"Down Brakes"The greatest people have their weak points, and the best-behavedboys now and then yield to temptation and get into trouble, aseverybody knows. Frank was considered a remarkably well-bredand proper lad, and rather prided himself on his good reputation,for he never got into scrapes like the other fellows. Well, hardlyever, for we must confess that at rare intervals his besetting sinovercame his prudence, and he proved himself an erring, humanboy. Steam-engines had been his idols for years, and they alonecould lure him from the path of virtue. Once, in trying toinvestigate the mechanism of a toy specimen, which had its littleboiler and ran about whistling and puffing in the most delightfulway, he nearly set the house afire by the sparks that dropped on thestraw carpet. Another time, in trying experiments with the kitchentea-kettle, he blew himself up, and the scars of that explosion hestill carried on his hands.
He was long past such childish amusements now, but his favoritehaunt was the engine-house of the new railroad, where he observedthe habits of his pets with never-failing interest, and cultivated thegood-will of stokers and brakemen till they allowed him manyliberties, and were rather flattered by the admiration expressed fortheir iron horses by a young gentleman who liked them better eventhan his Greek and Latin.
There was not much business doing on this road as yet, and thetwo cars of the passenger-trains were often nearly empty, thoughfull freight-trains rolled from the factory to the main road, ofwhich this was only a branch. So things went on in a leisurelymanner, which gave Frank many opportunities of pursuing hisfavorite pastime. He soon knew all about No. ii, his pet engine,and had several rides on it with Bill, the engineer, so that he felt athome there, and privately resolved that when he was a rich man hewould have a road of his own, and run trains as often as he liked.
Gus took less interest than his friend in the study of steam, butusually accompanied him when he went over after school todisport himself in the engine-house, interview the stoker, or see ifthere was anything new in the way of brakes.
One afternoon they found No. 11 on the side-track, puffing awayas if enjoying a quiet smoke before starting. No cars were attached,and no driver was to be seen, for Bill was off with the other menbehind the station-house, helping the expressman, whose horse hadbacked down a bank and upset the wagon.
"Good chance for a look at the old lady," said Frank, speaking ofthe engine as Bill did, and jumping aboard with great satisfaction,followed by Gus.
"I'd give ten dollars if I could run her up to the bend and back," headded, fondly touching the bright brass knobs and glancing at thefire with a critical eye.
"You couldn't do it alone," answered Gus, sitting down on thegrimy little perch, willing to indulge his mate's amiable weakness.
"Give me leave to try? Steam is up, and I could do it as easy asnot"; and Frank put his hand on the throttle-valve, as if daring Gusto give the word.
"Fire up and make her hum!" laughed Gus, quoting Bill's frequentorder to his mate, but with no idea of being obeyed.
"All right; I'll just roll her up to the switch and back again. I'veoften done it with Bill"; and Frank cautiously opened thethrottle-valve, threw back the lever, and the great thing movedwith a throb and a puff.
"Steady, old fellow, or you'll come to grief. Here, don't open that!"shouted Gus, for just at that moment Joe appeared at the switch,looking ready for mischief.
"Wish he would; no train for twenty minutes, and we could run upto the bend as well as not," said Frank, getting excited with thesense of power, as the monster obeyed his hand so entirely that itwas impossible to resist prolonging the delight.
"By George, he has! Stop her! Back her! Hold on, Frank!" criedGus, as Joe, only catching the words "Open that!" obeyed, withoutthe least idea that they would dare to leave the siding.
But they did, for Frank rather lost his head for a minute, and outupon the main track rolled No. 11 as quietly as a well-trainedhorse taking a familiar road.
"Now you've done it! I'll give you a good thrashing when I getback!" roared Gus, shaking his fist at Joe, who stood staring,half-pleased, half-scared, at what he had done.
"Are you really going to try it?" asked Gus, as they glided on withincreasing speed, and he, too, felt the charm of such a noveladventure, though the consequences bid fair to be serious.
"Yes, I am," answered Frank, with the grim look he always worewhen his strong will got the upper hand. "Bill will give it to us,anyway, so we may as well have our fun out. If you are afraid, I'llslow down and you can jump off," and his brown eyes sparkledwith the double delight of getting his heart's desire and astonishinghis friend at the same time by his skill and coolness.
"Go ahead. I'll jump when you do"; and Gus calmly sat downagain, bound in honor to stand by his mate till the smash came,though rather dismayed at the audacity of the prank.
"Don't you call this just splendid?" exclaimed Frank, as they rolledalong over the crossing, past the bridge, toward the curve, a milefrom the station.
"Not bad. They are yelling like mad after us. Better go back, if youcan," said Gus, who was anxiously peering out, and, in spite of hisefforts to seem at ease, not enjoying the trip a particle.
"Let them yell. I started to go to the curve, and I'll do it if it costsme a hundred dollars. No danger; there's no train under twentyminutes, I tell you," and Frank pulled out his watch. But the sunwas in his eyes, and he did not see clearly, or he would havediscovered that it was later than he thought.
On they went, and were just rounding the bend when a shrillwhistle in front startled both boys, and drove the color out of theircheeks.
"It's the factory train!" cried Gus, in a husky tone, as he sprang tohis feet.
"No; it's the five-forty on the other road," answered Frank, with aqueer thrill all through him at the thought of what might happen ifit was not. Both looked straight ahead as the last tree glided by,and the long track lay before them, with the freight train slowlycoming down. For an instant, the boys stood as if paralyzed.
"Jump!" said Gus, looking at the steep bank on one side and theriver on the other, undecided which to try.
"Sit still!" commanded Frank, collecting his wits, as he gave awarning whistle to retard the on-coming train, while he reversedthe engine and went back faster than he came.
A crowd of angry men was waiting for them, and Bill stood at theopen switch in a towering passion as No. 11 returned to her placeunharmed, but bearing two pale and frightened boys, who steppedslowly and silently down, without a word to say for themselves,while the freight train rumbled by on the main track.
Frank and Gus never had a very clear idea as to what occurredduring the next few minutes, but vaguely remembered being wellshaken, sworn at, questioned, threatened with direful penalties,and finally ordered off the premises forever by the wrathfuldepot-master. Joe was nowhere to be seen, and as the two culpritswalked away, trying to go steadily, while their heads spun round,and all the strength seemed to have departed from their legs, Franksaid, in an exhausted tone,"Come down to the boat-house and rest a minute."Both were glad to get out of sight, and dropped upon the steps red,rumpled, and breathless, after the late exciting scene. Gusgenerously forebore to speak, though he felt that he was the leastto blame; and Frank, after eating a bit of snow to moisten his drylips, said, handsomely,"Now, don't you worry, old man. I'll pay the damages, for it wasmy fault. Joe will dodge, but I won't, so make your mind easy.
"We sha'n't hear the last of this in a hurry," responded Gus,relieved, yet anxious, as he thought of the reprimand his fatherwould give him.
"I hope mother won't hear of it till I tell her quietly myself. Shewill be so frightene............