He seemed uncomfortable as he stood in the cab gangway. Sometimes he absently watched my mate, Jack Regan, handling the controls of the locomotive. But mostly he stared thoughtfully at the edge of the permanent-way running swiftly beside our train; hoping, perhaps, that the rhythmic clicking of the rails or even the crispness of the engine exhaust beat would unravel some mystery for him.

All that Jack and I knew about him was that he was relieving old Fred Hasler, the regular travelling foreman, who was on sick leave. Beyond showing his duty pass he had not introduced himself; yet we felt his presence was more than a routine trip.