Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1905-07-21
CHAPTER XVI.

On leaving Ian IcheOu, the railway
crosses a well-cultivated country, wat
cred by numerous streams, and hilly
enough to necessitate frequent curves.
There is 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 un-
der the weight of the train. 1t is true,
we are in the Celestial Empire, and
few thousand victims of a railway ac-
cident is hardly anything among popu-
lation of four hundred millions.
Besides" said Pan Chao, ''the Son
of Heaven never travels by railway"
At 6 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, it's 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 q
very dark night, too.
4 The idea occurs to me to walk to the
rear of the train, and stop for an in.
slant on the gangway in front of the
treasure van.
The passengers, with the exception oi
the Chinese guard, are all sleeping theil
last sleep-their last be it understood, OF
the Grand Transasiatic.
Returning to the front of the train,
approach Popof's box, and find hin
sound asleep. I then open the door oi
the van, shut it behind me, and sigma
my presence to Kinko. The panel is low
cred, the little lamp is lighted.
1t is ten minutes to 1. In twelve min
utes we shall pass the junction will
the Nankin branch. This branch is onl,
completed for five or six kilometers ant
leads to the viaduct over the Tjon Val
ley. This viaduct is a great work, AM
the engineers have as yet only got il
the piers, which rise for hundred fee
above the ground.
AS l know we are to halt at Fuen
Choo, shake hands with Kinko, and ris
to take my leave. At this moment
seem to hear some one on the platform
in the rear of the van.
| ST ,ooE out Kipkop, SOW IN rrb;e
per.
The lamp is instantly extinguished
and we remain quite still. I am not mis-
, taken. Some one is opening the door O
the van.
: "Your panel" / whisper
The panel is raised, the car is shu
and am alone in the dark. Evidentl
it must be Popof who has come il
e What will he think to find me here? Th
first time came to visit the young Ro,
l manian hid among the packages. Wei
: will hide a second time. If I get b,
< hind Ephrinelps boxes it is not likel
that Popof will see me, even by th
: light of his lantern.
o I do so, and I watch. 1t is not Popo
for he would have brought his lanterl
r I try to recognize the people who hay
e just entered. 1t is difficult. They hay
r glided between the packages, and aft,
y opening the further door, they have gor
o out and shut it behind them.
n They are some of the passengers, ev
IDENTITY; but why here-at this hour?
II must know. l have a presentiment tn,
o something is in the wind. 1 approae
Is the front door of the van, and in spi
s Of the rumbling of the train hear the
It distinctly enough.
5, Thousands and ten thousand demon
it am not mistaken! It Is the voice of n
d lord Faruskiar. He Is talking wit
s, Ghangir In Russian. It is indeed Far
Ie skiar. The four Mongols have acco1
g. panied him. But what are they DOH
IT there? For what motive are they on Il
# platform, which is just behind the te
E. der? And what are they saying?
r OF these questions and answers e
e. changed between my lord Faruskiar al
+ his companions, do not lose word.
8, When shall we be at the junction
10 SIN n few fninuteRv