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Peter’s coal-mine.
IthoughtifItookitfromtheoutsidepartoftheheap,perhapsitwouldbe.ButinthemiddleIthoughtIcouldfairlycountitonlymining.It’lltakethousandsofyearsforyoutoburnupallthatcoalandgettothemiddleparts."
"Notquite.Butdidyoudoitforalarkorwhat?"
"Notmuchlarkcartingthatbeastlyheavystuffupthehill,"saidPeter,indignantly.
"Thenwhydidyou?"TheStationMaster’svoicewassomuchkindernowthatPeterreplied:—
"Youknowthatwetday?Well,Mothersaidweweretoopoortohaveafire.Wealwayshadfireswhenitwascoldatourotherhouse,and—"
"DON’T!"interruptedBobbie,inawhisper.
"Well,"saidtheStationMaster,rubbinghischinthoughtfully,"I’lltellyouwhatI’lldo.I’lllookoveritthisonce.Butyouremember,younggentleman,stealingisstealing,andwhat’smineisn’tyours,whetheryoucallitminingorwhetheryoudon’t.Runalonghome."
"Doyoumeanyouaren’tgoingtodoanythingtous?Well,youareabrick,"saidPeter,withenthusiasm.
"You’readear,"saidBobbie.
"You’readarling,"saidPhyllis.
"That’sallright,"saidtheStationMaster.
Andonthistheyparted.
"Don’tspeaktome,"saidPeter,asthethreewentupthehill."You’respiesandtraitors—that’swhatyouare
