A/N This is based on Bulldog.

Hey, it's us, I, Duke and my Mid-Sodor friends. Thomas told his friends this story once, but now we who were in it are telling the story our friend's driver at the time told and he passed along. I'm telling about how I helped Sir Handel, when he was still Falcon.

Long ago, when Peter Sam was still called Stuart and Sir Handel was still called Falcon, they worked with me on our old railway, but Falcon still had a lot to learn. The Manager came to see him.

"Falcon, I'm pleased with your work so far. Now, you must learn a difficult part of the line. We call it "The Mountain Road".

Falcon was excited. "Yes, please, sir".

So, tomorrow, when you have a new coat of paint, you will go on it. Duke will explain everything.". I need to turn it over to Falcon for a bit.

"Huh!" I thought "Duke's an old fusspot!" Back to Duke now. I just needed to say what I was thinking.

Next day came.

"Listen," I warned. "The Mountain Road is difficult. I'll lead.". Being older, I was already quite familiar with the Mountain Road. However, he was rather displeased with me, but he learned what I, Granpuff already knew. Except he called me worse names than Granpuff this time.

"No," replied Falcon. "I'll lead. How can I learn the route with you lumbering ahead and blocking my view?"

"Suit yourself," I said. "But never mind the view. Look at the track.", I thought, being younger, he might be distracted by the view.

We engines set off.

"Look at the track," I puffed. "Never mind the view."

"Fusspot, fusspot," replied Falcon. "Fuddy-duddy, fuddy-duddy, fuddy-duddy."

Us engines' speeds grew slower and slower.

"Don't dawdle, don't dawdle!" urged Falcon.

"No hurry, no hurry," I puffed.

Soon, we approached a tunnel. Falcon didn't like the tunnel. it was curved and he couldn't see.

"I want to get out! I want to get out!" he sighed.

One moment, everything seemed safe. But then suddenly... Falcon fell over the edge.

Falcon was derailed and hung dangerously over the edge. I bravely held on with all my strength.

"Stop shaking! I called. "I can't hold you if you shake!"

Driver and my fireman worked quickly to make us 2 engines safe again. Then came more trouble. I was thirsty.

"Water!" cried my fireman. "Duke needs water quickly!"

Luckily there was the worker's cottage nearby. Soon everybody was passing jugs. buckets, kettles and saucepans filled with water until my thirst was quenched. All the while, I was building more strength. At last, with everyone's help, I was able to pull Falcon back onto the rails. The Breakdown Gang of our railway came to help me, to be exact.

Then, we started off once more. The manager was waiting at the top station. He apologized for the accident.

"Your Duke," said the passengers. "is a hero!" He stood firm like a bulldog and wouldn't let go." I did what I thought right, because my friend was in trouble.

Falcon was grateful, too.

"Thank you for saving me, Duke. I don't know why you bothered after I've been so rude."

"Oh, well," I replied. "You just had a new coat of paint. It would've been a pity if you rolled down the mountain and spoiled it." I was just being modest, because as my driver said, real heroes are, but I really wanted no bad stuff to happen to him.

A/N Respect my Thomasverse, as I'm not British, they are. Duke's not an easy character for me, but I try.