"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 remarkably1 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 intervals2 his besetting3 sinovercame his prudence4, and he proved himself an erring5, humanboy. Steam-engines had been his idols6 for years, and they alonecould lure7 him from the path of virtue8. Once, in trying toinvestigate the mechanism9 of a toy specimen10, which had its littleboiler and ran about whistling and puffing11 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 admiration13 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 privately15 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, helping16 the expressman, whose horse hadbacked down a bank and upset the wagon17.
"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 touching18 the bright brass19 knobs and glancing at thefire with a critical eye.
"You couldn't do it alone," answered Gus, sitting down on thegrimy little perch20, willing to indulge his mate's amiable21 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 throb22 and a puff12.
"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 mischief23.
"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 entirely24 that itwas impossible to resist prolonging the delight.
"By George, he has! Stop her! Back her! Hold on, Frank!" criedGus, as Joe, only catching25 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 glided26 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 audacity27 of the prank28.
"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 retard29 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 rumbled30 by on the main track.
Frank and Gus never had a very clear idea as to what occurredduring the next few minutes, but vaguely31 remembered being wellshaken, sworn at, questioned, threatened with direful penalties,and finally ordered off the premises32 forever by the wrathfuldepot-master. Joe was nowhere to be seen, and as the two culpritswalked away, trying to go steadily33, while their heads spun34 round,and all the strength seemed to have departed from their legs, Franksaid, in an exhausted35 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 dodge36, 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 frightened, and think I'm surely smashed up, if she istold in a hurry"; and Frank gave a shiver, as all the danger he hadrun came over him suddenly.
"I thought we were done for when we saw that train. Guess weshould have been if you had not had your wits about you. I alwayssaid you were a cool one"; and Gus patted Frank's back with a lookof great admiration, for, now that it was all over, he considered it avery remarkable37 performance.
"Which do you suppose it will be, fine or imprisonment38?" askedFrank, after sitting in a despondent39 attitude for a moment.
"Shouldn't wonder if it was both. Running off with an engine is nojoke, you know."'What did possess me to be such a fool?" groaned40 Frank, repenting,all too late, of yielding to the temptation which assailed41 him.
"Bear up, old fellow, I'll stand by you; and if the worst comes, I'llcall as often as the rules of the prison allow," said Gus,consolingly, as he gave his afflicted42 friend an arm, and theywalked away, both feeling that they were marked men from thatday forth14.
Meantime, Joe, as soon as he recovered from the shock of seeingthe boys actually go off, ran away, as fast as his legs could carryhim, to prepare Mrs. Minot for the ioss of her son; for the idea oftheir coming safely back never occurred to him, his knowledge ofengines being limited. A loud ring at the bell brought Mrs. Pecq,who was guarding the house, while Mrs. Minot entertained aparlor full of company.
"Frank's run off with No. 11, and he'll be killed sure. Thought I'dcome up and tell you," stammered44 Joe, all out of breath andlooking wild.
He got no further, for Mrs. Pecq clapped one hand over his mouth,caught him by the collar with the other, and hustled45 him into theante-room before anyone else could hear the bad news.
"Tell me all about it, and don't shout. What's come to the boy?" shedemanded, in a tone that reduced Joe to a whisper at once.
"Go right back and see what has happened to him, then come andtell me quietly. I'll wait for you here. I wouldn't have his motherstartled for the world," said the good soul, when she knew all.
"Oh, I dar'sn't! I opened the switch as they told me to, and Bill willhalf kill me when he knows it!" cried Joe, in a panic, as the awfulconsequences of his deed rose before him, showing both boysmortally injured and several trains wrecked47.
"Then take yourself off home and hold your tongue. I'll watch thedoor, for I won't have any more ridiculous boys tearing in todisturb my lady."Mrs. Pecq often called this good neighbor "my lady" whenspeaking of her, for Mrs. Minot was a true gentlewoman, andmuch pleasanter to live with than the titled mistress had been.
Joe scudded48 away as if the constable49 was after him, and presentlyFrank was seen slowly approaching with an unusually sober faceand a pair of very dirty hands.
"Thank heaven, he's safe!" and, softly opening the door, Mrs. Pecqactually hustled the young master into the ante-room asunceremoniously as she had hustled Joe.
"I beg pardon, but the parlor43 is full of company, and that fool of aJoe came roaring in with a cock-and-bull story that gave me quitea turn. What is it, Mr. Frank?" she asked eagerly, seeing thatsomething was amiss.
He told her in a few words, and she was much relieved to find thatno harm had been done.
"Ah, the danger is to come," said Frank, darkly, as be went away towash his hands and prepare to relate his misdeeds.
It was a very bad quarter of an hour for the poor fellow, who soseldom had any grave faults to confess; but he did it manfully, andhis mother was so grateful for the safety of her boy that she foundit difficult to be severe enough, and contented50 herself withforbidding any more visits to the too charming No. 11.
"What do you suppose will be done to me?" asked Frank, on whomthe idea of imprisonment had made a deep impression.
"I don't know, dear, but I shall go over to see Mr. Burton rightafter tea. He will tell us what to do and what to expect. Gus mustnot suffer for your fault.""He'll come off clear enough, but Joe must take his share, for if hehadn't opened that confounded switch, no harm would have beendone. But when I saw the way clear, I actually couldn't resist goingahead," said Frank, getting excited again at the memory of thatblissful moment when he started the engine.
Here Jack51 came hurrying in, having heard the news, and refused tobelieve it from any lips but Frank's. When he could no longerdoubt, he was so much impressed with the daring of the deed thathe had nothing but admiration for his brother, till a sudden thoughtmade him clap his hands and exclaim exultingly,"His runaway52 beats mine all hollow, and now he can't crow overme! Won't that be a comfort? The good boy has got into a scrape.
Hooray!"This was such a droll53 way of taking it, that they had to laugh; andFrank took his humiliation54 so meekly55 that Jack soon fell tocomforting him, instead of crowing over him.
Jill thought it a most interesting event; and, when Frank and hismother went over to consult Mr. Burton, she and Jack planned outfor the dear culprit a dramatic trial which would have convulsedthe soberest of judges. His sentence was ten years' imprisonment,and such heavy fines that the family would have been reduced tobeggary but for the sums made by Jill's fancy work and Jack'ssuccess as a champion pedestrian.
They found such comfort and amusement in this sensationalprogramme that they were rather disappointed when Frankreturned, reporting that a fine would probably be all the penaltyexacted, as no harm had been done, and he and Gus were suchrespectable boys. What would happen to Joe, he could not tell, buthe thought a good whipping ought to be added to his share.
Of course, the affair made a stir in the little world of children; andwhen Frank went to school, feeling that his character for goodbehavior was forever damaged, he found himself a lion, and was indanger of being spoiled by the admiration of his comrades, whopointed him out with pride as "the fellow who ran off with asteam-engine."But an interview with Judge Kemble, a fine of twenty-five dollars,and lectures from all the grown people of his acquaintance,prevented him from regarding his escapade as a feat56 to boast of.
He discovered, also, how fickle57 a thing is public favor, for verysoon those who had praised began to tease, and it took all hiscourage, patience, and pride to carry him through the next week ortwo. The lads were never tired of alluding58 to No. 11, giving shrillwhistles in his ear, asking if his watch was right, and drawinglocomotives on the blackboard whenever they got a chance.
The girls, too, had sly nods and smiles, hints and jokes of a mildersort, which made him color and fume59, and once lose his dignityentirely. Molly Loo, who dearly loved to torment60 the big boys, anddared attack even solemn Frank, left one of Boo's old tin trains onthe door-step, directed to "Conductor Minot," who, I regret to say,could not refrain from kicking it into the Street, and slamming thedoor with a bang that shook the house. Shrieks61 of laughter fromwicked Molly and her coadjutor, Grif, greeted this explosion ofwrath, which did no good, however, for half an hour later the samecars, all in a heap, were on the steps again, with two headless dollstumbling out of the cab, and the dilapidated engine labelled, "No.
11 after the collision."No one ever saw that ruin again, and for days Frank was utterlyunconscious of Molly's existence, as propriety62 forbade his havingit out with her as he had with Grif. Then Annette made peacebetween them, and the approach of the Twenty-second gave thewags something else to think of.
But it was long before Frank forgot that costly63 prank; for he was athoughtful boy, who honestly wanted to be good; so heremembered this episode humbly64, and whenever he felt theapproach of temptation he made the strong will master it, saying tohimself "Down brakes!" thus saving the precious freight he carriedfrom many of the accidents which befall us when we try to run ourtrains without orders, and so often wreck46 ourselves as well asothers.
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remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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besetting
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| adj.不断攻击的v.困扰( beset的现在分词 )；不断围攻；镶；嵌 | |
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prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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erring
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| 做错事的，错误的 | |
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idols
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| 偶像( idol的名词复数 )； 受崇拜的人或物； 受到热爱和崇拜的人或物； 神像 | |
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lure
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| n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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mechanism
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| n.机械装置；机构，结构 | |
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specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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puffing
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| v.使喷出( puff的现在分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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puff
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| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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privately
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| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
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helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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perch
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| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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throb
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| v.震颤，颤动；(急速强烈地)跳动，搏动 | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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prank
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| n.开玩笑，恶作剧；v.装饰；打扮；炫耀自己 | |
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retard
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| n.阻止，延迟；vt.妨碍，延迟，使减速 | |
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rumbled
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| 发出隆隆声，发出辘辘声( rumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 轰鸣着缓慢行进； 发现…的真相； 看穿（阴谋） | |
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vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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dodge
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| v.闪开，躲开，避开；n.妙计，诡计 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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despondent
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| adj.失望的，沮丧的，泄气的 | |
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groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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afflicted
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| 使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hustled
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| 催促（hustle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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wrecked
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| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
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scudded
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| v.（尤指船、舰或云彩）笔直、高速而平稳地移动( scud的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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constable
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| n.(英国)警察，警官 | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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runaway
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| n.逃走的人，逃亡，亡命者；adj.逃亡的，逃走的 | |
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droll
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| adj.古怪的，好笑的 | |
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humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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fickle
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| adj.(爱情或友谊上)易变的，不坚定的 | |
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alluding
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| 提及，暗指( allude的现在分词 ) | |
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fume
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| n.(usu pl.)(浓烈或难闻的)烟，气，汽 | |
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torment
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| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
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shrieks
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| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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64
humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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