There was a canal near the children's house.
Small boats called barges went up and down the canal.
The boats often carried coal.
Some boats had motors and some were pulled by horses or mules.
The children loved the canal almost as much as the railway.
They loved the railway best for two reasons.
They had found the railway first, and the people who worked on the canal barges were unfriendly.
Once the children had gone fishing in the canal.
But a boy on a barge had thrown a piece of coal at Phyllis.
He'd done it just for fun.
What a nasty boy!
Phyllis said it didn't hurt, but they stopped fishing and went home.
One fine day the three children were walking along the road near the canal.
Peter said, "Let's go fishing again!"
Phyllis remembered the mean boy.
But Peter said, "I'll fight any boys who throw coal at your head, Phyllis!"
So they went down to the path next to the canal and started fishing.
The children fished for half an hour.
"Hey!" said a loud voice. "Move!"
An old white horse walked slowly toward them.
It was pulling a barge.
Bobbie, Peter, and Phyllis jumped off the path and climbed up the hill.
They waited for the barge and the horse to pass so they could keep fishing.
"The barge is staying here! What rotten luck!" said Peter.
The man on the barge looked at them and said angrily, "What are you staring at?"
"We weren't staring," said Bobbie.
"Well, go away!" said the man.
"We can stay here.
We're not bothering anyone!" said Phyllis.
"You're bothering me!" said the man.
He got off his barge and started to climb the hill.
The children were a little scared.
The bargeman grabbed Peter's leg and said, "You can't fish in the canal.
And don't be so cheeky!"
Bobbie came down the hill a little and talked to the bargeman.
"Please don't be angry with Peter.
We won't fish anymore."
"All right then.
Now go home," he replied.
The man went down to his barge.
"Give me a coat, Maria!" he shouted.
A red-haired woman with a baby threw a coat at him.
"I'll be at the pub, the Rose and Crown.
Meet me there when the baby's asleep," he said.
When the bargeman had gone, the children climbed down the hill.
"I think the canal belongs to everyone," Peter said.
The woman got off the boat and saw them.
"Don't worry about Bill," she said.
"He gets angry quickly.
He'll be back in two hours.
You can catch fish now," she said.
"Thank you," said Bobbie.
"You're kind. Where's your baby?"
"Asleep in the cabin," she replied.
"He'll be fine.
He's safe in there, and the dog's with him."
The woman left, and Peter fished for a while, but he didn't catch anything.
It was nearly dark, and the girls were tired.
Suddenly Phyllis cried, "What's that?"
She pointed to the barge.
Smoke poured from the doors.
"The bargeman's boat is on fire, that's all.
I'm glad!" said Peter.
"Peter, how can you say that?" cried Phyllis.
"Think of the poor dog!"
"And the baby!" Bobbie suddenly screamed.
All three children ran to the barge as fast as they could.