Chapter XI. “Down Brakes”

istletoretardtheon-comingtrain,whilehereversedtheengineandwentbackfasterthanhecame. Acrowdofangrymenwaswaitingforthem,andBillstoodattheopenswitchinatoweringpassionasNo.11returnedtoherplaceunharmed,butbearingtwopaleandfrightenedboys,whosteppedslowlyandsilentlydown,withoutawordtosayforthemselves,whilethefreighttrainrumbledbyonthemaintrack. FrankandGusneverhadaveryclearideaastowhatoccurredduringthenextfewminutes,butvaguelyrememberedbeingwellshaken,swornat,questioned,threatenedwithdirefulpenalties,andfinallyorderedoffthepremisesforeverbythewrathfuldepot-master.Joewasnowheretobeseen,andasthetwoculpritswalkedaway,tryingtogosteadily,whiletheirheadsspunround,andallthestrengthseemedtohavedepartedfromtheirlegs,Franksaid,inanexhaustedtone,— “Comedowntotheboat-houseandrestaminute.” Bothweregladtogetoutofsight,anddroppeduponthestepsred,rumpled,andbreathless,afterthelateexcitingscene.Gusgenerouslyforeboretospeak,thoughhefeltthathewastheleasttoblameandFrank,aftereatingabitofsnowtomoistenhisdrylips,said,handsomely,— “Now,don'tyouworry,oldman.I'llpaythedamages,foritwasmyfault.Joewilldodge,butIwon't,somakeyourmindeasy. “Wesha'n'thearthelastofthisinahurry,”respondedGus,relieved,yetanxious,ashethoughtofthereprimandhisfatherwouldgivehim. “Ihopemotherwon'thearofittillItellherquietlymyself.Shewillbesofrightened,andthinkI'msurelysmashedup,ifsheistoldinahurry”andFrankgaveashiver,asallthedangerhehadruncameoverhimsuddenly. “Ithoughtweweredoneforwhenwesawthattrain.Guessweshouldhavebeenifyouhadnothadyourwitsaboutyou.Ialwayssaidyouwereacoolone”andGuspattedFrank'sbackwithalookofgreatadmiration,for,nowthatitwasallover,heconsidereditaveryremarkableperformance. “Whichdoyousupposeitwillbe,fineorimprisonment?”askedFrank,aftersittinginadespondentattitudeforamoment. “Shouldn'twonderifitwasboth.Runningoffwithanengineisnojoke,youknow.” “Whatdidpossessmetobesuchafool?”groanedFrank,repenting,alltoolate,ofyieldingtothetemptationwhichassailedhim. “Bearup,oldfellow,I'llstandbyyouandiftheworstcomes,I'llcallasoftenastherulesoftheprisonallow,”saidGus,consolingly,ashegavehisafflictedfriendanarm,andtheywalkedaway,bothfeelingthattheyweremarkedmenfromthatdayforth. Meantime,Joe,assoonasherecoveredfromtheshockofseeingtheboysactuallygooff,ranaway,asfastashislegscouldcarryhim,toprepareMrs.Minotforthelossofhersonfortheideaoftheircomingsafelybackneveroccurredtohim,hisknowledgeofenginesbeinglimited.AloudringatthebellbroughtMrs.Pecq,whowasguardingthehouse,whileMrs.Minotentertainedaparlorfullofcompany. “Frank'srunoffwithNo.11,andhe'llbekilledsure.ThoughtI'dcomeupandtellyou,”stammeredJoe,alloutofbreathandlookingwild. Hegotnofurther,forMrs.Pecqclappedonehandoverhism