Part 13 (2/2)

Evidently he was of a rank that entitled him to be spared the ordeal that awaited us lesser mortals

The tedious business was over at last; and, once through the barrier, I joined the throng in the restaurant, and looked around to see if he was aone on,--by a special train probably

The long hot day dragged on without any incident to break the monotony

I turned in early, and must have been asleep for an hour or then I was violently awakened by a terrific shock that hurled me clear out ofwhat on earth could have happened The other passengers were shrieking and cursing, panic-stricken, though I guess they were htened than hurt, for the car had at least kept the rails I don't recollect how Ithrough the seht

[Illustration: _His stern face, seen in the light of the blazing wreckage, was ghastly_ Page 87]

The whole of the front part of the train was a wreck; the engine lay on its side, belching fire and smoke, and the cars ie, from which horrible sounds ca, dazed like a drunken man, a flame shot up ae was already afire, and as I saw that, I dashed forward Others were as ready as I, and in half a e, and endeavoring to extricate the poor wretches rithing and shrieking under it, before the fire should reach theether we got out several of the victiether, a little away fro hard, and incapable for the moment of any fresh exertion

I looked at hi that he wasHis stern face, seen in the sinister light of the blazing wreckage, was ghastly; it was smeared with the blood that oozed from a wound across his forehead, and his blue eyes were aflanation

He was evidently quite unaware of my presence, and I heard him mutter: ”It was meant for me! My God! it was meant for me! And I have survived, while these suffer”

I do not knohat instinct prompted me to look behind at that mo the pines in our rear, and was in the act of springing on ly, as I saw the glint of an upraised knife, and flung nal, more men swarmed out of the forest and surrounded us

What folloas confused and unreal as a night and active as a wild cat; also he had his knife, while I, of course, was unarot in a nasty slash with his weapon before I could seize and hold his wrist with rim silence, till at last I had him doith my knee on his chest

I shi+fted ht out of hi it fro the brushwood

I sprang up and looked forout right and left at the ruffians round hi at bay

”_A norant of as happening so close at hand, and rushed to his assistance I hurled aside one ered and fell; dashed my fist in the face of a second; he went down too, but at the sa blow, and fell down--down--into utter darkness

CHAPTER XIII

THE GRAND DUKE LORIS

I ith a splitting headache to findcar; the sa when the accident--or outrage--occurred; for the ere suessed that there were a good many of the injured on board, for above the ru at a steady pace, I could hear the groans of the sufferers

I put es, war

Athat I ake, went away, returning ilass of iced tea, which I drank with avidity I noticed that both his hands were bandaged, and he carried his left aret the _barin_, now he is recovering?” he asked, in Russian, with sulky deference

”Where are we going,--to Petersburg?” I asked

”No Back to Dunaburg; it will be many hours before the line is restored”