Chapter XI. “Down Brakes”

eswitchandbackagain.I'veoftendoneitwithBill”andFrankcautiouslyopenedthethrottle-valve,threwbackthelever,andthegreatthingmovedwithathrobandapuff. “Steady,oldfellow,oryou'llcometogrief.Here,don'topenthat!”shoutedGus,forjustatthatmomentJoeappearedattheswitch,lookingreadyformischief. “Wishhewouldnotrainfortwentyminutes,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.Nodangerthere'snotrainundertwentyminutes,Itellyou,”andFrankpulledouthiswatch.Butthesunwasinhiseyes,andhedidnotseeclearly,orhewouldhavediscoveredthatitwaslaterthanhethought. Ontheywent,andwerejustroundingthebendwhenashrillwhistleinfrontstartledbothboys,anddrovethecoloroutoftheircheeks. “It'sthefactorytrain!”criedGus,inahuskytone,ashesprangtohisfeet. “Noit'sthefive-fortyontheotherroad,”answeredFrank,withaqueerthrillallthroughhimatthethoughtofwhatmighthappenifitwasnot.Bothlookedstraightaheadasthelasttreeglidedby,andthelongtracklaybeforethem,withthefreighttrainslowlycomingdown.Foraninstant,theboysstoodasifparalyzed. “Jump!”saidGus,lookingatthesteepbankononesideandtheriverontheother,undecidedwhichtotry. “Sitstill!”commandedFrank,collectinghiswits,ashegaveawarningwh