At last there was another "bunk" to the train, as Teddy called it.
At this several women screamed.
"It's all right," said Daddy Martin. "They've got the engine back on
the rails and it has just backed up to couple on, or fasten itself,
to the cars again. Now we'll go forward again."
And they did--in a little while. It did not take the Curlytops or
Trouble long to fall asleep once more, but some of the older people
were kept awake until morning, they said afterward. They were afraid
of another collision.
But none came, and though the train was a little late the accident
really did not amount to much, though it might have been a bad one
had the freight car been a little farther over on the track so the
engine had run squarely into it.
All the next day and night the Curlytops traveled in the train, and
though Jan and Ted liked to look out of the windows, they grew tired
of this after a while and began to ask:
"When shall we be at Uncle Frank's ranch?"
"Pretty soon now," said their father.
I will not tell you all that happened on the journey to the West.
Truth to say there was not much except the collision. The Curly-tops
ate their meals, drank cupful after cupful of water, and Trouble did
the same, for children seem to get very thirsty when they travel--
much more so than at home.
Then, finally, one afternoon, after a long stop when a new engine
was attached to the train, Daddy Martin said:
"Well be at Rockville in an hour now.
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