The boy in the red shirt
'The boys from the school in Maidbridge are having a paper-chase today,' said Bobbie, the next morning."It seems ungrateful,' said Bobbie. *We loved it when there wasn't anyone to play with. And we've stopped waving to the 9.15, and sending our love to Father by it.' 'Let's begin again, said Phyllis. So the next morning, they ran down to the fence and watched the 9.15 come out of the tunnel. Take our love to Father!' they cried, as they waved their handkerchiefs. The old gentleman waved from his window. And there was nothing strange about that, because he had always waved. But now ... hands and handkerchiefs and newspapers waved from every window of the train, and smiling faces Hands and handkerchiefs and newspapers waved from every window of the train. looked up at the children on the fence. Well!' said Phyllis. 'What does it mean?' said Peter. 'Perhaps the old gentleman told the people to wave,' said Bobbie. But she had a strange feeling inside her, a feeling that something was going to happen. Lessons with Mother were difficult for Bobbie that morning. She found it hard to think about them. 'What is it, my darling?"'Perks thinks they'll go along beside the railway line.'He's the "hare", explained Bobbie. 'All the other boys are the "hounds" and they have to chase after him.''Passengers shouldn't cross the line.'"If a train comes, stand flat against the wall, said Peter. His voice sounded very different inside the tunnel walls. 'I don't like it!' said Phyllis. I don't like it!' said Phyllis. There was a low noise on the railway line. 'What's that?' said Peter. 'It's a train,' said Bobbie. 'Let me go back!' cried Phyllis. 'It's quite safe, said Bobbie. 'Stand back? The train came towards them, and the noise got louder and louder. Then it was screaming past, and they could feel the hot air and smell the smoke. They pushed themselves flat against the tunnel wall. 'Oh!' said the children, after it was gone. Peter took the end of a candle from his pocket, and his hand was shaking when he lit it with a match. 'C - come on, he said. And the three of them went deeper into the darkness of the tunnel. The boy in the red shirt was on the ground, beside the line. His eyes were closed and he did not move when they reached him. 'Is . . is he dead?"There were men working on the railway line, and the children began by watching them.There was a bag under the hare's arm.The workmen watched him, too.'He shouldn't go in there,' said one.'He's not a passenger.''I ... I think I've broken my leg,' he said.'The others came out, but you didn't.We could go and watch.'They almost forgot the paper-chase, and were surprised when a voice said, 'Let me pass, please.'It was the first boy from the school.It was the first boy from the school.It was full of pieces of paper, which he dropped behind him for the other boys to follow.They watched as he ran into the black mouth of the tunnel.'It's only a game,' said another.asked Phyllis.'Dead?No!'said Peter.And slowly, the boy opened his eyes.'How did you get here?'We saw you all go into the tunnel, and then we went across the hill to see you all come out, explained Peter.So we came to look for you.'"You don't think Father did it, do you?"asked Mother.