Chapter 26: Down the Mine
Sir Topham Hatt was not pleased with Gordon's stunt, and as punishment put him on goods work until further notice. Most of the other engine drivers found it funny. Edward did not think so, but he was not pleased with Gordon either, and talked to him sternly.
"It's what you get for being so stubborn," he told Gordon, "None of us are above the others on this railway, and it's high time you learned that." Gordon said nothing. He knew that nothing he could say or do could get him out of this mess.
A week later Gordon met Thomas at the junction to drop of some goods. With Thomas was Annie and Clarabel, whom had just gotten off of school. Thomas loved teasing Gordon, and decided now was a good chance.
"I smell something," he said, "Can you guys?"
"I can't smell anything," said Annie.
"You've got me," said Clarabel.
"A funny, musty sort of smell," Thomas continued.
"Nobody noticed it until you did," grunted Gordon, "It must have been you."
"I've got it," said Thomas at last, "its ditch water!" After collecting his trucks and the guard blew his whistle, he set off, leaving Gordon fuming.
Thomas thought he was being funny, but Annie and Clarabel felt ashamed of him. They felt sorry for Gordon, and wished Thomas wouldn't tease him so much.
"You really shouldn't tease him so much, Thomas," said Clarabel, "You wouldn't like it if he did that to you.
"Oh, I'm just teasing him," said Thomas. "Besides, he always teases me for my mistakes; he should know what it's like."
After he dropped the trucks off, he took Annie and Clarabel home. Next he left the branchline to collect some trucks from the lead mines.
Engine drivers always had to be careful when they go there. The roofs were strong enough to bear the weight of trucks, but not engines. The spot where they had to stop was marked by a danger board. However Thomas had never been here before and was unaware of the situation.
"Stupid board," he thought to himself, "It looks safe to me. He then made a plan.
He waited until nobody was looking, and then released the breaks on his engine. It surged past the board, and then promptly fell down a hole with a loud CRASH!
Fortunately, the hole was not very deep, and Thomas was not badly hurt. But he could not get his engine out by himself.
"Oh dear," Thomas thought, "I am a silly engine driver."
"And a very naughty one, too," said a very familiar voice. Sir Topham Hatt walked up, "I saw your little stunt, and I am disappointed in you."
"Please sir, will you be able to get my engine out?" Thomas pleaded.
"I don't know, Thomas," said Sir Topham Hatt, "The ground is too unstable for a crane. Let me see. I wonder if Gordon's engine could pull it out."
"Yes sir," said Thomas sadly. He didn't want to think of what Gordon would say.
Gordon soon arrived. While he had a good laugh when he heard of Thomas's crash, he soon turned serious when he saw the predicament. Workmen attached strong ropes to his engine's buffers, and with a few good tugs they managed to bring the engine to safety.
Thomas approached Gordon in his engine's cab.
"Thank you for your help, Gordon," he said, "I'm sorry for teasing you."
"It's alright, Thomas," Gordon said, "It made me laugh."
Thomas's mood then changed.
"I'm in disgrace," he said sadly. Gordon could see that Thomas was upset, and decided to make him an offer.
"I'll tell you what," he said, "Let's make an alliance. You help me, and I'll help you. Deal?"
Thomas gave a small smile. "Deal."
And with that he climbed into Gordon's cab and they set off for home.