He shivered as he sat down on a box.  The snow was obviously deep and things would be unpleasant at the camp, but Festing would not let this interfere with work.  Charnock thought he had been foolish to come back, but Festing expected him and Sadie agreed that he ought to go.  It was something of an effort to live up to the standards of such a partner and such a wife.  Sadie was a very good sort, better than he deserved, but he would not have minded it if she were not quite so anxious about his moral welfare.  Besides, after the comfort of the homestead, the caboose jarred.  It smelt of acrid soft-coal smoke, the air was full of dust, and rubbish jolted about the floor.  Then Charnock grinned as he admitted that he had not expected to find the path of virtue smooth.

His reflections were rudely disturbed, for a violent jolt threw him off the box.  The boards he fell upon no longer throbbed, and it was evident that the train had stopped.  The others laughed as he got up.

“Loco’s hit a big drift,” said one.  “I guess the engineer won’t butt her through.”

“He’ll surely try; Jake hates to be beat,” another remarked, and the caboose began to shake as the train ran backwards down the line.

A minute or two later there was a savage jerk and a furious snorting.  The caboose rolled ahead again, faster than before, for the wheels had cut a channel through the snow, and somebody said, “Watch out!  Hold tight when she jumps!”

The speed slackened, a jarring crash ran backwards along the train, and the caboose tilted as if the wheels had left the rails.  Tools and sacks of provisions rolled across the inclined floor, which suddenly sank to a level, and a man who had fallen from his bunk got up and opened the door.

“She’s bedded in good and fast.  Guess Jake will be satisfied now,” he said, and laughed when a whistle rang through the snow.  “Nobody could hear that a mile ahead, and as she’s not over the divide it’s some way to camp.  I reckon we’ll stop here until they dig us out.”

Soon afterwards some more men came in, covered with snow.  Then the door was shut, the stove filled and a lamp lighted, and Charnock resigned himself to spending another night in the caboose.  After all, it was as warm as the shack, and he reflected with some amusement that Festing probably did not expect him to be punctual.  The latter knew his habits, and no doubt imagined that he would find the comfort of the homestead seductive.  But Festing did not know Sadie, who had sent him back within the promised time.  He enjoyed his supper and slept well afterwards.  In fact, he did not waken until a stinging draught swept through the caboose and he saw that it was daylight.  The door was open and he heard voices outside.  He recognized one as the foreman’s, and presently the fellow came in.

“D’you reckon you’re here for good, you blamed hibernating deadbeats?” he asked the occupants of the bunks.  “Turn out and get busy before I put a move on you!”