Діти залізниці
The engine-burglar.
Thenwhenthenexttraincameinandstopped,Bobbiewentacrossthemetalsoftheup-lineandstoodbesidetheengine.Shehadneverbeensoclosetoanenginebefore.Itlookedmuchlargerandharderthanshehadexpected,anditmadeherfeelverysmallindeed,and,somehow,verysoft—asifshecouldvery,veryeasilybehurtratherbadly.
"Iknowwhatsilk-wormsfeellikenow,"saidBobbietoherself.
Theengine-driverandfiremandidnotseeher.Theywereleaningoutontheotherside,tellingthePorterataleaboutadogandalegofmutton.
"Ifyouplease,"saidRoberta—buttheenginewasblowingoffsteamandnooneheardher.
"Ifyouplease,Mr.Engineer,"shespokealittlelouder,buttheEnginehappenedtospeakatthesamemoment,andofcourseRoberta’ssoftlittlevoicehadn’tachance.
Itseemedtoherthattheonlywaywouldbetoclimbontotheengineandpullattheircoats.Thestepwashigh,butshegotherkneeonit,andclamberedintothecab;shestumbledandfellonhandsandkneesonthebaseofthegreatheapofcoalsthatleduptothesquareopeninginthetender.Theenginewasnotabovetheweaknessesofitsfellows;itwasmakingagreatdealmorenoisethantherewastheslightestneedfor.AndjustasRobertafellonthecoals,theengine-driver,whohadturnedwithoutseeingher,startedtheengine,andwhenBobbiehadpickedherselfup,thetrainwasmoving—notfast,butmuchtoofastforhertogetoff.
