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,thoughhefeltthathewastheleasttoblame;andFrank,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。