Діти залізниці
The amateur firemen.
"
Thegirlsclimbedtothetopofthebankandstoodreadytoboltforhomeassoonastheysawtheirbrotheroutofdanger.Thewayhomelayalldownhill.Theyknewthattheyallranwell.TheBargeedidnotlookasifHEdid.Hewasred-faced,heavy,andbeefy.
Butassoonashisfootwasonthetowing-paththechildrensawthattheyhadmisjudgedhim.
HemadeonespringupthebankandcaughtPeterbytheleg,draggedhimdown—sethimonhisfeetwithashake—tookhimbytheear—andsaidsternly:—
"Now,then,whatdoyoumeanbyit?Don’tyouknowthese’erewatersispreserved?Youain’tnorightcatchingfish’ere—nottosaynothingofyourpreciouscheek."
Peterwasalwaysproudafterwardswhenherememberedthat,withtheBargee’sfuriousfingerstighteningonhisear,theBargee’scrimsoncountenanceclosetohisown,theBargee’shotbreathonhisneck,hehadthecouragetospeakthetruth.
"IWASN’Tcatchingfish,"saidPeter.
"That’snotYOURfault,I’llbebound,"saidtheman,givingPeter’searatwist—notahardone—butstillatwist.
Petercouldnotsaythatitwas.BobbieandPhyllishadbeenholdingontotherailingsaboveandskippingwithanxiety.
