The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-08-26
CHAPTER XIII

had formed part Of this train! And
was there anything astonishing in that,
considering that the newspapers, even
those Of Paris, had published the fact
many days before? So Ki-Tsang had
had time to prepare his attempt. and had
lifted a portion of the rails, and would
probably have succeeded In carrying on
the treasure if Faruskiar had not
brought him to his feet. That IS why our
hero had been 80 uneasy all the morning;
If he had been looking out over the
desert so persistently. 1t was because he
had been warned of Ki-Tsang's plsns by
the last MOngOl who had joined the train
at Tchertchen! Under any circumstances,
we had now nothing to fear from Nj
Tsang. The manager of the company
had done justice on the bandit-speedy
justice, l admit. Bat we are in the midst
Of the deserts of Mongolia. where there
are no iuries as yet. which is good
thing for the Mongols.
We'll" said l 70 the ma jor, Il hope
yOa have abandoned your suspicious with
regard 20 my lord FaruskiarF
ITO a certain extent, Monsieur Bonn
barnacr' Only to n certain extent! Evi-
IDENTIFY Major Noltitz is difficult TO please.
The major has the wounded brought
into the cars and does the best Tor
them under the circumstances. Doctor
Tio-King offers his services; but they
seem to prefer the Russian army surgeon
and that understand. AS to those who
have fallen, II is best for Us 20 take them
on to the next station, aud there render
them the last services.
The thieves had abandoned their dead.
We covered them over with little sand,
and that is all We need say.
The place where we had been stopped
was half way between Tcharkalyk and
Tchertchen. the only two stations from
which we could procure help. Unfortu-
nately. they were no longer in telegraphlc
communication, Ki-Tsang having knock
ell down the posts at the same time as
he lifted the rails.
As the engine had run on the rails,
the very first thing TO do was evidently
TO get il on to them again; then as there
vas a gap in the line, the simplest thing
70 do was to run back to Tchertchen. and
wait there until the company's workmen
have repaired the damage. which they
could easily do in a couple Of days
We set to work without losing a mo-
ment. The passengers were only too glad
To- help Popof and the officials, who had
Jacks. levers and hammers, and in three
hours the engine and tender were again
on the line.
The most difhcult business Is over.
With the engine behind We can proceed
at slow speed to Tchertchen. But what
lost time. What delays. And what re-
examinations from our German baron,
what donneF vetters and other German
explosives.
Meanwhile, Faruskiar and GhangiT
were often talking together in a whisper
and from these interviews arose a prop
osition which none Of US expected.
Guard" said Faruskiar, addressing
PoDof, 1t Is my opinion that we had
much better run on to Tcharkalyk than
20 back; it would suit the passengers
much better
Certainly, sir, it would be prefera
ble," said Popof: but the line is broker
between here and Teharkalyk, and vi
cannot get through"
Not at present. bat we could get tbs
cars through IL we could temporarily
repair the line"
Excellent notion. at once approved o
By Popof. the driver. the passengers
and particularly the baron. The PlaI
was feasible, and if there were a feV
rails useless we could bring to the from
those already run over, and in this va.
get over the difficulty.
It was nearly o'clock when we begai
work. The rails had been shifted 70
about a hundred yards. As Faruskia
remarked, it was not necessary for u
10 fix them permanently. That wouli
be the task Of the workmen the com
pany would send from Tcharkalyk whel
We reached that station, which Ii Que o
the most important on the line.
At o'clock thirty yards Of the lin
had been repaired. The night was clos
ing in. 1t was decided to wait until III
morning In half day we could hnis
the work. and in the afternoon We coul
be of again.
We were In great want Of food an
sleep. After so rude a task how rud
the appetite. We met in the dining ca
without any distinction of classes. Their
was no scarcity Of provisions, and
large breach was made in the reserve.
Never mind. We can fill up again a
Tcharkalyk.
Caterna Is particularly CHEEKY. talks
tive. facetious, communicative, overflow
Ing.
not resume the marriage ceremony, II
terrupted by the attack on the train?
"What mnrriag ger asked Ephrinell
yours, sir, yours" replied Caterni
"Haye you forgotten i'll That is rath,
too good"'
The fact Is. that Fulk EphrinelI, on Il
one part, and Horatia Bluett, on n
other part. seemed 10 have forgotte
that had 1t not been for the attack
Ki-Tsang and his band they would no
have been united In the polite bonds
matrimOny.
But we were all too tired The Re
Nathaniel Morse was unequal to Il
task: he would not have strength enoui
20 support his blessing. The eeremoi
could be resumed on the day after I
morrow Between Tcharkalyk and Ii
Tcheou there was a run Of nine hundr
kilometers, and that was quite lol
enough for the Anglo-American coup
% be linked together In.
Ae a. uaWf rugrufng