New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-06-19
TT AgAW Mgg NY eoELEAfss

The man crossed over again to the pave
NEST eameoa until-hesW as- opposite the
hotel, caught sight Of me through the win
don, sndsahrupty turning on his heels
walked IN the direction taken by the
porter. 49,. 49,
Having discharged my bill, walked to
the railway station. On one platform
there was much tumult. train from Paris
having Just arrived. But upon the plat
form against which stood the train which
was to bear me to the North, counted
only five persons, exclusive OF the por-
tiers. go a.-.g~
The shril whistle of.the guard sounded.
The engine gave snort and the Line OF
carriages clanked to their,chains as they
frightened to the train. G15-tSa stts- -
Suddenly several voices cried: ''Stop!
Stop! Now, then, quick! Which class
irste Let's see your ticket Right. Here
you are Jump in. ;-,r-..5ss 30 a. ~
The door OF my carriage Was opened, q
form bounded in, the door was slammed,
there was another shrill whistle, and of
went the train. looked ct my companion.
He was the man that had noticed speak
to the porter and stare into the window OF
my hotel. q, s.e1- lT ,g.a- i2cT
A thrill passed over me. My recent
escape had greatly shaken my nervous sys-
tenn, and the apparition OF man whom
I felt I ought to suspect sent a thrill
through my blood. AS a peasant, which
he was-not only expressed in his dress,
but in bis hands, which were rough and
horny-what did he do in a frst-ciass car
rage? .. --...
Iweuld have given something to. have
changed carriages; but there was no COM
munication with the guard. Moreover,
the train, as have told you, was an ex-
press, and did not stop until a run of
sixty.six miles had been accomplished,
and we were now. bowling along with
great rapidly. III SO
Il began after time to regain my COM
posture; struggled to laugh down my
fears. What, / thought, had / TO fear from
man / had never seen-wbo had never
seen, me T? The thing was preposterous.
/ extracted q paper from my pocket and
commenced to read. 1913 ,..4-- q ls.tr..{
Half an hour passed away. AL at once,
over the edge OF my newspaper, I saw him
put his hand out the window, as if to open
the door. ). I had not time to conjecture
his intention, when, with wild, scream.
ing whistle, We we're hurled into the night
of . long tunnel. Sc
The rapid disappearance Of the daylight
made the oil-lamp suspended in the car
rage emit but the dullest light for some
minutes. - ~ t.os- cs t-r-I-
laid the newspaper down, with all my
old fears revived in me. had scarcely
done so, when I saw the outlines of man
rise in the carriage. He leapt over to
where was seated. / saw the CLEAN OF
q knife in the air. p. .c...f.
Mad with passion and surprise, l
grasped the descending arm. A. furious
to save my life inspired me
with the strength of giant. t.
The cferocity with which / seized his
wrist forced the hand open. The knife
fell, and then commenced silent, furious
struggle. ,., .-.s, ,....
2 He seized me by the collar, and chung
with the tenacity of tiger. heard his
snapping teeth, as if he was endeavoring
to bite. We swayed from one side of the
carriage to the other. ! felt how weak i'll
health had left me, and prayed to pass out
into the light, that might the better see
how to encounter the rattan.
Suddenly 1 felt myself swung round
with tremendous energy. bounded
against door. which opened, and we both
fell out on to the lines in the very centre
of the tunnel. .--t-.,
The fall seemed to have stunned him,
for he fell under me, and remained for
time motionIess. q,
For myself, received al Undesirable
~ so in
sion, but retained my senses. heard
the roar of the train dying away in the
distance; saw the red CLEAN fading like
the eye of dying demon. -
l still clutched him by the throat, nor
did I dare relinquish it. My situation was
frightful; suspected that down train
would be passing, and in the intense
blackness of the tunnel could not see on
which line we had fallen. I would have
stretched forth my hand to grope for the
rails; l might have found place Of safety
by judging Of the distance between them,
but felt the form of my assailant COM
to writhe beneath me.
His struggles grew fercer. He endeav-
ored to rise, but with the fury of despair
kept him pressed down, one hand on his
throat, the other on his breast. What l
desired was to render him insensible. I
would then leave him in the darkness and
grope my way as could.
1t never occurred to me at the time that
we were on the railroad track and in a
narrow tunnel.
Z A few minutes had elapsed when heard
a distant rumbling like approaching
thunder. It increased. seemed to feel
a wind blowing against my face.
/ tasted, too, q continual draught of
smoke and steam. l knew that train was
and my hair lifted on my
head. What rails were We on! The sus-
pense was terrible. -gr. -. rr-
Ny assailant increased his struggles.
He became furious. He was evidently
lighting to throw me down, and over in the
direction of that side of the tunnel along
which came the roar of the train.
I saw his object and madly pressed
upon him. His body frantically writhed.
He twisted under me as if he revolved on
q pivot He endeavored to shrek some
words to me, but my throttling grasp
made his voice no more than a horrible
hoarseness. 90. ----
I saw the red and green lights of the
engine approaching; they grew in size and
lustre with a hideous rapidity.
There was roar, shower Of dust,
wind that struck me down like blow from
a strong mans hand; then followed the
dying rattle, ending in dull and sullen
moan.
rose to my feet. l crossed over to the
wall, and feeling along it, took to walking
with all the speed my sinking frame would
suffer me to put forth.