Дети железной дороги

           Onthetopoftheheapsomethingsmallanddarkwasscrabblingandrattlingfurtivelyamongthecoal.

           TheStationMasterconcealedhimselfintheshadowofabrake-vanthathadalittletinchimneyandwaslabelled:—

           G.N.andS.R.

           34576

           Returnatonceto

           WhiteHeatherSidings

           andinthisconcealmenthelurkedtillthesmallthingonthetopoftheheapceasedtoscrabbleandrattle,cametotheedgeoftheheap,cautiouslyletitselfdown,andliftedsomethingafterit.ThenthearmoftheStationMasterwasraised,thehandoftheStationMasterfellonacollar,andtherewasPeterfirmlyheldbythejacket,withanoldcarpenter’sbagfullofcoalinhistremblingclutch.

           "SoI’vecaughtyouatlast,haveI,youyoungthief?"saidtheStationMaster.

           "I’mnotathief,"saidPeter,asfirmlyashecould."I’macoal-miner."

           "TellthattotheMarines,"saidtheStationMaster.

           "ItwouldbejustastruewhoeverItolditto,"saidPeter.

           "You’rerightthere,"saidtheman,whoheldhim."Stowyourjaw,youyoungrip,andcomealongtothestation."

           "Oh,no,"criedinthedarknessanagonisedvoicethatwasnotPeter’s.

           "NotthePOLICEstation!"saidanothervoicefromthedarkness.

           "Notyet,"saidtheStationMaster."TheRailwayStationfirst.Why,it’saregulargang.