Part 28 (1/2)

Mr Fogg resuame with perfect calmness

At eleven o'clock the loco Plu rose, and, followed by Fix, went out upon the platfor a pair of revolvers Aouda remained in the car, as pale as death

The door of the next car opened, and Colonel Proctor appeared on the platform, attended by a Yankee of his own stamp as his second But just as the combatants were about to step from the train, the conductor hurried up, and shouted, ”You can't get off, gentlemen!”

”Why not?” asked the colonel

”We are twentyto fight a duel with this gentleman”

”I am sorry,” said the conductor; ”but we shall be off at once

There's the bell ringing now”

The train started

”I'm really very sorry,--” said the conductor ”Under any other circue you But, after all, as you have not had ti?”

”That wouldn't be convenient, perhaps, for this gentle tone

”It would be perfectly so,” replied Phileas Fogg

”Well, we are really in Aentle, he followed his master

The two coh the cars to the rear of the train The last car was only occupied by a dozen passengers, whom the conductor politely asked if they would not be so kind as to leave it vacant for a few entleranted the request with alacrity, and straightway disappeared on the platfor, was very convenient for their purpose The adversaries ht march on each other in the aisle, and fire at their ease Never was dueland Colonel Proctor, each provided with two six-barreled revolvers, entered the car The seconds, re at the first whistle of the locomotive After an interval of two entle could be more simple Indeed, it was all so si as if they would crack They were listening for the whistle agreed upon, when suddenly savage cries resounded in the air, accompanied by reports which certainly did not issue from the car where the duelists were The reports continued in front and the whole length of the train Cries of terror proceeded fro, revolvers in hand, hastily quitted their prison, and rushed forhere the noise was most clamorous They then perceived that the train was attacked by a band of Sioux

This was not the first atte Indians, for more than once they had waylaid trains on the road A hundred of the to their habit, ju the train, with the ease of a clown allop

The Sioux were aruns, froers, ere almost all armed, responded by revolver shots

The Indians had first ineer and stoker with blows fro to stop the train, but not knowing hoork the regulator, had opened wide instead of closing the stea forith terrific velocity

The Sioux had at the saedhand to hand with the passengers Penetrating the baggage-car, they pillaged it, throwing the trunks out of the train The cries and shots were constant The travelers defended themselves bravely Soe, likeat a speed of a hundred eously from the first She defended herself like a true heroine with a revolver, which she shot through the broken henever a savage made his appearance Twenty Sioux had fallen round, and the wheels crushed those who fell upon the rails as if they had been worers, shot or stunned, lay on the seats

It was necessary to put an end to the struggle, which had lasted for ten minutes, and which would result in the triumph of the Sioux if the train was not stopped Fort Kearney station, where there was a garrison, was only two miles distant; but, that once passed, the Sioux would be masters of the train between Fort Kearney and the station beyond