Діти залізниці
The engine-burglar.
Itwasverypleasantinthesunshinetoleanone’selbowsonthewarmstoneofthebridgeandlookdownatthebluewaterofthecanal.Bobbiehadneverseenanyothercanal,excepttheRegent’sCanal,andthewaterofthatisnotatallaprettycolour.AndshehadneverseenanyriveratallexcepttheThames,whichalsowouldbeallthebetterifitsfacewaswashed.
Perhapsthechildrenwouldhavelovedthecanalasmuchastherailway,butfortwothings.OnewasthattheyhadfoundtherailwayFIRST—onthatfirst,wonderfulmorningwhenthehouseandthecountryandthemoorsandrocksandgreathillswereallnewtothem.Theyhadnotfoundthecanaltillsomedayslater.Theotherreasonwasthateveryoneontherailwayhadbeenkindtothem—theStationMaster,thePorter,andtheoldgentlemanwhowaved.Andthepeopleonthecanalwereanythingbutkind.
Thepeopleonthecanalwere,ofcourse,thebargees,whosteeredtheslowbargesupanddown,orwalkedbesidetheoldhorsesthattrampledupthemudofthetowing-path,andstrainedatthelongtow-ropes.
Peterhadonceaskedoneofthebargeesthetime,andhadbeentoldto"getoutofthat,"inatonesofiercethathedidnotstoptosayanythingabouthishavingjustasmuchrightonthetowing-pathasthemanhimself.Indeed,hedidnoteventhinkofsayingittillsometimelater.
