Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1905-07-14
CHATTER XIII.

attacked the Grand Transasiatic on the
plains of Cobb. The pirate Of Yunnan
had learned that a van containing goid
and precious stones of enormous value
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 off
the treasure if Faruskiar had not
brought him to his feet. That is why our
hero had been so uneasy all the morning;
If he had been looking out over the
desert so persistently, it was because ne
had been warned of Ki-Tsang's plans by
the last Mongol who had Joined the train
at Tchertchen! Under any circumstances,
we had now nothing to fear from al
Tsang. The manager of the company
had done justice on the bandit-speedy
justice, admit. But we are in the midst
of the deserts of Mongolia, where there
are no iuries as yet, which is a good
thing for the Mongols.
WELL" said l to the major, Il hope
you have abandoned your suspicious with
regard to my lord FaruskiarT
ITO a certain extent, Monsieur Bonn
barnac" Only to 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, it is best for us to take them
on to the next station, and 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 telegraphic
communication, Ki-Tsang having knock
ed down the posts at the same time as
he lifted the rails.
As the engine had run off the rails,
the very first thing to do was evidently
to get it on to them again; then as there
was a gap in the line, the simplest thing
to 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
t. help Popof and the officials, who had
ut their disposal few tools, including
jacks, levers and hammers, and in three
hours the engine and tender were again
on the line.
The most difficult business is over.
With the engine behind we can proceed
at slow speed to Tchertchen. But what
lost time. What delays! And what re-
ordinations from our German baron,
what donner vetters and other German
expletives!
Meanwhile, Faruskiar and Ghangir
were often talking together in whisper,
and from these interviews arose a prop
osition which none of us expected.
''Guard," said Faruskiar, addressing
Popof, t'it is my opinion that we had
much better run on to Tcharkalyk than
go back; it would suit the passengers
much better.''
Certainly, sir, it would be prefera-
ble," said Popof; "but the line is broken
between here and Tcharkalyk, and we
cannot get through"
mot at present, but we could get the
repair the line"
Excellent notion, at once approved OF
by Popof, the driver, the passengers,
and particularly the baron. The plan
was feasible, and if there were a few
those already run over, and in this way
get over the difficulty.
1t was nearly 3 o'clock when we began
i1c baI tod fop
about hundred yards. As Faruskiar
remarked, it was not necessary for us
to fix them permanently. That would
be the task of the workmen the com
pany would send from Tcharkalyk when
we reached that station, which is one of
the most important on the line.
At o'clock thirty yards of the line
had been repaired The night was clos
ing in. 1t was decided to wait until the
morning. In half day we could finish
the work, and in the afternoon we could
be off again.
We were in great want of food and
sleep. After so rude a task, how rude
the appetite! We met in the dining car
without any distinction of classes There
was no scarcity of provisions, and a
large breach was made in the reserves.
1NcNeI we Cdu up again at
Tcbarkalyk.
Caterna is particularly CHEEKY, talka-
tive, facetious, communicative, overflow
ing.
And then our actor had an idea. Why
not resume the marriage ceremony, in
terrupted by the attack on the train?
''What marriage?" asked Ephrinell.
''Yours, sir, yours" replied Caterna.
"Have you forgotten it? That is rather
too good"'
The fact is, that Fulk Ephrinell, on the
one part, and Horatia Bluett on the
other part, seemed to have forgotten
that had it not been for the attack of
Ki-Tsang and his band they would now
have been united in the polite bonds of
matrimony.
But we were all too tired The Rev.
Nathaniel Morse was unequal to the
task; he would not have strength enough
to support his blessing. The ceremony
could be resumed on the day after to-
morrow. Between Teharkalyk and Ian
Tcheou there was a run of nine hundred
kilometers, and that was quite long