Дети железной дороги

           Hewentintothecanaluptohisneck,andhisfeetcouldnotfeelthebottom,buthisarmwasontheedgeofthebarge.Phylliscaughtathishair.Ithurt,butithelpedhimtogetout.Nextminutehehadleapedontothebarge,Phyllisfollowing.

           "Notyou!"heshoutedtoBobbie;"ME,becauseI’mwet."

           HecaughtupwithBobbieatthecabindoor,andflungherasideveryroughlyindeed;iftheyhadbeenplaying,suchroughnesswouldhavemadeBobbieweepwithtearsofrageandpain.Now,thoughheflungherontotheedgeofthehold,sothatherkneeandherelbowweregrazedandbruised,sheonlycried:—

           "No—notyou—ME,"andstruggledupagain.Butnotquicklyenough.

           Peterhadalreadygonedowntwoofthecabinstepsintothecloudofthicksmoke.Hestopped,rememberedallhehadeverheardoffires,pulledhissoakedhandkerchiefoutofhisbreastpocketandtieditoverhismouth.Ashepulleditouthesaid:—

           "It’sallright,hardlyanyfireatall."

           Andthis,thoughhethoughtitwasalie,wasrathergoodofPeter.ItwasmeanttokeepBobbiefromrushingafterhimintodanger.Ofcourseitdidn’t.

           Thecabinglowedred.Aparaffinlampwasburningcalmlyinanorangemist.

           "Hi,"saidPeter,liftingthehandkerchieffromhismouthforamoment."Hi,Baby—whereareyou?"Hechoked.

           "Oh,letMEgo,"criedBobbie,closebehindhim.