitement.

When he had finished he waited almost breathlessly, feeling the same beating of his heart that he had felt when he was following the vanished train the day before.

At last he could stand the suspense no longer, and opened the door.