Діти залізниці
Peter’s coal-mine.
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.
