Hastily securing our respcet've rails we
made for the selected .-pot and < omni- .i”c I
to draw tlie bolts. While t!ms engig-d
my companion. with a blood-curdiihg
chuckle, remarked:
“W” shall b.,g more of tlie high and
mighty than we first expect.-d. Tir- duk
O s [<— ;md his suite are, 1 understand, on
board the train.”
“Th.- duke of K ?” I stm-lcd and drop
ped my rail in my u- ci- it- ''M> bo; s
master.” I gasped, “and he nevet t-uvtls
without him.”
“So much tlie worse f t’ your boy, th- n,'
said tho heurth r.r brute, us li • prove .e l
with he- weak.
In an instant my horrible position flashed
upon me. Iler.? was J culmiy preparing to
ter the heads of Englard (to whom
before 1 had never given a. thought) and
w.tli them my own flesh and blood.
I nearly swooned as the awful revelation
burst upon me; but in a. moment. 1 recover
ed, and then my decision was prompt.
There was still time to sav-- otnselves
from becoming whol< sale murderers. I
shouted, while 1 i.'plac d my bolt, to
Scraggs to drop his rail and fly.
When he saw i was det-Tmi:'. 1 to spoil
his plans ho dropped his rail and m id” f >r
me t.ith a knife, the glitter of which, us
be closed with me, I saw just in time
through the darkness.
v ■ : iru; gl ! the roar of the .gell
ing train was heard in the distance. Mak;; ;'
a frantic effort, a.s the truiil w.'.s <•),■...• upon
us. I managed to throw Scraggs off.
