Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1905-09-02
CHAPTER XVI.

CHAPTER XVI.
On leaving Ian Tcheou, the railway
crosses well-cultivated country, wat
cred by numerous streams, and hilly
enough to necessitate frequent curves.
There is a good deal of engineering
work; mostly bridges. viaducts on wooden
trestles of somewhat doubtful solidity,
and the traveller is not particularly COM
Portable when he finds them bending I'M
der the weight of the train. 1t is true,
we are in the Celestial Empire, and
few thousand victims of railway ac-
cident is hardly anything among a popu-
lation of four hundred millions.
Besides" said Pan Chao, "the Son
Of Heaven never travels by railway"
At o o'clock In the evening we are at
King-Tcheou, after skirting for some
time the capricious meanderings of the
Great Wall. OF this immense artificial
frontier between Mongolia and China
there remain only the blocks of granite
and red quartzite which served as its
base, its terrace of bricks with the para
pets Of unequal heights, a few old can
mons eaten into with rust, and hidden
under a thick veil Of lichens, and then
the square towers with their ruined bat
Elements. The interminable wall rises.
falls, bends, bends back again, and is
lost sight on the undulations Of the
ground.
All night was spent in running three
hundred kilometers. A fog lasted all
day. and this hindered the progress of
the train. These Chinese engine drivers
are really very skillful and attentive and
intelligent. Luckily, the fog rose early
in the evening. Now it is highland a
very dark night, too.
The idea occurs to me to walk to the
rear of the train, and l stop for an in
slant on the gangway in front of the
treasure van.
The passengers. with the exception of
the Chinese guard, are all sleeping their
last sleep-their last be ii understood, on
the Grand Transasiatic.
Returning to the front of the train. |
approach Popof's box. and find him
sound asleep. | then open the door Of
he van, shut 1t behind me, and signal
ny presence to Kinko. The panel is low
red. the little lamp is lighted.
1t is ten minutes to 1. In twelve min
ltes we shall pass the junction with
he Nankin branch. This branch is only
completed for five or six kilometers and
eads to the viaduct over the Ton Val
, ey. This viaduct Is great work. and
he engineers have as yet only got in
he piers which rise for a hundred feet
lbOve the ground.
As / know we are to halt at Fuen-
hoo, | shake hands with Kinko, and rise
o take my leave. At this moment |
ieem to hear some one on the platform
N the rear of the van
Look out, Klnko?' l say, in a whis-
per.
The lamp Is instantly extinguished.
md we remain quite still. am not mis-
taken Some one is opening the door of
the van.
Your panel" l whisper.
The panel Is raised, the car is shut.
and l am alone In the dark. Evidently
it must be Popof who has come in.
| What will he think to find me here7 The
first time l came to visit the young Rou-
manian I hid among the packages. Well
| will hide a second time II get be-
hind Ephrinelrs boxes II is not likely
that Popof will see me, even by the
light of his lantern.
| do so, and l watch. II is not Popof,
for he would have brought his lantern.
| try to recognize the people who have
just entered. 1t is difficult. They have
gided between the packages, and after
opening the further door, they have gone
out and shut 1t behind them.
They are some of the passengers, evil
IDENTITY; but why here-at this hour7 |
must know. have a presentiment that
something is in the wind. l approach
the front door Of the van. and In spite
Of the rumbllng of the train hear them
distinctly enough.
Thousands and ten thousand demopsl
I am not mistaken! 1t Is the voice Of my
lord Faruskiar. He Is talking with
Ghangir in Russian. 1t is indeed Faru-
skiar. The four Mongols have accom-
panied him. But what are they doing
there? For what motive are they on the
platform, which is just behind the ten
derI And what are they saying?
OF these questions and answers e1-
changed between my lord Faruskiar and
his companions, do not lose word.
when shall we be at the junction p
I'm few minutes"
Are you sure that Kardek Is at the
pointsT"
Yes; that has been arranged"
What has been arranged? And who Is
this kardek they are talking about7
The conversation continues.
I'VE must wait until we get the sig
nal" says Faruskar
| N"N u cANNh hbhAF dohS
CIR.
Yes. 1t will show that the switch is
over"
do not know II l am In my right
senses. The switch over. What switch 2
4 half minute elapses Ought l not to
tell PopofT' Yes, ought. l was turn
ing to go out Of the van. when an ex-
clamation kept me back
THE signal-there is the signalr' says
Changer.
And now the train is on the Nankin
branch! replies Faruskiar.
The Nankin branch But then we are
lost At five kilometers from here is
the Tjon viaduct, in course of construc-
ton. and the train is being precipitated
toward an abyss.
Evidently Major Noltitz was not mis-
taken regarding my lord Faruskiar.
understand the scheme Of the scoundrels.
The manager Of the Grand Transasiatic
Is scoundrel Of the deepest dye. He
has entered the service Of the company
to await his opportunity for some ex-
tensive haul. The opportunity has come
with the millions of the Son Of Heaven.
Yes. The whole abominable scheme is
clear enough to me. Faruskiar has de-