Chapter Fifteen.
In the Engine-House.
The boys hardly spoke as they made their way towards the engine-house, from whence came a loud hissing noise, and on hearing this, Joe exclaimed excitedly,—
“He’s there.”
For answer Gwyn ran to the door, and entered, hardly knowing what he was about to do, but with the feeling that this man was a natural enemy, whom it was his duty to attack; and, like a true comrade, Joe followed closely at his heels.
The hissing noise increased as they approached the door; and, fully alive as he was to the danger of meddling with steam, Gwyn’s heart began to beat a little faster, for he felt that they were too late; that the mischief had been done, the steam was escaping, and that if they entered the house, it might be at the expense of a terrible scalding.
All else was silent, and as they reached the doorway of the place, the shrill, shrieking noise was piercing, and made their words difficult to hear.
“He has broken something, or turned on the steam, so that it may escape, Joe,” said Gwyn. “Shall we go in and try to put it right?”
“If we must. But where’s the engine-driver?—where’s the stoker?”