Part 4 (1/2)

Foster looked at him, surprised He had not expected an adventure of this kind on a Canadian Pacific train, but did not think the other was exaggerating

”How many men?” he asked

”I've seen one, but know there are more”

”Then why not tell the conductor and have the train searched?”

”It wouldn't work I ht find one eneuard, and to let theer is the best chance I have The conductor's et me into the express car It's the only safe place; the clerks are armed Well, my business is lawful and in the public interest, and I take it you're a patriotic citizen”

Foster saw that he must decide quickly Somehow he did not doubt the man, who kept his eyes on the door as if he expected somebody to come in Moreover, he expected to be met by the police at Ottawa

”It looks as if I'd run your risk when I put on your coat,” he said

”The porter's sweeping up the car, and if you keep the door open, you'll be safe while he's about Besides, if I can't get into the express car, I'll come back Give me ten minutes, and then, if I don't turn up and you feel uneasy, take off the coat and put the newspaper down”

”Very well,” said Foster ”Perhaps you had better take ave hioing to Montreal What's your name?”

Foster told him and he resumed: ”Then, if you don't see raph, a day or two You'll be repaid for any expense or inconvenience Well, I' Thanks!”

”Good luck!” said Foster, who sat down and opened the _Witness_

Noas alone, he began to wonder if he had been imposed upon The h alarmed, he had an air of quiet authority In a sense, it seeer Violence was not co of weapons was prohibited, and Foster had never heard of any sensational criht the ood cause He did not look like a detective, and Foster felt nearly sure he had not got on board at the Crossing

This see the tragedy there, particularly since Hulton had only recovered froo Then Hulton had stated that he meant to send for a New York ht be a confidential agent of the Govern about certain e public property

By and by Foster siven hier had asked his help Both had stated their confidence in hi obvious that to look as if one could be trusted had its drawbacks He did not feel much disturbed as he read the newspaper, which reported the arrest of two strangers with dyna canal, but presently put it down and glanced at his watch The ten one and he looked out of theA frozen lake shi+e of the track and then, with a harsh uproar, the train plunged into the shadow of a cliff On the suainst the sky, and Foster knew they ran froed and stony a wilderness as there is in the Dominion The stations were small and sometimes only places where the locomotives stopped for water He could not re at his watch again, he saw that he had kept his proive the o to his berth, unless he could learn so about him fro the train, and after walking through the empty car he opened the door of a vestibule and stepped out on the platform It was unprotected except for a brass rail at the side, which was divided in the middle where the steps went down The floor jolted and a bitter wind that whistled between the vestibules buffeted hih he wore the fur coat, he shi+vered, and as he stepped across the gap between the platfor sharply round, he saw aroof, and felt his heart beat Then the door he had been onist to deal with He carried no pistol and there was notheard, but he did not wait to be attacked, and with a sudden spring threw himself upon the man in front He felt his knuckles jar and heard the fellow's head crash against the vestibule, but the other seized him as he turned Foster surht use the knife, and determined to throw the fellon the steps If this proved impossible, he must try to jue struggle only lasted a few h to draeapon and Foster kept his grip on hih this left his own face exposed He was breathless and exhausted when he fell against the rail, but with a tense effort he lifted the fellow off his feet Since there seemed to be no other way, they must both fall off the train He lost his balance and his foot slipping from the top step threw him backward Then he missed the rail he clutched at and felt a heavy shock

When his senses caround There were dark firs about, but, a little farther on, the rails glistened in the ht, and he dully realized that he had fallen off the car A faint snorting and a ruoing on Foster lay still and listened until the sound died away It looked as if nobody but the le and he was left behind Then he cautiously raised his head and leaning on his elbow looked about It was a relief to find that he could do so, but he onist had fallen off with hiht renew the attack

There was nothing in the shadow beside the line, the gap where the rails ran into thewas still, except for the sigh of the cold breeze a up The train was probably going at forty ht find that some bones were broken when he tried to move The shock had perhaps dulled his senses and prevented his feelingan effort he got shakily upon his feet To his surprise, he discovered that he was not h he felt sore and dizzy, and he sat down on a fallen branch to think what he should do

The next station was probably only ent's office and a water-tank Besides, his antagonists et down there and come back to look for him, in which case he would be at theirway to the station they had passed, but he thought the safest plan would be toto eat on the way, but a train fro, and the others would not expect him to resume his journey east If they had found out their ranted that he was a confederate of theto reach the new Canadian Northern line Foster felt angry with the felloho had lured him into the adventure and resolved to extricate hi up, he started west along the track, and after a time found himself embarrassed by the fur coat It was heavy and too warm, but he would need it when he stopped Then he wore thin city boots, and the track, as usual, was roughly ballasted with coarse gravel The stones rolled about under his feet, and the ties were irregularly spaced, so that he could not step from one to another except by an aard stride

He went on, however, and by and by began to wonder where he could get a drink, for the struggle or the shock hadcoat proved troublesoot sore and he tried to walk in the shallow drain beside the line, but this was filled with ice, on which he slipped He had traveled by rougher trails and carried heavy loads, but that was soo and he wore different boots and fastened on his pack by proper straps Moreover, one got soft when leading a business life