trembling clutch.

"So I've caught you at last, have I, you young thief?" said the
Station Master.

"I'm not a thief," said Peter, as firmly as he could. "I'm a coal-
miner."

"Tell that to the Marines," said the Station Master.

"It would be just as true whoever I told it to," said Peter.

"You're right there," said the man, who held him. "Stow your jaw,
you young rip, and come along to the station."

"Oh, no," cried in the darkness an agonised voice that was not
Peter's.

"Not the POLICE station!" said another voice from the darkness.

"Not yet," said the Station Master. "The Railway Station first.
Why, it's a regular gang. Any more of you?"

"Only us," said Bobbie and Phyllis, coming out of the shadow of
another truck labelled Staveley Colliery, and bearing on it the
legend in white chalk: 'Wanted in No. 1 Road.'

"What do you mean by spying on a fellow like this?" said Peter,
angrily.