The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-07-23
CHAPTER xxx

they been captured by the Sioux? No one
could tell.
Many were wounded, but none MORALLY.
Col Stamp Proctor who had fought bravely,
received the severest. He was taken to the
station with the others, where they received
immediate care. Madame Aouda was safe;
Fogg escaped with only slight scratches; Fix
received slight wound in the arm; but
Passepartout was missing, and the tears rolled
down the cheeks of the young lady.
Meanwhile the travellers had left the cars.
The wheels were covered with blood, bits OF
flesh hung on the spokes and axles. Ihey
saw, as far as the eye could reach, long bloody
trails The last Indians were then disappear
ing in the south, at the banks OF the Republic
can river.
Mr.. Fogg with folded arms remained mo-
toness; he had grave decision to make.
Madame Aouda stood by watching him in
silence. He understood her look. If his UNI
fortunate servant had been taken prisoner,
ought he not to risk everything to rescue
him from the Indians?
II shall find him, dead or living, said he
quietly, to Madame Aouda. "Ah! Mr.. Fogg
MIR. Foggp cried the young lady, Selling
the hands of her companion and bathing
them with tears. Living" added Mr. Fogg,
''if we do not lose moment!'
BY this resolve, Mr.. Fogg sacrificed every
thing-he pronounced his own doom.
The day of delay would cause him to miss
the steamer from New York. His bet
was irrecoverably lost: but before this thought
1T is my duty."-he did not hesitate.
The captain in command of Fort Kearney.
placed detachment of soldier in readiness,
IN case the Sioux should p1ake an attack
against the station.
Captain said Mr.. Fogg, ''three men haze
disappeared"
dead ?" inquired the captain"
'Dead, or prisoners" answered. Mr.. Fogg,
SIT is an uncertainty-we must end it."
'Oh, wel,' said the captain, moved in
spite of himself "You are brave man.
Thirty volunteers" cried he, turning to the
soldiers.
All the company came, en- mosse. The
captain had Only to choose. Thirty
soldiers were named, and an old sergeant put
in command.
"Thank you, Captain" said Mr.. Fogg.
'Will you allow me to accompany you?"
asked Fix of the gentlemen. "You will do as
you please. Sir replied Mr.. Fogg. ''But ifyou
wish to render me service, you will remain
near Madame Aouda. In case any misfortune
happens to me-o tt-
The face of the inspector suddenly changed.
To separate himself from this man, whom he
had followed step by step with such persis-
tence. To allow him to venture into the
wilderness! Fix watched closely this gentle
man but despite his prejudces, despite the
struggle which betrayed itself in him, he
dropped his eyes before look SO kind and
frank.
81 will remain,'' he said. A few moments
after, Mr.. Fogg shook hands with the young
lady, then after giving her the precious trav-
cling bag he went away with the sergeant
and his little band.
Before leaving he said to the soldiers, ''AIy
friends. thousand pounds for you if we save
the captives."
r. hon oy,,;t, Of IoS
anne Aouda withdrew into room of the sta
ton; there, alone, she waited, thinking of
Phiieas Fogg, of his simple and grand gener-
osity and tranquil courage. Mr.. Fogg had
sacrificed his fortune; now he had staked
his life, all without any hesitation-wthout
any words-it was his duty. He was hero
in her eyes. Inspector Fix did not think so,
and he could not conceal his vexation. He
promenaded with nervous steps the platform.
over come for moment only he soon con-
quered himself Fosss had left he compre-
hended how foolish he had been to allow him
to go. What! this man whom he had fol-
lowed round the world, he had consented to
lose sight of now! He blamed himself; ac-
cused himself as if he had been the director
of the metropolitan police admonishing an
agent surprised in fragrant act of stupidity.
Il have been foolish,' thought he, ''the
other will have told him who am. He is
gone; he will not return Where retake him,
where? But how could 1 have allowed him
to fascinate me thus? l, Fix; l who have
an order Of arrest in my pocket! Decidedly
l am foolP'
Thus reasoned the inspector of police,
while the hours rolled slowly away. He
knew not what to do. Sometimes he thought
to tell Madame Aouda everything. But he
knew how it would be received by the young
lady. What could he do? He was tempted
to go across the long white plains in pursuit
OF Fogg! 1t seemed impossible to find him.
The track of the detachment was still visible
in the snow, but it would soon be effaced
Then he began to be discouraged, and felt
great desire to abandon the whole affair." The
chance to leave Fort Kearney and pursue his
journey so full of mishaps 10 himself was
offered him.
About two O'Clock P. NJ, while the snow
was falling in great flakes. long sharp whis-
ties coming from the east were heard. An
enormous cloud, preceded by brownish
light, advanced slowly towards them. They
did not expect yet any train coming from the
east. The assistance requested by telegraph.
could not arrive so soon; and the train from
Omaha to San Francisco would not pass un-
til next day. The mystery was soon ex-
planned. The locomotive which moved so
slowly, sounding its sharp whistles, was the
one which, on being detached from the train
had rushed off with such frightful speed, car
rylng the unconscious engineer and fireman.
1t ran many miles; then, fire and steam fail
ing, little by little its speed slackened, till,
ten miles beyond Fort Kearney, it stopped.
Neither the engineer nor fireman were killed
and. after long swoon, they revived. The
engine had then stopped. When the engin-
eer found himself in the desert, alone, hay
ing no cars attached, he understood what
had passed. How the engine had been de-
tached he could not guess but there was no
doubt in his mind that the train remained
behind-perhaps wreck. So he did not
hesitate what to do. To continue the route
and take refuge at Omaha was prudent: TO
return to the train, that the Indians were
plllaging yet, perhaps, was dangerous. No
matter! The fire was relighted and at two
O'Clock T. M. the engine returned back to
the station at Kearney. There was great
joy among the passengers when they saw the
locomotive again at the head of the train:
they could continue their journey, so unluck-
lily interrupted.
On its arrival Madame Aouda left the sta
uon, and addressing the conductor, said:
DO you leave soon?"
This moment, Madame
but these prisoners our
companions can you not wait
81 cannot delay the train, we are now two
hours late"
'And when will the next train pass, from
San Francisco?'
Tomorrow evening, madame
ITO morrow evening it will be too late.
We must wait"
THAT is impossible" replied the conductor.
IF you wish to leave this place, take your
seats
Il shall not CO." replied the young lady.
Fix heard this conversation. Some mo-
ments before, when all means of locomotion
were wanting, he had decided to leave Kear-
ney; now that the train was there, all ready to
start, and he had only to take his place in the
car, he was tied to the spot. The struggle
within him recommended Vexation at his
failure stli1ed him. He would fight If ont TO
the end The travelers-among them Col
Proctor and few others of the wonnde a.
took their seats. The engineer pave tha &C.
nal, the train started, and soon iisann mo
miDging its white smoke with the fsn;,,l,,
snow flakes. coming
The inspector Fix remained. Some hours
passed away-he sat upon seat immovablv
one would have said he slept. The weather
was cold and stormy. Madame Aouda. des-
pite the storm, could not rest in the room
provided for her. She went to the extremity
of the platform, seeking to see across the
fpmnpSt of SNOW wisbinn 10 Al.