Діти залізниці
Prisoners and captives.
"Lookslikewithoutvisiblemeanstome,"saidtheStationMaster."Well,Idon’tmindgivinghimthebenefitofthedoubttillyourMammacomes.ISHOULDliketoknowwhatnation’sgotthecreditofHIM,thatIshould."
ThenPeterhadanidea.Hepulledanenvelopeoutofhispocket,andshowedthatitwashalffullofforeignstamps.
"Lookhere,"hesaid,"let’sshowhimthese—"
Bobbielookedandsawthatthestrangerhaddriedhiseyeswithherhandkerchief.Soshesaid:"Allright."
TheyshowedhimanItalianstamp,andpointedfromhimtoitandbackagain,andmadesignsofquestionwiththeireyebrows.Heshookhishead.ThentheyshowedhimaNorwegianstamp—thecommonbluekinditwas—andagainhesignedNo.ThentheyshowedhimaSpanishone,andatthathetooktheenvelopefromPeter’shandandsearchedamongthestampswithahandthattrembled.Thehandthathereachedoutatlast,withagestureasofoneansweringaquestion,containedaRUSSIANstamp.
"He’sRussian,"criedPeter,"orelsehe’slike‘themanwhowas’—inKipling,youknow."
ThetrainfromMaidbridgewassignalled.
"I’llstaywithhimtillyoubringMotherin,"saidBobbie.
"You’renotafraid,Missie?"
"Oh,no,"saidBobbie,lookingatthestranger,asshemighthavelookedatastrangedogofdoubtfultemper.
