Chapter XI. “Down Brakes”

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.11,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. “AllrightI'lljustrollheruptoth