Then,settinghishairerectwithonecomprehensivesweep,hecaughtuphiscoat—skirtsoverhisarm,and,assumingaparliamentaryattitude,burstintoacomicalmedley,composedofextractsfromJeffersonBrick\'sandLafayetteKettle\'sspeeches,andElijahPogram\'sDefiance,from\"MartinChuzzlewit。\"GazingatGus,whowasconvulsedwithsuppressedmerriment,hethunderedforth:
\"Inthenameofourcommoncountry,sir,inthenameofthatrighteouscauseinwhichwearejined,andinthenameofthestar—spangledbanner,Ithankyouforyoureloquentandcategoricalremarks。You,sir,areamodelofamanfreshfromNatur\'smould。
Atrue—bornchildofthisfreehemisphere;verdantasthemountainsofourland;brightandflowin\'asourmineralLicks;unspiledbyfashionasairourboundlessperearers。Roughyoumaybe;soairourBarrs。Wildyoumaybe;soairourBuffalers。But,sir,youairaChildofFreedom,andyourproudanswertotheTyrantis,thatyourbrighthomeisintheSettin\'Sun。And,sir,ifanymandeniesthisfact,thoughitbetheBritishLionhimself,Idefyhim。Letmehavehimhere！\"——smitingthetable,andcausingtheinkstandtoskip——\"here,uponthissacredaltar！Here,upontheancestralashescementedwiththegloriousbloodpouredoutlikewaterontheplainsofChickabiddyLick。AloneI\'darethatLion,andtellhimthatFreedom\'shandoncetwistedinhismane,herollsacorsebeforeme,andtheEaglesoftheGreatRepublicscream,Ha,ha！\"
Bythistimetheboyswererollingaboutinfitsoflaughter;evensoberFrankwasredandbreathless,andJacklayback,feeblysquealing,ashecouldlaughnomore。InamomentRalphwasasmeekasaQuaker,andsatlookingabouthimwithamildlyastonishedair,asifinquiringthecauseofsuchunseemlymirth。A
knockatthedoorproducedalull,andincameamaidwithapples。
\"Time\'sup;falltoandmakeyourselvescomfortable,\"wasthesummarywayinwhichtheclubwasreleasedfromitssternerdutiesandpermittedtounbenditsmightymindforasocialhalfhour,chieflydevotedtowhist,withanIndianwar—danceasaclosingceremony。
Chapter10TheDramaticClubWhileJackwashoppinggaylyaboutonhiscrutches,poorJillwasfeelingtheeffectsofhersecondfall,andinsteadofsittingup,asshehopedtodoaftersixweeksofrest,shewasorderedtolieonaboardfortwohourseachday。Notaneasypenance,byanymeans,fortheboardwasveryhard,andshecoulddonothingwhileshelaythere,asitdidnotslopeenoughtopermithertoreadwithoutgreatfatigueofbotheyesandhands。Sothelittlemartyrspentherfirsthouroftrialinsobbing,thesecondinsinging,forjustashermotherandMrs。Minotweredecidingindespairthatneithershenortheycouldbearit,Jillsuddenlybrokeoutintoamerrychorussheusedtohearherfathersing:
\"Fautjouerlemirliton,Fautjouerlemirlitir,Fautjouerlemirliter,Mir——li——ton。\"
Thesoundofthebravelittlevoicewasverycomfortingtothetwomothershoveringabouther,andJacksaid,withalookofmingledpityandadmiration,ashebrandishedhiscrutchovertheimaginaryfoes,\"That\'sright！Singaway,andwe\'llplayyouareanIndiancaptivebeingtormentedbyyourenemies,andtooproudtocomplain。I\'llwatchtheclock,andtheminutetimeisupI\'llrushinandrescueyou。\"
Jilllaughed,butthefancypleasedher,andshestraightenedherselfoutunderthegayafghan,whileshesang,inaplaintivevoice,anotherlittleFrenchsongherfathertaughther:
\"J\'avaisunecolombeblanche,J\'avaisunblancpetitpigeon,Tousdeu~volaient,dobrancheenbranche,Jusqu\'aufaltedemondongeon:
Maiscommeuncoupdoventd\'automne,S\'estabattuZa,I\'？per—vier,FtmacolombesimignonneNerevientplusaucolombier。\"
\"MypoorJeanhadafinevoice,andalwayshopedthechildwouldtakeafterhim。Itwouldbreakhishearttoseeherlyingtheretryingtocheerherpainwiththesongsheusedtosinghertosleepwith,\"
saidMrs。Pecq,sadly。
\"Shereallyhasagreatdealoftalent,andwhensheisablesheshallhavesomelessons,formusicisacomfortandapleasure,sickorwell,\"answeredMrs。Minot,whohadoftenadmiredthefreshvoice,withitsprettyaccent。
HereJillbegantheCanadianboat—song,withgreatvigor,asifboundtoplayherpartofIndianvictimwithspirit,andnotdisgraceherselfbyanymorecrying。Allknewtheair,andjoinedin,especiallyJack,whocameoutstrongonthe\"Row,brothers,row,\"
butendedinasqueakonahighnote,sodrolly,thattherestbrokedown。Sothehourthatbeganwithtearsendedwithmusicandlaughter,andanewpleasuretothinkofforthefuture。
AfterthatdayJillexertedallherfortitude,forshelikedtohavetheboyscallherbraveandadmirethecheerfulwayinwhichsheenduredtwohoursofdiscomfort。Shefoundshecoulduseherzitherasitlayuponherbreast,andeverydaytheprettymusicbeganatacertainhour,andallinthehousesoonlearnedtoloveandlistenforit。Eventheoldcooksetopenherkitchendoor,sayingpitifully,\"Poordarlint,hearhowpurtyshe\'ssingin\',widthepain,onthatcrewelboord。It\'salittlesaint,sheis。Mayherbedabovebeaisy！\"
Frankwouldlifthergentlyonandoff,withakindwordthatcomfortedherimmensely,andgentleEdwouldcomeandteachhernewbitsofmusic,whiletheotherfellowswerefrolickingbelow。Ralphaddedhissharetoheramusement,forheaskedleavetomodelherheadinclay,andsetuphisworkinacorner,Corningtopat,scrape,andmouldwheneverhehadaspareminute,amusingherbyhislivelychat,andshowingherhowtoshapebirds,rabbits,andqueerfacesinthesoftclay,whenthesongswereallsungandherfingerstiredofthezither。
Thegirlssympathizedveryheartilywithhernewtrial,andbroughtallmannerofgiftstocheerhercaptivity。MerryandMollymadeagayscreenbypastingpicturesontheblackcambricwhichcoveredthefoldingframethatstoodbeforehertokeepthedraughtsfromherasshelayonherboard。Brightbirdsandflowers,figuresandanimals,coveredoneside,andontheothertheyputmottoes,bitsofpoetry,anecdotes,andshortstories,sothatJillcouldlieandlookorreadwithoutthetroubleofholdingabook。Itwasnotalldoneatonce,butgrewslowly,andwasasourceofinstructionaswellasamusementtothemall,astheyreadcarefully,thattheymightmakegoodSelections。
ButthethingthatpleasedJillmostwassomethingJackdid,forhegaveupgoingtoschool,andstayedathomenearlyafortnightafterhemighthavegone,allforhersake。Thedaythedoctorsaidhemighttryitifhewouldbeverycareful,hewasingreatspirits,andlimpedabout,lookinguphisbooks,andplanninghowhewouldastonishhismatesbytherapidityofhisrecovery。WhenhesatdowntorestherememberedJill,whohadbeenlyingquietlybehindthescreen,whilehetalkedwithhismother,busyputtingfreshcoversonthebooks。
\"Sheissostill,Iguesssheisasleep,\"thoughtJack,peepingroundthecorner。
No,notasleep,butlyingwithhereyesfixedonthesunnywindow,beyondwhichthebrightwinterworldsparkledafterafreshsnow—fall。Thejingleofsleigh—bellscouldbeheard,thelaughterofboysandgirlsontheirwaytoschool,allthepleasantstirofanewdayofhappyworkandplayfortherestoftheworld,morelonely,quiet,andwearisomethanevertohersinceherfriendandfellow—prisonerwassetfreeandgoingtoleaveher。
Jackunderstoodthatpatient,wistfullook,and,withoutaword,wentbacktohisseat,staringatthefiresosoberly,thathismotherpresentlyasked:\"Whatareyouthinkingofsobusily,withthatpuckerinyourforehead？\"
\"I\'veaboutmadeupmymindthatIwon\'tgotoschooljustyet,\"
answeredJack,slowlyliftinghishead,foritcosthimsomethingtogiveupthelong—expectedpleasure。
\"Whynot？\"andMrs。Minotlookedmuchsurprised,tillJackpointedtothescreen,and,makingasadfacetoexpressJill\'sanguish,answeredinacheerfultone,\'Well,I\'mnotsurethatitisbest。Doctordidnotwantmetogo,butsaidImightbecauseI
teased。Ishallbesuretocometogrief,andtheneveryonewillsay,\'Itoldyouso,\'andthatissoprovoking。I\'dratherkeepstillaweeklonger。Hadn\'tIbetter？\"
Hismothersmiledandnoddedasshesaid,sewingawayatmuch—abusedoldCaesar,asifshelovedhim,\"Doasyouthinkbest,dear。Ialwayswantyouathome,butIdon\'twonderyouarerathertiredofitafterthislongconfinement。\"
\"Isay,Jill,shouldIbeinyourwayifIdidn\'tgotoschooltillthefirstofFebruary？\"calledJack,laughingtohimselfattheabsurdityofthequestion。
\"Notmuch！\"answeredagladvoicefrombehindthescreen,andheknewthesorrowfuleyeswereshiningwithdelight,thoughhecouldnotseethem。
\"Well,IguessImayaswell,andgetquitefirmonmylegsbeforeI
start。AnotherweekorsowillbringmeupifIstudyhard,soIshallnotlosemytime。I\'lltacklemyLatinassoonasit\'sready,mother。\"
Jackgotaheartykisswiththeneatlycoveredbook,andMammalovedhimforthelittlesacrificemorethanifhehadwonaprizeatschool。Hedidgetareward,for,infiveminutesfromthetimehedecided,Jillwassinginglikeabobolink,andsuchamedleyofmerrymusiccamefrombehindthescreen,thatitwasaregularmorningconcert。Shedidnotknowthenthathestayedforhersake,butshefounditoutsoonafter,andwhenthetimecamedidasmuchforhim,asweshallsee。
Itprovedawisedecision,forthelastpartofJanuarywassostormyJackcouldnothavegonehalfthetime。So,whilethesnowdrifted,andbitterwindsraged,hesatsnuglyathomeamusingJill,andgettingonbravelywithhislessons,forFranktookgreatpainswithhimtoshowhisapprobationofthelittlekindness,and,somehow,thememoryofitseemedtomakeeventhedetestedLatineasier。
WithFebruaryfairweathersetin,andJackmarchedhappilyawaytoschool,withJill\'snewmittensonhishands,Mammanoddingfromthedoor—step,andFrankreadytogivehimaliftonthenewsled,ifthewayprovedtoolongortoorough。
\"Ishallnothavetimetomisshimnow,forwearetobeverybusygettingreadyfortheTwenty—second。TheDramaticClubmeetsto—night,andwouldliketocomehere,iftheymay,so1canhelp？\"
saidJill,asMrs。Minotcameup,expectingtofindherratherlowinhermind。
\"Certainly;andIhaveabasketofoldfineryIlookedupfortheclubwhenIwasrummagingoutbitsofsilkforyourbluequilt,\"
answeredthegoodlady,whohadsetupanewemploymenttobeguilethehoursofJack\'sabsence。
Whenthegirlsarrived,thatevening,theyfoundMrs。Chairwomansurroundedbyastrewoftheatricalproperties,enjoyingherselfverymuch。Allbroughtsuchcontributionsastheycouldmuster,andallwereeageraboutacertaintableauwhichwastobethegemofthewhole,theythought。Jill,ofcourse,wasnotexpectedtotakeanypart,buthertastewasgood,soallconsultedherastheyshowedtheiroldsilks,laces,andflowers,askingwhoshouldbethis,andwhothat。Allwantedtobethe\"SleepingBeauty,\"forthatwasthechosenscene,withtheslumberingcourtabouttheprincess,andtheprinceintheactofawakeningher。Jackwastobethehero,braveinhismother\'svelvetcape,redboots,andarealsword,whiletheotherboysweretohavepartsofmoreorlesssplendor。
\"MabelshouldbetheBeauty,becauseherhairissolovely,\"saidJuliet,whowasquitesatisfiedwithherownpartoftheQueen。
\"No,Merryoughttohaveit,assheistheprettiest,andhasthatsplendidveiltowear,\"answeredMolly,whowastobethemaidofhonor,cuffingthelittlepage,Boo。
\"Idon\'tcareabit,butmyfeatherwouldbefineforthePrincess,andIdon\'tknowasEmmawouldliketohavemelendittoanyoneelse,\"saidAnnette,wavingalongwhiteplumeoverherhead,withgirlishdelightinitsgrace。
\"Ishouldthinkthewhitesilkdress,theveil,andthefeatheroughttogotogether,withthescarletcrapeshawlandthesepearls。Thatwouldbesweet,andjustwhatprincessesreallywear,\"advisedJill,whowasstringingaquantityofoldRomanpearls。
\"Weallwanttowearthenicethings,soletusdrawlots。Wouldn\'tthatbethefairestway？\"askedMerry,lookinglikearosylittlebride,underagreatpieceofillusion,whichhaddonedutyinmanyplays。
\"ThePrinceislight,sothePrincessmustbedarkish。Weoughttochoosethegirlwhowilllookbest,asitisapicture。IheardMissDelanosayso,whentheladiesgotupthetableaux,lastwinter,andeveryonewantedtobeCleopatra,\"saidJilldecidedly。
\"Youchoose,andthenifwecan\'tagreewewilldrawlots,\"
proposedSusy,who,beingplain,knewtherewaslittlehopeofhergettingachanceinanyotherway。
Soallstoodinarow,andJill,fromhersofa,surveyedthemcritically,feelingthattheoneJackwouldreallypreferwasnotamongthenumber。
\"Ichoosethatone,forJulietwantstobeQueen,Mollywouldmakefaces,andtheothersaretoobigortoolight,\"pronouncedJill,pointingtoMerry,wholookedpleased,whileMabel\'sfacedarkened,andSusygaveadisdainfulsniff。
\"You\'dbetterdrawlots,andthentherewillbenofuss。JuandIareoutofthefight,butyouthreecantry,andletthissettlethematter,\"saidMolly,handingJillalongstripofpaper。
Allagreedtoletitbeso,andwhenthebitswerereadydrewinturn。ThistimefatewasevidentlyonMerry\'sside,andnoonegrumbledwhensheshowedthelongestpaper。
\"Goanddress,thencomeback,andwe\'llplanhowwearetobeplacedbeforewecalluptheboys,\"commandedJill,whowasmanager,sinceshecouldbenothingelse。
Thegirlsretiredtothebedroomandbeganto\"rigup,\"astheycalledit;butdiscontentstilllurkedamongthem,andshoweditselfinsharpwords,enviouslooks,anddisobligingacts。
\"AmItohavethewhitesilkandthefeather？\"askedMerry,delightedwiththesilveryshimmeroftheoneandthegracefuldroopoftheother,thoughbothwererathershabby。
\"Youcanuseyourowndress。Idon\'tseewhyyoushouldhaveeverything,\"answeredSusy,whowasatthemirror,puttingawreathofscarletflowersonherredhead,boundtobegaysinceshecouldnotbepretty。
\"IthinkI\'dbetterkeeptheplume,asIhaven\'tanythingelsethatisnice,andI\'mafraidEmmawouldn\'tlikemetolendit,\"addedAnnette,whowasdisappointedthatMabelwasnottobetheBeauty。
\"1don\'tintendtoactatall！\"declaredMabel,beginningtobraidupherhairwithajerk,outofhumorwiththewholeaffair。
\"1thinkyouareasetofcross,selfishgirlstobackoutandkeepyournicethingsjustbecauseyoucan\'tallhavethebestpart。I\'mashamedofyou！\"scoldedMolly,standingbyMerry,whowassadlysurveyinghermother\'soldpurplesilk,whichlookedlikebrownintheevening。
\"I\'mgoingtohaveMissDelano\'sredbrocadefortheQueen,andI
shallaskherfortheyellow—satindressforMerrywhenIgotogetmine,andtellherhowmeanyouare,\"saidJuliet,frowningunderhergilt—papercrownasshesweptaboutinaredtable—Sclothfortraintillthebrocadearrived。
\"Perhapsyou\'dliketohaveMabelcutherhairoff,soMerrycanhavethat,too？\"criedSusy,withwhomhairwasatenderpoint。
\"Lighthairisn\'twanted,soJuwillhavetogivehers,oryou\'dbetterborrowMissBat\'sfrisette,\"addedMabel,withascornfullaugh。
\"IjustwishMissBatwasheretogiveyougirlsagoodshaking。Doletsomeoneelsehaveachanceattheglass,youpeacock！\"
exclaimedMollyLoo,pushingSusyasidetoarrangeherownblueturban,outofwhichshepluckedthepinkpompontogiveMerry。
\"Don\'tquarrelaboutme。Ishalldowellenough,andthescarletshawlwillhidemyuglydress,\"saidMerry,fromthecorner,whereshesatwaitingforherturnatthemirror。
Asshespokeoftheshawlhereyewentinsearchofit,andsomethingthatshesawintheotherroomputherowndisappointmentoutofherhead。Jilllaythereallalone,rathertiredwiththelivelychatter,andtheeffortitcosthernottorepineatbeingshutoutfromthegreatdelightofdressingupandacting。
Hereyeswereclosed,hernetwasoff,andalltheprettyblackcurlslayabouthershouldersasonehandidlypulledthemout,whiletheotherrestedontheredshawl,asifsheloveditsglowingcolorandsofttexture。Shewashummingtoherselfthelittlesongofthedoveandthedonjon,andsomethingintheplaintivevoice,thesolitaryfigure,wentstraighttoMerry\'sgentleheart。
\"PoorJillycan\'thaveanyofthefun,\"wasthefirstthought;thencameasecond,thatmadeMerrystartandsmile,andinaminutewhispersothatallbutJillcouldhearher,\"Girls,I\'mnotgoingtobethePrincess。ButI\'vethoughtofasplendidone！\"
\'Who？\"askedtherest,staringatoneanother,muchsurprisedbythissuddenannouncement。
\"Hush！Speaklow,oryouwillspoilitall。LookintheBirdRoom,andtellmeifthatisn\'taprettierPrincessthanIcouldmake？\"
Theyalllooked,butnoonespoke,andMerryadded,withsweeteagerness,\"ItistheonlythingpoorJillcanbe,anditwouldmakehersohappy;Jackwouldlikeit,anditwouldpleaseeveryone,I
know。Perhapsshewillneverwalkagain,soweoughttobeverygoodtoher,poordear。\"
Thelastwords,whisperedwithalittlequiverinthevoice,settledthematterbetterthanhoursoftalking,forgirlsaretenderheartedcreatures,andnotoneofthesebutwouldhavegladlygivenalltheprettythingssheownedtoseeJilldancingaboutwellandstrongagain。Likearayofsunshinethekindthoughttouchedandbrightenedeveryface;envy,impatience,vanity,anddiscontentflewawaylikeimpsatthecomingofthegoodfairy,andwithoneaccordtheyallcried,\"Itwillbelovely;letusgoandtellher！\"
Forgettingtheirownadornment,outtheytroopedafterMerry,whorantothesofa,saying,withasmilewhichwasreflectedinalltheotherfaces,\"Jill,dear,wehavechosenanotherPrincess,andI
knowyou\'lllikeher。\"
\"Whoisit？\"askedJill,languidly,openinghereyeswithouttheleastsuspicionofthetruth。
\"I\'llshowyou\";andtakingthecherishedveilfromherownhead,MerrydroppeditlikeasoftcloudoverJill;Annetteaddedthelongplume,Susylaidthewhitesilkdressabouther,whileJulietandMabelliftedthescarletshawltospreaditoverthefootofthesofa,andMollytorethelastornamentfromherturban,asilverstar,toshineonJill\'sbreast。Thentheyalltookhandsanddancedroundthecouch,singing,astheylaughedatherastonishment,\"Theresheis！Theresheis！PrincessJillasfineasyouplease！
\"Doyoureallymeanit？ButcanI？Isitfair？Howsweetofyou！
Comehereandletmehugyouall！\"criedJill,inaraptureatthesurprise,andtheprettywayinwhichitwasdone。
ThegrandsceneontheTwenty—secondwasveryfine,indeed;butthelittletableauofthatminutewasinfinitelybetter,thoughnoonesawit,asJilltriedtogatherthemallinherarms,forthatnosegayofgirlishfaceswasthesweeter,becauseeachonebadsacrificedherownlittlevanitytopleaseafriend,andherjoywasreflectedintheeyesthatsparkledroundthehappyPrincess。
\"Oh,youdear,kindthings,tothinkofmeandgivemeallyourbestclothes！Inevershallforgetit,andI\'lldoanythingforyou。
Yes！I\'llwriteandaskMrs。Pipertolendushererminecloakfortheking。SeeifIdon\'t！\"
Shrieksofdelighthailedthisnobleoffer,fornoonehaddaredtoborrowthemuch—covetedmantle,butallagreedthattheoldladywouldnotrefuseJill。Itwasastonishinghowsmoothlyeverythingwentafterthis,foreachwaseagertohelp,admire,andsuggest,inthefriendliestway;andwhenallweredressed,theboysfoundapartyofverygayladieswaitingforthemroundthecouch,wherelaythebrightestlittlePrincesseverseen。
\"Oh,Jack,I\'mtoact！Wasn\'titdearofthegirlstochooseme？
Don\'ttheylooklovely？Aren\'tyouglad？\"criedJill,astheladsstaredandthelassesblushedandsmiled,wellpleasedatthefrankadmirationtheboyishfacesshowed。
\"IguessIam！Youareasetoftrumps,andwe\'llgiveyouafirst—classspreadaftertheplaytopayforit。Won\'twe,fellows？\"
answeredJack,muchgratified,andfeelingthatnowhecouldacthisownpartcapitally。
\"Wewill。Itwasahandsomethingtodo,andwethinkwellofyouforit。Hey,Gus？\"andFranknoddedapprovinglyatall,thoughhelookedonlyatAnnette。
\"Askingofthiscrowd,Icallittoorder,\"saidGus,retiringtothethrone,whereJulietsatlaughinginherredtable—cloth。
\"We\'llhave\'TheFairOnewithGoldenLocks\'nexttime;Ipromiseyouthat,\"whisperedEdtoMabel,whoseshininghairstreamedoverherbluedresslikeamantleofgold—coloredsilk。
\"Girlsareprettynicethings,aren\'tthey？Kindof\'emtotakeJillin。
Don\'tMollylookfine,though？\"andGrif\'sblackeyestwinkledasheplannedtopinherskirtstoMerry\'satthefirstopportunity。
\"Susylooksasgayasafeather—duster。Ilikeher。Sheneversnubsafellow,\"saidJoe,muchimpressedwiththesplendorofthecourtladies。
Theboys\'costumeswerenotyetready,buttheyposedwell,andallhadamerrytime,endingwithagameofblind—man\'s—buff,inwhicheveryonecaughttherightpersoninthemostsingularway,andallagreedastheywenthomeinthemoonlightthatithadbeenanususuallyjollymeeting。
Sothefairyplaywokethesleepingbeautythatliesinallofus,andmakesuslovelywhenwerouseitwithakissofunselfishgood—will,for,thoughthegirlsdidnotknowitthen,theyhadadornedthemselveswithpearlsmorepreciousthanthewaxenonesthey\'deckedtheirPrincessin。
Chapter11\"DownBrakes\"
Thegreatestpeoplehavetheirweakpoints,andthebest—behavedboysnowandthenyieldtotemptationandgetintotrouble,aseverybodyknows。Frankwasconsideredaremarkablywell—bredandproperlad,andratherpridedhimselfonhisgoodreputation,forhenevergotintoscrapesliketheotherfellows。Well,hardlyever,forwemustconfessthatatrareintervalshisbesettingsinovercamehisprudence,andheprovedhimselfanerring,humanboy。Steam—engineshadbeenhisidolsforyears,andtheyalonecouldlurehimfromthepathofvirtue。Once,intryingtoinvestigatethemechanismofatoyspecimen,whichhaditslittleboilerandranaboutwhistlingandpuffinginthemostdelightfulway,henearlysetthehouseafirebythesparksthatdroppedonthestrawcarpet。Anothertime,intryingexperimentswiththekitchentea—kettle,heblewhimselfup,andthescarsofthatexplosionhestillcarriedonhishands。
Hewaslongpastsuchchildishamusementsnow,buthisfavoritehauntwastheengine—houseofthenewrailroad,whereheobservedthehabitsofhispetswithnever—failinginterest,andcultivatedthegood—willofstokersandbrakementilltheyallowedhimmanyliberties,andwereratherflatteredbytheadmirationexpressedfortheirironhorsesbyayounggentlemanwholikedthembettereventhanhisGreekandLatin。
Therewasnotmuchbusinessdoingonthisroadasyet,andthetwocarsofthepassenger—trainswereoftennearlyempty,thoughfullfreight—trainsrolledfromthefactorytothemainroad,ofwhichthiswasonlyabranch。Sothingswentoninaleisurelymanner,whichgaveFrankmanyopportunitiesofpursuinghisfavoritepastime。HesoonknewallaboutNo。ii,hispetengine,andhadseveralridesonitwithBill,theengineer,sothathefeltathomethere,andprivatelyresolvedthatwhenhewasarichmanhewouldhavearoadofhisown,andruntrainsasoftenasheliked。
Gustooklessinterestthanhisfriendinthestudyofsteam,butusuallyaccompaniedhimwhenhewentoverafterschooltodisporthimselfintheengine—house,interviewthestoker,orseeiftherewasanythingnewinthewayofbrakes。
OneafternoontheyfoundNo。11ontheside—track,puffingawayasifenjoyingaquietsmokebeforestarting。Nocarswereattached,andnodriverwastobeseen,forBillwasoffwiththeothermenbehindthestation—house,helpingtheexpressman,whosehorsehadbackeddownabankandupsetthewagon。
\"Goodchanceforalookattheoldlady,\"saidFrank,speakingoftheengineasBilldid,andjumpingaboardwithgreatsatisfaction,followedbyGus。
\"I\'dgivetendollarsifIcouldrunheruptothebendandback,\"headded,fondlytouchingthebrightbrassknobsandglancingatthefirewithacriticaleye。
\"Youcouldn\'tdoitalone,\"answeredGus,sittingdownonthegrimylittleperch,willingtoindulgehismate\'samiableweakness。
\"Givemeleavetotry？Steamisup,andIcoulddoitaseasyasnot\";andFrankputhishandonthethrottle—valve,asifdaringGustogivetheword。
\"Fireupandmakeherhum！\"laughedGus,quotingBill\'sfrequentordertohismate,butwithnoideaofbeingobeyed。
\"Allright;I\'lljustrollheruptotheswitchandbackagain。I\'veoftendoneitwithBill\";andFrankcautiouslyopenedthethrottle—valve,threwbackthelever,andthegreatthingmovedwithathrobandapuff。
\"Steady,oldfellow,oryou\'llcometogrief。Here,don\'topenthat！\"
shoutedGus,forjustatthatmomentJoeappearedattheswitch,lookingreadyformischief。
\"Wishhewould;notrainfortwentyminutes,andwecouldrunuptothebendaswellasnot,\"saidFrank,gettingexcitedwiththesenseofpower,asthemonsterobeyedhishandsoentirelythatitwasimpossibletoresistprolongingthedelight。
\"ByGeorge,hehas！Stopher！Backher！Holdon,Frank！\"criedGus,asJoe,onlycatchingthewords\"Openthat！\"obeyed,withouttheleastideathattheywoulddaretoleavethesiding。
Buttheydid,forFrankratherlosthisheadforaminute,andoutuponthemaintrackrolledNo。11asquietlyasawell—trainedhorsetakingafamiliarroad。
\"Nowyou\'vedoneit！I\'llgiveyouagoodthrashingwhenIgetback！\"roaredGus,shakinghisfistatJoe,whostoodstaring,half—pleased,half—scared,atwhathehaddone。
\"Areyoureallygoingtotryit？\"askedGus,astheyglidedonwithincreasingspeed,andhe,too,feltthecharmofsuchanoveladventure,thoughtheconsequencesbidfairtobeserious。
\"Yes,Iam,\"answeredFrank,withthegrimlookhealwaysworewhenhisstrongwillgottheupperhand。\"Billwillgiveittous,anyway,sowemayaswellhaveourfunout。Ifyouareafraid,I\'llslowdownandyoucanjumpoff,\"andhisbrowneyessparkledwiththedoubledelightofgettinghisheart\'sdesireandastonishinghisfriendatthesametimebyhisskillandcoolness。
\"Goahead。I\'lljumpwhenyoudo\";andGuscalmlysatdownagain,boundinhonortostandbyhismatetillthesmashcame,thoughratherdismayedattheaudacityoftheprank。
\"Don\'tyoucallthisjustsplendid？\"exclaimedFrank,astheyrolledalongoverthecrossing,pastthebridge,towardthecurve,amilefromthestation。
\"Notbad。Theyareyellinglikemadafterus。Bettergoback,ifyoucan,\"saidGus,whowasanxiouslypeeringout,and,inspiteofhiseffortstoseematease,notenjoyingthetripaparticle。
\"Letthemyell。Istartedtogotothecurve,andI\'lldoitifitcostsmeahundreddollars。Nodanger;there\'snotrainundertwentyminutes,Itellyou,\"andFrankpulledouthiswatch。Butthesunwasinhiseyes,andhedidnotseeclearly,orhewouldhavediscoveredthatitwaslaterthanhethought。
Ontheywent,andwerejustroundingthebendwhenashrillwhistleinfrontstartledbothboys,anddrovethecoloroutoftheircheeks。
\"It\'sthefactorytrain！\"criedGus,inahuskytone,ashesprangtohisfeet。
\"No;it\'sthefive—fortyontheotherroad,\"answeredFrank,withaqueerthrillallthroughhimatthethoughtofwhatmighthappenifitwasnot。Bothlookedstraightaheadasthelasttreeglidedby,andthelongtracklaybeforethem,withthefreighttrainslowlycomingdown。Foraninstant,theboysstoodasifparalyzed。
\"Jump！\"saidGus,lookingatthesteepbankononesideandtheriverontheother,undecidedwhichtotry。
\"Sitstill！\"commandedFrank,collectinghiswits,ashegaveawarningwhistletoretardtheon—comingtrain,whilehereversedtheengineandwentbackfasterthanhecame。