There's
a
whisper
down
the
line
at
11.39
When
the
Night
Mail's
ready
to
depart,
Saying
"Skimble
where
is
Skimble
has
he
gone
to
hunt
the
thimble?
We
must
find
him
or
the
train
can't
start."
All
the
guards
and
all
the
porters
and
the
stationmaster's
daughters
They
are
searching
high
and
low,
Saying
"Skimble
where
is
Skimble
for
unless
he's
very
nimble
Then
the
Night
Mail
just
can't
go."
At
11.42
then
the
signal's
nearly
due
And
the
passengers
are
frantic
to
a
man—
Then
Skimble
will
appear
and
he'll
saunter
to
the
rear:
He's
been
busy
in
the
luggage
van!
He
gives
one
flash
of
his
glass-green
eyes
And
the
signal
goes
"All
Clear!"
And
we're
off
at
last
for
the
northern
part
Of
the
Northern
Hemisphere!
You
may
say
that
by
and
large
it
is
Skimble
who's
in
charge
Of
the
Sleeping
Car
Express.
From
the
driver
and
the
guards
to
the
bagmen
playing
cards
He
will
supervise
them
all,
more
or
less.
Down
the
corridor
he
paces
and
examines
all
the
faces
Of
the
travellers
in
the
First
and
the
Third;
He
establishes
control
by
a
regular
patrol
And
he'd
know
at
once
if
anything
occurred.
He
will
watch
you
without
winking
and
he
sees
what
you
are
thinking
And
it's
certain
that
he
doesn't
approve
Of
hilarity
and
riot,
so
the
folk
are
very
quiet
When
Skimble
is
about
and
on
the
move.
You
can
play
no
pranks
with
Skimbleshanks!
He's
a
Cat
that
cannot
be
ignored;
So
nothing
goes
wrong
on
the
Northern
Mail
When
Skimbleshanks
is
aboard.
Oh,
it's
very
pleasant
when
you
have
found
your
little
den
With
your
name
written
up
on
the
door.
And
the
berth
is
very
neat
with
a
newly
folded
sheet
And
there's
not
a
speck
of
dust
on
the
floor.
There
is
every
sort
of
light-you
can
make
it
dark
or
bright;
There's
a
handle
that
you
turn
to
make
a
breeze.
There's
a
funny
little
basin
you're
supposed
to
wash
your
face
in
And
a
crank
to
shut
the
window
if
you
sneeze.
Then
the
guard
looks
in
politely
and
will
ask
you
very
brightly
"Do
you
like
your
morning
tea
weak
or
strong?"
But
Skimble's
just
behind
him
and
was
ready
to
remind
him,
For
Skimble
won't
let
anything
go
wrong.
And
when
you
creep
into
your
cosy
berth
And
pull
up
the
counterpane,
You
ought
to
reflect
that
it's
very
nice
To
know
that
you
won't
be
bothered
by
mice—
You
can
leave
all
that
to
the
Railway
Cat,
The
Cat
of
the
Railway
Train!
In
the
watches
of
the
night
he
is
always
fresh
and
bright;
Every
now
and
then
he
has
a
cup
of
tea
With
perhaps
a
drop
of
Scotch
while
he's
keeping
on
the
watch,
Only
stopping
here
and
there
to
catch
a
flea.
You
were
fast
asleep
at
Crewe
and
so
you
never
knew
That
he
was
walking
up
and
down
the
station;
You
were
sleeping
all
the
while
he
was
busy
at
Carlisle,
Where
he
greets
the
stationmaster
with
elation.
But
you
saw
him
at
Dumfries,
where
he
speaks
to
the
police
If
there's
anything
they
ought
to
know
about:
When
you
get
to
Gallowgate
there
you
do
not
have
to
wait—
For
Skimbleshanks
will
help
you
to
get
out!
He
gives
you
a
wave
of
his
long
brown
tail
Which
says:
"I'll
see
you
again!
You'll
meet
without
fail
on
the
Midnight
Mail
The
Cat
of
the
Railway
Train."
