Then,settinghishairerectwithonecomprehensivesweep,hecaughtuphiscoat—skirtsoverhisarm,and,assumingaparliamentaryattitude,burstintoacomicalmedley,composedofextractsfromJeffersonBrick'sandLafayetteKettle'sspeeches,andElijahPogram'sDefiance,from"MartinChuzzlewit。"GazingatGus,whowasconvulsedwithsuppressedmerriment,hethunderedforth:
　　"Inthenameofourcommoncountry,sir,inthenameofthatrighteouscauseinwhichwearejined,andinthenameofthestar—spangledbanner,Ithankyouforyoureloquentandcategoricalremarks。You,sir,areamodelofamanfreshfromNatur'smould。
　　Atrue—bornchildofthisfreehemisphere;verdantasthemountainsofourland;brightandflowin'asourmineralLicks;unspiledbyfashionasairourboundlessperearers。Roughyoumaybe;soairourBarrs。Wildyoumaybe;soairourBuffalers。But,sir,youairaChildofFreedom,andyourproudanswertotheTyrantis,thatyourbrighthomeisintheSettin'Sun。And,sir,ifanymandeniesthisfact,thoughitbetheBritishLionhimself,Idefyhim。Letmehavehimhere！"——smitingthetable,andcausingtheinkstandtoskip——"here,uponthissacredaltar！Here,upontheancestralashescementedwiththegloriousbloodpouredoutlikewaterontheplainsofChickabiddyLick。AloneI'darethatLion,andtellhimthatFreedom'shandoncetwistedinhismane,herollsacorsebeforeme,andtheEaglesoftheGreatRepublicscream,Ha,ha！"
　　Bythistimetheboyswererollingaboutinfitsoflaughter;evensoberFrankwasredandbreathless,andJacklayback,feeblysquealing,ashecouldlaughnomore。InamomentRalphwasasmeekasaQuaker,andsatlookingabouthimwithamildlyastonishedair,asifinquiringthecauseofsuchunseemlymirth。A
　　knockatthedoorproducedalull,andincameamaidwithapples。
　　"Time'sup;falltoandmakeyourselvescomfortable,"wasthesummarywayinwhichtheclubwasreleasedfromitssternerdutiesandpermittedtounbenditsmightymindforasocialhalfhour,chieflydevotedtowhist,withanIndianwar—danceasaclosingceremony。
　　Chapter10TheDramaticClubWhileJackwashoppinggaylyaboutonhiscrutches,poorJillwasfeelingtheeffectsofhersecondfall,andinsteadofsittingup,asshehopedtodoaftersixweeksofrest,shewasorderedtolieonaboardfortwohourseachday。Notaneasypenance,byanymeans,fortheboardwasveryhard,andshecoulddonothingwhileshelaythere,asitdidnotslopeenoughtopermithertoreadwithoutgreatfatigueofbotheyesandhands。Sothelittlemartyrspentherfirsthouroftrialinsobbing,thesecondinsinging,forjustashermotherandMrs。Minotweredecidingindespairthatneithershenortheycouldbearit,Jillsuddenlybrokeoutintoamerrychorussheusedtohearherfathersing:
　　"Fautjouerlemirliton,Fautjouerlemirlitir,Fautjouerlemirliter,Mir——li——ton。"
　　Thesoundofthebravelittlevoicewasverycomfortingtothetwomothershoveringabouther,andJacksaid,withalookofmingledpityandadmiration,ashebrandishedhiscrutchovertheimaginaryfoes,"That'sright！Singaway,andwe'llplayyouareanIndiancaptivebeingtormentedbyyourenemies,andtooproudtocomplain。I'llwatchtheclock,andtheminutetimeisupI'llrushinandrescueyou。"
　　Jilllaughed,butthefancypleasedher,andshestraightenedherselfoutunderthegayafghan,whileshesang,inaplaintivevoice,anotherlittleFrenchsongherfathertaughther:
　　"J'avaisunecolombeblanche,J'avaisunblancpetitpigeon,Tousdeu~volaient,dobrancheenbranche,Jusqu'aufaltedemondongeon:
　　Maiscommeuncoupdoventd'automne,S'estabattuZa,I'？per—vier,FtmacolombesimignonneNerevientplusaucolombier。"
　　"MypoorJeanhadafinevoice,andalwayshopedthechildwouldtakeafterhim。Itwouldbreakhishearttoseeherlyingtheretryingtocheerherpainwiththesongsheusedtosinghertosleepwith,"
　　saidMrs。Pecq,sadly。
　　"Shereallyhasagreatdealoftalent,andwhensheisablesheshallhavesomelessons,formusicisacomfortandapleasure,sickorwell,"answeredMrs。Minot,whohadoftenadmiredthefreshvoice,withitsprettyaccent。
　　HereJillbegantheCanadianboat—song,withgreatvigor,asifboundtoplayherpartofIndianvictimwithspirit,andnotdisgraceherselfbyanymorecrying。Allknewtheair,andjoinedin,especiallyJack,whocameoutstrongonthe"Row,brothers,row,"
　　butendedinasqueakonahighnote,sodrolly,thattherestbrokedown。Sothehourthatbeganwithtearsendedwithmusicandlaughter,andanewpleasuretothinkofforthefuture。
　　AfterthatdayJillexertedallherfortitude,forshelikedtohavetheboyscallherbraveandadmirethecheerfulwayinwhichsheenduredtwohoursofdiscomfort。Shefoundshecoulduseherzitherasitlayuponherbreast,andeverydaytheprettymusicbeganatacertainhour,andallinthehousesoonlearnedtoloveandlistenforit。Eventheoldcooksetopenherkitchendoor,sayingpitifully,"Poordarlint,hearhowpurtyshe'ssingin',widthepain,onthatcrewelboord。It'salittlesaint,sheis。Mayherbedabovebeaisy！"
　　Frankwouldlifthergentlyonandoff,withakindwordthatcomfortedherimmensely,andgentleEdwouldcomeandteachhernewbitsofmusic,whiletheotherfellowswerefrolickingbelow。Ralphaddedhissharetoheramusement,forheaskedleavetomodelherheadinclay,andsetuphisworkinacorner,Corningtopat,scrape,andmouldwheneverhehadaspareminute,amusingherbyhislivelychat,andshowingherhowtoshapebirds,rabbits,andqueerfacesinthesoftclay,whenthesongswereallsungandherfingerstiredofthezither。
　　Thegirlssympathizedveryheartilywithhernewtrial,andbroughtallmannerofgiftstocheerhercaptivity。MerryandMollymadeagayscreenbypastingpicturesontheblackcambricwhichcoveredthefoldingframethatstoodbeforehertokeepthedraughtsfromherasshelayonherboard。Brightbirdsandflowers,figuresandanimals,coveredoneside,andontheothertheyputmottoes,bitsofpoetry,anecdotes,andshortstories,sothatJillcouldlieandlookorreadwithoutthetroubleofholdingabook。Itwasnotalldoneatonce,butgrewslowly,andwasasourceofinstructionaswellasamusementtothemall,astheyreadcarefully,thattheymightmakegoodSelections。
　　ButthethingthatpleasedJillmostwassomethingJackdid,forhegaveupgoingtoschool,andstayedathomenearlyafortnightafterhemighthavegone,allforhersake。Thedaythedoctorsaidhemighttryitifhewouldbeverycareful,hewasingreatspirits,andlimpedabout,lookinguphisbooks,andplanninghowhewouldastonishhismatesbytherapidityofhisrecovery。WhenhesatdowntorestherememberedJill,whohadbeenlyingquietlybehindthescreen,whilehetalkedwithhismother,busyputtingfreshcoversonthebooks。
　　"Sheissostill,Iguesssheisasleep,"thoughtJack,peepingroundthecorner。
　　No,notasleep,butlyingwithhereyesfixedonthesunnywindow,beyondwhichthebrightwinterworldsparkledafterafreshsnow—fall。Thejingleofsleigh—bellscouldbeheard,thelaughterofboysandgirlsontheirwaytoschool,allthepleasantstirofanewdayofhappyworkandplayfortherestoftheworld,morelonely,quiet,andwearisomethanevertohersinceherfriendandfellow—prisonerwassetfreeandgoingtoleaveher。
　　Jackunderstoodthatpatient,wistfullook,and,withoutaword,wentbacktohisseat,staringatthefiresosoberly,thathismotherpresentlyasked:"Whatareyouthinkingofsobusily,withthatpuckerinyourforehead？"
　　"I'veaboutmadeupmymindthatIwon'tgotoschooljustyet,"
　　answeredJack,slowlyliftinghishead,foritcosthimsomethingtogiveupthelong—expectedpleasure。
　　"Whynot？"andMrs。Minotlookedmuchsurprised,tillJackpointedtothescreen,and,makingasadfacetoexpressJill'sanguish,answeredinacheerfultone,'Well,I'mnotsurethatitisbest。Doctordidnotwantmetogo,butsaidImightbecauseI
　　teased。Ishallbesuretocometogrief,andtheneveryonewillsay,'Itoldyouso,'andthatissoprovoking。I'dratherkeepstillaweeklonger。Hadn'tIbetter？"
　　Hismothersmiledandnoddedasshesaid,sewingawayatmuch—abusedoldCaesar,asifshelovedhim,"Doasyouthinkbest,dear。Ialwayswantyouathome,butIdon'twonderyouarerathertiredofitafterthislongconfinement。"
　　"Isay,Jill,shouldIbeinyourwayifIdidn'tgotoschooltillthefirstofFebruary？"calledJack,laughingtohimselfattheabsurdityofthequestion。
　　"Notmuch！"answeredagladvoicefrombehindthescreen,andheknewthesorrowfuleyeswereshiningwithdelight,thoughhecouldnotseethem。
　　"Well,IguessImayaswell,andgetquitefirmonmylegsbeforeI
　　start。AnotherweekorsowillbringmeupifIstudyhard,soIshallnotlosemytime。I'lltacklemyLatinassoonasit'sready,mother。"
　　Jackgotaheartykisswiththeneatlycoveredbook,andMammalovedhimforthelittlesacrificemorethanifhehadwonaprizeatschool。Hedidgetareward,for,infiveminutesfromthetimehedecided,Jillwassinginglikeabobolink,andsuchamedleyofmerrymusiccamefrombehindthescreen,thatitwasaregularmorningconcert。Shedidnotknowthenthathestayedforhersake,butshefounditoutsoonafter,andwhenthetimecamedidasmuchforhim,asweshallsee。
　　Itprovedawisedecision,forthelastpartofJanuarywassostormyJackcouldnothavegonehalfthetime。So,whilethesnowdrifted,andbitterwindsraged,hesatsnuglyathomeamusingJill,andgettingonbravelywithhislessons,forFranktookgreatpainswithhimtoshowhisapprobationofthelittlekindness,and,somehow,thememoryofitseemedtomakeeventhedetestedLatineasier。
　　WithFebruaryfairweathersetin,andJackmarchedhappilyawaytoschool,withJill'snewmittensonhishands,Mammanoddingfromthedoor—step,andFrankreadytogivehimaliftonthenewsled,ifthewayprovedtoolongortoorough。
　　"Ishallnothavetimetomisshimnow,forwearetobeverybusygettingreadyfortheTwenty—second。TheDramaticClubmeetsto—night,andwouldliketocomehere,iftheymay,so1canhelp？"
　　saidJill,asMrs。Minotcameup,expectingtofindherratherlowinhermind。
　　"Certainly;andIhaveabasketofoldfineryIlookedupfortheclubwhenIwasrummagingoutbitsofsilkforyourbluequilt,"
　　answeredthegoodlady,whohadsetupanewemploymenttobeguilethehoursofJack'sabsence。
　　Whenthegirlsarrived,thatevening,theyfoundMrs。Chairwomansurroundedbyastrewoftheatricalproperties,enjoyingherselfverymuch。Allbroughtsuchcontributionsastheycouldmuster,andallwereeageraboutacertaintableauwhichwastobethegemofthewhole,theythought。Jill,ofcourse,wasnotexpectedtotakeanypart,buthertastewasgood,soallconsultedherastheyshowedtheiroldsilks,laces,andflowers,askingwhoshouldbethis,andwhothat。Allwantedtobethe"SleepingBeauty,"forthatwasthechosenscene,withtheslumberingcourtabouttheprincess,andtheprinceintheactofawakeningher。Jackwastobethehero,braveinhismother'svelvetcape,redboots,andarealsword,whiletheotherboysweretohavepartsofmoreorlesssplendor。
　　"MabelshouldbetheBeauty,becauseherhairissolovely,"saidJuliet,whowasquitesatisfiedwithherownpartoftheQueen。
　　"No,Merryoughttohaveit,assheistheprettiest,andhasthatsplendidveiltowear,"answeredMolly,whowastobethemaidofhonor,cuffingthelittlepage,Boo。
　　"Idon'tcareabit,butmyfeatherwouldbefineforthePrincess,andIdon'tknowasEmmawouldliketohavemelendittoanyoneelse,"saidAnnette,wavingalongwhiteplumeoverherhead,withgirlishdelightinitsgrace。
　　"Ishouldthinkthewhitesilkdress,theveil,andthefeatheroughttogotogether,withthescarletcrapeshawlandthesepearls。Thatwouldbesweet,andjustwhatprincessesreallywear,"advisedJill,whowasstringingaquantityofoldRomanpearls。
　　"Weallwanttowearthenicethings,soletusdrawlots。Wouldn'tthatbethefairestway？"askedMerry,lookinglikearosylittlebride,underagreatpieceofillusion,whichhaddonedutyinmanyplays。
　　"ThePrinceislight,sothePrincessmustbedarkish。Weoughttochoosethegirlwhowilllookbest,asitisapicture。IheardMissDelanosayso,whentheladiesgotupthetableaux,lastwinter,andeveryonewantedtobeCleopatra,"saidJilldecidedly。
　　"Youchoose,andthenifwecan'tagreewewilldrawlots,"
　　proposedSusy,who,beingplain,knewtherewaslittlehopeofhergettingachanceinanyotherway。
　　Soallstoodinarow,andJill,fromhersofa,surveyedthemcritically,feelingthattheoneJackwouldreallypreferwasnotamongthenumber。
　　"Ichoosethatone,forJulietwantstobeQueen,Mollywouldmakefaces,andtheothersaretoobigortoolight,"pronouncedJill,pointingtoMerry,wholookedpleased,whileMabel'sfacedarkened,andSusygaveadisdainfulsniff。
　　"You'dbetterdrawlots,andthentherewillbenofuss。JuandIareoutofthefight,butyouthreecantry,andletthissettlethematter,"saidMolly,handingJillalongstripofpaper。
　　Allagreedtoletitbeso,andwhenthebitswerereadydrewinturn。ThistimefatewasevidentlyonMerry'sside,andnoonegrumbledwhensheshowedthelongestpaper。
　　"Goanddress,thencomeback,andwe'llplanhowwearetobeplacedbeforewecalluptheboys,"commandedJill,whowasmanager,sinceshecouldbenothingelse。
　　Thegirlsretiredtothebedroomandbeganto"rigup,"astheycalledit;butdiscontentstilllurkedamongthem,andshoweditselfinsharpwords,enviouslooks,anddisobligingacts。
　　"AmItohavethewhitesilkandthefeather？"askedMerry,delightedwiththesilveryshimmeroftheoneandthegracefuldroopoftheother,thoughbothwererathershabby。
　　"Youcanuseyourowndress。Idon'tseewhyyoushouldhaveeverything,"answeredSusy,whowasatthemirror,puttingawreathofscarletflowersonherredhead,boundtobegaysinceshecouldnotbepretty。
　　"IthinkI'dbetterkeeptheplume,asIhaven'tanythingelsethatisnice,andI'mafraidEmmawouldn'tlikemetolendit,"addedAnnette,whowasdisappointedthatMabelwasnottobetheBeauty。
　　"1don'tintendtoactatall！"declaredMabel,beginningtobraidupherhairwithajerk,outofhumorwiththewholeaffair。
　　"1thinkyouareasetofcross,selfishgirlstobackoutandkeepyournicethingsjustbecauseyoucan'tallhavethebestpart。I'mashamedofyou！"scoldedMolly,standingbyMerry,whowassadlysurveyinghermother'soldpurplesilk,whichlookedlikebrownintheevening。
　　"I'mgoingtohaveMissDelano'sredbrocadefortheQueen,andI
　　shallaskherfortheyellow—satindressforMerrywhenIgotogetmine,andtellherhowmeanyouare,"saidJuliet,frowningunderhergilt—papercrownasshesweptaboutinaredtable—Sclothfortraintillthebrocadearrived。
　　"Perhapsyou'dliketohaveMabelcutherhairoff,soMerrycanhavethat,too？"criedSusy,withwhomhairwasatenderpoint。
　　"Lighthairisn'twanted,soJuwillhavetogivehers,oryou'dbetterborrowMissBat'sfrisette,"addedMabel,withascornfullaugh。
　　"IjustwishMissBatwasheretogiveyougirlsagoodshaking。Doletsomeoneelsehaveachanceattheglass,youpeacock！"
　　exclaimedMollyLoo,pushingSusyasidetoarrangeherownblueturban,outofwhichshepluckedthepinkpompontogiveMerry。
　　"Don'tquarrelaboutme。Ishalldowellenough,andthescarletshawlwillhidemyuglydress,"saidMerry,fromthecorner,whereshesatwaitingforherturnatthemirror。
　　Asshespokeoftheshawlhereyewentinsearchofit,andsomethingthatshesawintheotherroomputherowndisappointmentoutofherhead。Jilllaythereallalone,rathertiredwiththelivelychatter,andtheeffortitcosthernottorepineatbeingshutoutfromthegreatdelightofdressingupandacting。
　　Hereyeswereclosed,hernetwasoff,andalltheprettyblackcurlslayabouthershouldersasonehandidlypulledthemout,whiletheotherrestedontheredshawl,asifsheloveditsglowingcolorandsofttexture。Shewashummingtoherselfthelittlesongofthedoveandthedonjon,andsomethingintheplaintivevoice,thesolitaryfigure,wentstraighttoMerry'sgentleheart。
　　"PoorJillycan'thaveanyofthefun,"wasthefirstthought;thencameasecond,thatmadeMerrystartandsmile,andinaminutewhispersothatallbutJillcouldhearher,"Girls,I'mnotgoingtobethePrincess。ButI'vethoughtofasplendidone！"
　　'Who？"askedtherest,staringatoneanother,muchsurprisedbythissuddenannouncement。
　　"Hush！Speaklow,oryouwillspoilitall。LookintheBirdRoom,andtellmeifthatisn'taprettierPrincessthanIcouldmake？"
　　Theyalllooked,butnoonespoke,andMerryadded,withsweeteagerness,"ItistheonlythingpoorJillcanbe,anditwouldmakehersohappy;Jackwouldlikeit,anditwouldpleaseeveryone,I
　　know。Perhapsshewillneverwalkagain,soweoughttobeverygoodtoher,poordear。"
　　Thelastwords,whisperedwithalittlequiverinthevoice,settledthematterbetterthanhoursoftalking,forgirlsaretenderheartedcreatures,andnotoneofthesebutwouldhavegladlygivenalltheprettythingssheownedtoseeJilldancingaboutwellandstrongagain。Likearayofsunshinethekindthoughttouchedandbrightenedeveryface;envy,impatience,vanity,anddiscontentflewawaylikeimpsatthecomingofthegoodfairy,andwithoneaccordtheyallcried,"Itwillbelovely;letusgoandtellher！"
　　Forgettingtheirownadornment,outtheytroopedafterMerry,whorantothesofa,saying,withasmilewhichwasreflectedinalltheotherfaces,"Jill,dear,wehavechosenanotherPrincess,andI
　　knowyou'lllikeher。"
　　"Whoisit？"askedJill,languidly,openinghereyeswithouttheleastsuspicionofthetruth。
　　"I'llshowyou";andtakingthecherishedveilfromherownhead,MerrydroppeditlikeasoftcloudoverJill;Annetteaddedthelongplume,Susylaidthewhitesilkdressabouther,whileJulietandMabelliftedthescarletshawltospreaditoverthefootofthesofa,andMollytorethelastornamentfromherturban,asilverstar,toshineonJill'sbreast。Thentheyalltookhandsanddancedroundthecouch,singing,astheylaughedatherastonishment,"Theresheis！Theresheis！PrincessJillasfineasyouplease！
　　"Doyoureallymeanit？ButcanI？Isitfair？Howsweetofyou！
　　Comehereandletmehugyouall！"criedJill,inaraptureatthesurprise,andtheprettywayinwhichitwasdone。
　　ThegrandsceneontheTwenty—secondwasveryfine,indeed;butthelittletableauofthatminutewasinfinitelybetter,thoughnoonesawit,asJilltriedtogatherthemallinherarms,forthatnosegayofgirlishfaceswasthesweeter,becauseeachonebadsacrificedherownlittlevanitytopleaseafriend,andherjoywasreflectedintheeyesthatsparkledroundthehappyPrincess。
　　"Oh,youdear,kindthings,tothinkofmeandgivemeallyourbestclothes！Inevershallforgetit,andI'lldoanythingforyou。
　　Yes！I'llwriteandaskMrs。Pipertolendushererminecloakfortheking。SeeifIdon't！"
　　Shrieksofdelighthailedthisnobleoffer,fornoonehaddaredtoborrowthemuch—covetedmantle,butallagreedthattheoldladywouldnotrefuseJill。Itwasastonishinghowsmoothlyeverythingwentafterthis,foreachwaseagertohelp,admire,andsuggest,inthefriendliestway;andwhenallweredressed,theboysfoundapartyofverygayladieswaitingforthemroundthecouch,wherelaythebrightestlittlePrincesseverseen。
　　"Oh,Jack,I'mtoact！Wasn'titdearofthegirlstochooseme？
　　Don'ttheylooklovely？Aren'tyouglad？"criedJill,astheladsstaredandthelassesblushedandsmiled,wellpleasedatthefrankadmirationtheboyishfacesshowed。
　　"IguessIam！Youareasetoftrumps,andwe'llgiveyouafirst—classspreadaftertheplaytopayforit。Won'twe,fellows？"
　　answeredJack,muchgratified,andfeelingthatnowhecouldacthisownpartcapitally。
　　"Wewill。Itwasahandsomethingtodo,andwethinkwellofyouforit。Hey,Gus？"andFranknoddedapprovinglyatall,thoughhelookedonlyatAnnette。
　　"Askingofthiscrowd,Icallittoorder,"saidGus,retiringtothethrone,whereJulietsatlaughinginherredtable—cloth。
　　"We'llhave'TheFairOnewithGoldenLocks'nexttime;Ipromiseyouthat,"whisperedEdtoMabel,whoseshininghairstreamedoverherbluedresslikeamantleofgold—coloredsilk。
　　"Girlsareprettynicethings,aren'tthey？Kindof'emtotakeJillin。
　　Don'tMollylookfine,though？"andGrif'sblackeyestwinkledasheplannedtopinherskirtstoMerry'satthefirstopportunity。
　　"Susylooksasgayasafeather—duster。Ilikeher。Sheneversnubsafellow,"saidJoe,muchimpressedwiththesplendorofthecourtladies。
　　Theboys'costumeswerenotyetready,buttheyposedwell,andallhadamerrytime,endingwithagameofblind—man's—buff,inwhicheveryonecaughttherightpersoninthemostsingularway,andallagreedastheywenthomeinthemoonlightthatithadbeenanususuallyjollymeeting。
　　Sothefairyplaywokethesleepingbeautythatliesinallofus,andmakesuslovelywhenwerouseitwithakissofunselfishgood—will,for,thoughthegirlsdidnotknowitthen,theyhadadornedthemselveswithpearlsmorepreciousthanthewaxenonesthey'deckedtheirPrincessin。
　　Chapter11"DownBrakes"
　　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。ii,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。
　　"Allright;I'lljustrollheruptotheswitchandbackagain。I'veoftendoneitwithBill";andFrankcautiouslyopenedthethrottle—valve,threwbackthelever,andthegreatthingmovedwithathrobandapuff。
　　"Steady,oldfellow,oryou'llcometogrief。Here,don'topenthat！"
　　shoutedGus,forjustatthatmomentJoeappearedattheswitch,lookingreadyformischief。
　　"Wishhewould;notrainfortwentyminutes,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。Nodanger;there'snotrainundertwentyminutes,Itellyou,"andFrankpulledouthiswatch。Butthesunwasinhiseyes,andhedidnotseeclearly,orhewouldhavediscoveredthatitwaslaterthanhethought。
　　Ontheywent,andwerejustroundingthebendwhenashrillwhistleinfrontstartledbothboys,anddrovethecoloroutoftheircheeks。
　　"It'sthefactorytrain！"criedGus,inahuskytone,ashesprangtohisfeet。
　　"No;it'sthefive—fortyontheotherroad,"answeredFrank,withaqueerthrillallthroughhimatthethoughtofwhatmighthappenifitwasnot。Bothlookedstraightaheadasthelasttreeglidedby,andthelongtracklaybeforethem,withthefreighttrainslowlycomingdown。Foraninstant,theboysstoodasifparalyzed。
　　"Jump！"saidGus,lookingatthesteepbankononesideandtheriverontheother,undecidedwhichtotry。
　　"Sitstill！"commandedFrank,collectinghiswits,ashegaveawarningwhistletoretardtheon—comingtrain,whilehereversedtheengineandwentbackfasterthanhecame。