"Hurrah!" shouted Walter, impulsively, and waved his cap, and Si did the same. Several others bowed and tipped their hats, and the President bowed and tipped his silk hat in return. Then the carriage rolled swiftly away. [Illustration: THE PRESIDENT BOWED IN RETURN.] "It was him all right enough," exclaimed Si, enthusiastically, and with a total disregard for grammar. "He looks jest like his pictures, only a little more care-worn. I suppose he loses lots o' sleep these nights." "Yes, indeed. Being the President isn't the easiest berth in the world. If I--" Walter broke off short. "Our train--I'll wager a dollar we'll miss it!" "Creation! don't say that!" gasped Si; and then both took to their heels as if running the race of their lives. CHAPTER VII A TALK ABOUT SPANISH SAILORS "The train is gone!" It was Walter who gasped out the words, as he and his companion rushed upon the depot platform. In the distance they could see the end of the rear car just vanishing from view in a cloud of dust. "Thet's so!" groaned Si, panting for breath, for they had done their best to reach the depot in time. "What's to be the next move?" And he looked anxiously at his companion. "I'm sure I don't know," was Walter's slow answer. "I--I almost wish I hadn't seen the President--now." "Can't we take a later train?" "I don't know if the tickets will be good. Certainly we'll have no sleeping accommodations for to-night." "Who cares for that, so long as we get to Fortress Monroe? Come on, let us see what can be done." And Si led the way to the ticket office. The ticket-seller was busy, and it was several minutes before they could get to him. "Yes, there will be another train in an hour and a quarter," he said. "About your tickets, did you have stop-over privileges?" "We did not--we didn't intend to stop over," answered Walter. "Then I don't believe the conductor will accept them." "Gee shoo!" groaned Si, dismally. "Do you mean to say we've got to pay the fare from here to our destination? Why, it will take all I've got with me, and maybe more." "There ought to be some way of having our tickets fixed up," said Walter. "Can't we go to the main office and see about them?" "Certainly, if you desire," rejoined the ticket seller, and turned to a number of others who were waiting impatiently to be served. The main offices of the railroad company were not far distant, and hither they made their way. Inside, a young clerk learned what they wanted, and then took them to an inner apartment. "Government fares, eh?" questioned the elderly gentleman to whom they had been conducted. "What was the reason you didn't catch your train?" "We lingered to see President McKinley, who was out in his carriage," said Walter. "We got so interested we forgot the time until we were just about a minute late."