Part 29 (2/2)

He did not hesitate what to do It would be prudent to continue on to Oerous to return to the train, which the Indians

Nevertheless, he began to rebuild the fire in the furnace; the pressure againbackwards to Fort Kearney This it hich histling in the lad to see the locomotive resume its place at the head of the train They could now continue the journey so terribly interrupted

Aouda, on seeing the locomotive come up, hurried out of the station, and asked the conductor, ”Are you going to start?”

”At once, madam”

”But the prisoners, our unfortunate fellow-travelers--”

”I cannot interrupt the trip,” replied the conductor ”We are already three hours behind time”

”And ill another train pass here fro, ! But then it will be too late! We must wait--”

”It is io, please get in”

”I will not go,” said Aouda

Fix had heard this conversation A little while before, when there was no prospect of proceeding on the journey, he had made up his mind to leave Fort Kearney; but now that the train was there, ready to start, and he had only to take his seat in the car, an irresistible influence held him back The station platform burned his feet, and he could not stir The conflict in his er and failure stifled hile on to the end

Meanwhile the passengers and so them Colonel Proctor, whose injuries were serious, had taken their places in the train The buzzing of the overheated boiler was heard, and the steaineer whistled, the train started, and soon disappeared,its white s snow

The detective had remained behind

Several hours passed The weather was dismal, and it was very cold Fix sat ht asleep Aouda, despite the stor to the end of the platforh the tempest of snow, as if to pierce the mist which narrowed the horizon around her, and to hear, if possible, so Then she would return, chilled through, to issue out again after the lapse of a fewcame, and the little band had not returned Where could they be? Had they found the Indians, and were they having a conflict with the amid the h he tried to conceal his apprehensions As night approached, the snow fell less plentifully, but it became intensely cold Absolute silence rested on the plains Neither flight of bird nor passing of beast troubled the perfect cals, her heart stifled with anguish, wandered about on the verge of the plains

Her iination carried her far off, and showed her innu hours it would be impossible to describe

Fix remained stationary in the same place, but did not sleep

Once a man approached and spoke to hi his head

Thus the night passed At dawn, the half-extinguished disc of the sun rose above a nize objects two one southward In the south there was not a sign of them It was then seven o'clock

The captain, as really alarmed, did not knohat course to take

Should he send another detachment to the rescue of the first?

Should he sacrificethose already sacrificed? His hesitation did not last long, however

Calling one of his lieutenants, he was on the point of ordering a reconnaissance, when gunshots were heard Was it a signal? The soldiers rushed out of the fort, and half a ood order

Mr Fogg wasat their head, and just behind him were Passepartout and the other two travelers, rescued froht the Indians ten miles south of Fort Kearney Shortly before the detachun to struggle with their captors, three of whom the Frenchman had felled with his fists, when his master and the soldiers hastened up to their relief