Dick, Marjorie and Fidge Part 23

Remonstrance was vain, and as it was hopeless to try and sleep through all the noise the children got up again, and had hardly done so, when, looking towards the end of the platform they beheld a red and a green light appearing around the curve, and a moment later the train dashed into the station.

"Crystal Palace train! Crystal Palace train! Take your seats, there!"

shouted the Guard; and, regardless of the fact that they had no tickets, the children and their friends scrambled in.

CHAPTER XVIII.

A NIGHT IN THE TRAIN.

"What a funny puff-puff!" exclaimed Fidge, when, all of the creatures on the platform having entered the train, it slowly steamed out of the station, while the Porter took down the candlestick signal and carefully extinguished the light, remarking aloud, as he did so, "Well, thank goodness, _they're_ gone!"

"I think," said d.i.c.k, looking about him curiously, "that it must be what is called a sleeping car."

"Yes, of course it is," agreed the Prehistoric Doctor, who had joined the party. "See, here are the sleeping bunks. This is mine," he added, taking possession of one of the lower berths by throwing his carpet bag on to it.

"I'll have the one above it," announced the Palaeotherium, climbing up to the upper berth, and clumsily treading on the Prehistoric Doctor's hand as he did so.

"I shall have to be near my Doctor, of course, as I am an invalid,"

remarked the Dodo, plaintively, "so shall take the lower berth next to him."

And thus each of the creatures took up their respective positions, and the children thought it best to follow their example. d.i.c.k and Fidge climbed up to one of the upper berths, and Marjorie made herself comfortable in the one below them.

"It's much better than being in those horrid little tents on the draughty station," she called out; "and we are sure to get to _somewhere_ in this train, aren't we, d.i.c.k?"

"Yes, rather," was her elder brother's reply. "I say, Sis, what are we going to do when they ask us for our tickets at the Crystal Palace? I haven't got any money except this two s.h.i.+llings, have you?"

"Not a penny," admitted Marjorie. "However," she added, yawning sleepily, "I suppose it will all come right; none of the other creatures took tickets, you know. The great thing is to get back to England."

"There's a window up here, and I have just looked out," said d.i.c.k, "it's all pitch dark."

"Yes," murmured Marjorie; "Underground Railway to Crystal Palace; that's how we went last time, you know--part of the way, at any rate--let's go to sleep now. Good-night, d.i.c.k."

"Good-night."

"Nighty, nighty!" shouted Fidge.

"Good-night, Fidge, dear," was his sister's reply, in a very tired voice.

A moment afterwards the train gave a lurch, and there was a crash and a loud cry from one of the lower berths.

d.i.c.k hastily scrambled down to ascertain what was the matter, and found that the Dodo had tumbled out of bed.

"Bless my gloves and beak!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the bird, as he picked himself up; "it's enough to frighten one out of their lives, isn't it?"

"Have you hurt yourself much?" inquired d.i.c.k, kindly.

"No; I don't think so," said the Dodo, carefully feeling himself all over to see if any bones were broken.

"How do you like my nightcap?" he inquired, suddenly and inconsequently.

"Does it suit me?"

"Oh, it's all right, I suppose," said d.i.c.k, laughing in spite of himself at the bird's vanity. "Where did you get it?"

"Found it under my pillow," announced the bird, triumphantly. "That's why I tumbled out of bed, so that some one at any rate, should come and see me in it. n.o.body else seems to be coming, though," he added, looking anxiously up and down, "so I shall go to bed again; but I shall leave my curtains wide open, so that if anybody pa.s.ses by during the night, or in the morning, they will see how beautiful I am when I am asleep."

At that moment there was an awful noise like a deep groan, which grew and grew in volume till it sounded like distant thunder, and then faded away and ended up with a comical little whistle. Again and again it was repeated.

"Oh, d.i.c.k! what is it?" called Marjorie, putting her head outside the curtains.

"I can't think," said d.i.c.k, in a puzzled voice.

"Where have I heard that sound before?" exclaimed the Dodo, putting one finger of the glove to his forehead, and striking a thoughtful att.i.tude.

"Ah! I have it," he cried. "Of course, it's a prehistoric snore--the Doctor is asleep."

And, sure enough, that was what the noise was. By listening outside the curtains of his berth they discovered, without a doubt, that it proceeded from there.

"What a frightful row," cried d.i.c.k, indignantly. "We can't go to sleep with all that noise going on. Let's wake him up."

"Oh, no!" cried the Dodo, "not for worlds. He is sure to be very sensitive on the point, and would doubtless resent it very much."

"He ought to be made to sleep in another part of the train, or in a carriage by himself," grumbled d.i.c.k, scrambling back to his berth just in time to meet Fidge, who was trying to get down at the risk of breaking his neck.

"Oh! d.i.c.k!" he cried, pointing to the further corner of the berth, "Look! Look! A snake!"

"What?" cried Marjorie, from below, with a little scream.

"A snake!" repeated Fidge. "Look, look, d.i.c.k!" he cried, pointing.

d.i.c.k looked in the direction indicated, and was horrified to see what he took to be a huge snake, slowly crawling over the part.i.tion which divided their berth from the next.

"Give me something to hit it with, quick!" he shouted, excitedly. And Marjorie, with another little frightened scream, handed him the Prehistoric Doctor's umbrella, which was lying on the floor outside her berth.

d.i.c.k seized the umbrella, and, grasping it with both hands, aimed a mighty blow at what he took to be the snake.

An agonized scream from the next berth, and a hasty withdrawal of the _snake_, was followed by the appearance of the Palaeotherium's head over the top of the part.i.tion.

"Who did that?" he demanded, with tears in his eyes.

"It was a snake!" cried d.i.c.k, excitedly, "and I was trying to kill it."

"Snake, indeed!" said the Palaeotherium, wrathfully. "It was my tail."

"Oh! I'm _so_ sorry," exclaimed d.i.c.k, "I really _thought_ it was a snake, you know. I beg your pardon. I _do_ hope I haven't hurt you very much."