Дети железной дороги
Prisoners and captives.
Jimaskedafterthetoyengine,andBobbiepressedonhisacceptanceamoist,greasypackageoftoffeethatshehadmadeherself.
Charmedbythisattention,theengine-driverconsentedtoconsiderherrequestthatsomedayhewouldtakePeterforarideontheengine.
"Standback,Mates,"criedtheengine-driver,suddenly,"andhorfshegoes."
Andsureenough,offthetrainwent.Thechildrenwatchedthetail-lightsofthetraintillitdisappearedroundthecurveoftheline,andthenturnedtogobacktothedustyfreedomoftheGeneralWaitingRoomandthejoysoftheadvertisementgame.
Theyexpectedtoseejustoneortwopeople,theendoftheprocessionofpassengerswhohadgivenuptheirticketsandgoneaway.Instead,theplatformroundthedoorofthestationhadadarkblotroundit,andthedarkblotwasacrowdofpeople.
"Oh!"criedPeter,withathrillofjoyousexcitement,"something’shappened!Comeon!"
Theyrandowntheplatform.Whentheygottothecrowd,theycould,ofcourse,seenothingbutthedampbacksandelbowsofthepeopleonthecrowd’soutside.Everybodywastalkingatonce.Itwasevidentthatsomethinghadhappened.
"It’smybeliefhe’snothingworsethananatural,"saidafarmerish-lookingperson.Petersawhisred,clean-shavenfaceashespoke.
"Ifyouaskme,IshouldsayitwasaPoliceCourtcase,"saidayoungmanwithablackbag.
