"Don't throw things at them, Dan, please! Think of yesterday, and
Jabez, and Aunt Pike. _Don't_ throw anything to hurt them."

The "Rover" was lumbering nearer and nearer. The two men on it had
already caught sight of the quartette at the gate, and were grinning at
them derisively. It really was almost more than any human boy could be
expected to endure.

"Ha, ha!" jeered the men, as they lumbered by, "be yer boots dry yet,
sir? Wonderful cooling to the brain a wet 'at is--cooling to the feet,
too, sometimes!"

Dan's blood rose. He felt he simply had to throw something, or do
something desperate. Betty's basket, still well supplied, was hanging
on her arm close beside him. With one grab he seized the contents, and
first an apple went flying through the air, then a paper packet.
Tonkin, the fireman, caught the apple deftly; the packet hit Dumble on
the chest, and dropped to the floor. Dumble himself was too fat to
stoop, so Tonkin pounced on it. The engine was at a little distance
now, and aim was easier. Another apple, well directed, hit Tonkin fair
and square on the top of his head, while a third caught Dumble with no
mean force full on his very broad nose, making him dance and shout with
pain.

As the engine disappeared round the bend, with the two men grasping
their spoils and their bruises, Dan felt himself avenged, and the one
cloud on his day was lifted.

Kitty drew a deep sigh of relief that the episode was ended; Betty, one