Part 33 (2/2)

Unfortunately they were no longer in telegraphic communication, Ki-Tsang having knocked down the posts at the same time as he lifted the rails.

Hence a discussion as to what was the best thing to be done, which was not of long duration.

As the engine had run off the rails, the very first thing to do was evidently to get it onto them again; then as there was a gap in the line, the simplest thing to do was to run back to Tchertchen, and wait there until the company's workmen had repaired the damage, which they could easily do in a couple of days.

We set to work without losing a moment. The pa.s.sengers were only too glad to help Popof and the officials who had at their disposal a few tools, including jacks, levers and hammers, and in three hours the engine and tender were again on the line.

The most difficult business is over. With the engine behind we can proceed at slow speed to Tchertchen. But what lost time! What delays!

And what recriminations from our German baron, what donnervetters and teufels and other German expletives!

I have omitted to say that immediately after the dispersal of the bandits we had in a body thanked Faruskiar. The hero received our thanks with all the dignity of an Oriental.

”I only did my duty as general manager of the company,” he replied, with a truly n.o.ble modesty.

And then at his orders the Mongols had set to work, and I noticed that they displayed indefatigable ardor, for which they earned our sincere felicitations.

Meanwhile Faruskiar and Ghangir were often talking together in a whisper, and from these interviews arose a proposition which none of us expected.

”Guard,” said Faruskiar, addressing Popof, ”it is my opinion that we had much better run on to Tcharkalyk than go back; it would suit the pa.s.sengers much better.”

”Certainly, sir, it would be preferable,” said Popof; ”but the line is broken between here and Tcharkalyk, and we cannot get through.”

”Not at present, but we could get the cars through if we could temporarily repair the line.”

That was a proposal worth consideration, and we a.s.sembled to consider it, Major Nolt.i.tz, Pan-Chao, Fulk Ephrinell, Caterna, the clergyman, Baron Weissschnitzerdorfer, and a dozen others--all who understood Russian.

Faruskiar spoke as follows:

”I have been looking at the portion of the line damaged by the band of Ki-Tsang. Most of the sleepers are still in place. As to the rails, the scoundrels have simply thrown them onto the sand, and by replacing them end to end it would be easy to get the train over to the uninjured track. It would not take a day to do this, and five hours afterward we should be at Tcharkalyk.”

Excellent notion, at once approved of by Popof, the driver, the pa.s.sengers, and particularly by the baron. The plan was possible, and if there were a few rails useless, we could bring to the front those we had already run over, and in this way get over the difficulty.

Evidently this Faruskiar is a man, he is our true chief, he is the personage I was in want of, and I will sound his name over the entire universe in all the trumpets of my chronicle!

And yet Major Nolt.i.tz is mistaken enough to see in him only a rival to this Ki-Tsang, whose crimes have just received their final punishment from his hand!

We set to work to replace the sleepers that had been s.h.i.+fted aside from where they had left their mark, and we continued our task without intermission.

Having no fear of being noticed amid the confusion which followed the attack, I went into the luggage van to a.s.sure myself that Kinko was safe and sound, to tell him what had pa.s.sed, to caution him on no account to come put of his box. He promised me, and I was at ease regarding him.

It was nearly three o'clock when we began work. The rails had been s.h.i.+fted for about a hundred yards. As Faruskiar remarked, it was not necessary for us to fix them permanently. That would be the task of the workmen the company would send from Tcharkalyk when we reached that station, which is one of the most important on the line.

As the rails were heavy we divided ourselves into detachments.

First-cla.s.s and second-cla.s.s, all worked together with good will. The baron displayed tremendous ardor. Ephrinell, who thought no more of his marriage than if he had never thought about it, devoted strict attention to business. Pan-Chao was second to n.o.body, and even Doctor Tio-King strove to make himself useful--in the fas.h.i.+on of the celebrated Auguste, the fly on the chariot wheel.

”It is hot, this Gobi sun!” said Caterna.

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