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tea…kettle； he blew himself up； and the scars of that explosion he
still carried on his hands。
He was long past such childish amusements now； but his favorite
haunt was the engine…house of the new railroad； where he observed
the habits of his pets with never…failing interest； and cultivated the
good…will of stokers and brakemen till they allowed him many
liberties； and were rather flattered by the admiration expressed for
their iron horses by a young gentleman who liked them better even
than his Greek and Latin。
There was not much business doing on this road as yet； and the
two cars of the passenger…trains were often nearly empty； though
full freight…trains rolled from the factory to the main road； of
which this was only a branch。 So things went on in a leisurely
manner； which gave Frank many opportunities of pursuing his
favorite pastime。 He soon knew all about No。 ii； his pet engine；
and had several rides on it with Bill； the engineer； so that he felt at
home there； and privately resolved that when he was a rich man he
would have a road of his own； and run trains as often as he liked。
Gus took less interest than his friend in the study of steam； but
usually accompanied him when he went over after school to
disport himself in the engine…house； interview the stoker； or see if
there was anything new in the way of brakes。
One afternoon they found No。 11 on the side…track； puffing away
as if enjoying a quiet smoke before starting。 No cars were attached；
and no driver was to be seen； for Bill was off with the other men
behind the station…house； helping the expressman； whose horse had
backed down a bank and upset the wagon。
〃Good chance for a look at the old lady；〃 said Frank； speaking of
the engine as Bill did； and jumping aboard with great satisfaction；
followed by Gus。
〃I'd give ten dollars if I could run her up to the bend and back；〃 he
added； fondly touching the bright brass knobs and glancing at the
fire with a critical eye。
〃You couldn't do it alone；〃 answered Gus； sitting down on the
grimy little perch； willing to indulge his mate's amiable weakness。
〃Give me leave to try？ Steam is up； and I could do it as easy as
not〃； and Frank put his hand on the throttle…valve； as if daring Gus
to give the word。
〃Fire up and make her hum！〃 laughed Gus； quoting Bill's frequent
order to his mate； but with no idea of being obeyed。
〃All right； I'll just roll her up to the switch and back again。 I've
often done it with Bill〃； and Frank cautiously opened the
throttle…valve； threw back the lever； and the great thing moved
with a throb and a puff。
〃Steady； old fellow； or you'll come to grief。 Here； don't open that！〃
shouted Gus； for just at that moment Joe appeared at the switch；
looking ready for mischief。
〃Wish he would； no train for twenty minutes； and we could run up
to the bend as well as not；〃 said Frank； getting excited with the
sense of power； as the monster obeyed his hand so entirely that it
was impossible to resist prolonging the delight。
〃By George； he has！ Stop her！ Back her！ Hold on； Frank！〃 cried
Gus； as Joe； only catching the words 〃Open that！〃 obeyed； without
the least idea that they would dare to leave the siding。
But they did； for Frank rather lost his head for a minute； and out
upon the main track rolled No。 11 as quietly as a well…trained
horse taking a familiar road。
〃Now you've done it！ I'll give you a good thrashing when I get
back！〃 roared Gus； shaking his fist at Joe； who stood staring；
half…pleased； half…scared； at what he had done。
〃Are you really going to try it？〃 asked Gus； as they glided on with
increasing speed； and he； too； felt the charm of such a novel
adventure； though the consequences bid fair to be serious。
〃Yes； I am；〃 answered Frank； with the grim look he always wore
when his strong will got the upper hand。 〃Bill will give it to us；
anyway； so we may as well have our fun out。 If you are afraid； I'll
slow down and you can jump off；〃 and his brown eyes sparkled
with the double delight of getting his heart's desire and astonishing
his friend at the same time by his skill and coolness。
〃Go ahead。 I'll jump when you do〃； and Gus calmly sat down
again； bound in honor to stand by his mate till the smash came；
though rather dismayed at the audacity of the prank。
〃Don't you call this just splendid？〃 exclaimed Frank； as they rolled
along over the crossing； past the bridge； toward the curve； a mile
from the station。
〃Not bad。 They are yelling like mad after us。 Better go back； if you
can；〃 said Gus； who was anxiously peering out； and； in spite of his
efforts to seem at ease； not enjoying the trip a particle。
〃Let them yell。 I started to go to the curve； and I'll do it if it costs
me a hundred dollars。 No danger； there's no train under twenty
minutes； I tell you；〃 and Frank pulled out his watch。 But the sun
was in his eyes； and he did not see clearly； or he would have
discovered that it was later than he thought。
On they went； and were just rounding the bend when a shrill
whistle in front startled both boys； and drove the color out of their
cheeks。
〃It's the factory train！〃 cried Gus； in a husky tone； as he sprang to
his feet。
〃No； it's the five…forty on the other road；〃 answered Frank； with a
queer thrill all through him at the thought of what might happen if
it was not。 Both looked straight ahead as the last tree glided by；
and the long track lay before them； with the freight train slowly
coming down。 For an instant； the boys stood as if paralyzed。
〃Jump！〃 said Gus； looking at the steep bank on one side and the
river on the other； undecided which to try。
〃Sit still！〃 commanded Frank； collecting his wits； as he gave a
warning whistle to retard the on…coming train； while he reversed
the engine and went back faster than he came。
A crowd of angry men was waiting for them； and Bill stood at the
open switch in a towering passion as No。 11 returned to her place
unharmed； but bearing two pale and frightened boys； who stepped
slowly and silently down； without a word to say for themselves；
while the freight train rumbled by on the main track。
Frank and Gus never had a very clear idea as to what occurred
during the next few minutes； but vaguely remembered being well
shaken； sworn at； questioned； threatened with direful penalties；
and finally ordered off the premises forever by the wrathful
depot…master。 Joe was nowhere to be seen； and as the two culprits
walked away； trying to go steadily； while their heads spun round；
and all the strength seemed to have departed from their legs； Frank
said； in an exhausted tone；
〃Come down to the boat…house and rest a minute。〃
Both were glad to get out of sight； and dropped upon the steps red；
rumpled； and breathless； after the late exciting scene。 Gus
generously forebore to speak； though he felt that he was the least
to blame； and Frank