the vanished messenger-第3节

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That　five　pounds　shall　be　made　twenty…five　if　you　succeed　in
getting　me　to　the　coast。　　Do　your　best　for　me。〃

The　guard　raised　his　hat　and　departed　without　another　word。

〃It　will　probably　suit　you　better；〃　Mr。　Dunster　continued；　turning
to　his　companion；　〃　to　leave　me　at　Ipswich　and　join　the　mail。〃

The　latter　shook　his　head。

〃I　don't　see　that　there's　any　chance；　anyway；　of　my　getting　over　in
time　now；〃　he　remarked。　　〃If　you'll　take　me　on　with　you　as　far　as
Norwich；　I　can　go　quietly　home　from　there！〃

〃You　live　in　this　part　of　the　world；　then？〃　Mr。　Dunster　asked。

The　young　man　assented。　　Again　there　was　a　certain　amount　of
hesitation　in　his　manner。

〃I　live　some　distance　the　other　side　of　Norwich；〃　he　said。　　〃I　don't
want　to　sponge　on　you　too　much；〃　he　went　on；　〃but　if　you're　really
going　to　stick　it　out　and　try　and　get　there；　I'd　like　to　go　on；　too。
I　am　afraid　I　can't　offer　to　share　the　expense；　but　I'd　work　my
passage　if　there　was　anything　to　be　done。〃

Mr。　Dunster　drummed　for　a　moment　upon　the　table　with　his　fingers。
All　the　time　the　young　man　had　been　speaking；　his　eyes　had　been
studying　his　face。　　He　turned　now　once　more　to　his　map。

〃It　was　my　idea；〃　he　said；　〃to　hire　a　steam　trawler　from　Yarmouth。
If　I　do　so；　you　can；　if　you　wish；　accompany　me　so　far　as　the　port
at　which　we　may　land　in　Holland。　　On　the　other　hand；　to　be　perfectly
frank　with　you；　I　should　prefer　to　go　alone。　　There　will　be；　no
doubt；　a　certain　amount　of　risk　in　crossing　tonight。　　My　own　business
is　of　importance。　　A　golf　tournament；　however；　is　scarcely　worth
risking　your　life　for；　is　it？〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　know　about　that！〃　the　young　man　replied　grimly。　　〃I
fancy　I　should　rather　like　it。　　Let's　see　whether　we　can　get　on　to
Norwich；　anyhow；　shall　we？　　We　may　find　that　there　are　bridges　down
on　that　line。〃

They　relapsed　once　more　into　silence。　　Presently　the　guard
reappeared。

〃Instructions　to　take　you　on　to　Yarmouth；　if　possible；　sir；〃　he
announced；　〃and　to　collect　the　mileage　at　our　destination。〃

〃That　will　be　quite　satisfactory；〃　Mr。　Dunster　agreed。　　〃Let　us　be
off；　then；　as　soon　as　possible。〃　　Presently　they　crawled　on。　　They
passed　the　boat　train　in　Ipswich　Station；　where　they　stayed　for　a
few　moments。　　Mr。　Dunster　bought　wine　and　sandwiches；　and　his
companion　followed　his　example。　　Then　they　continued　their　journey。
An　hour　or　more　passed；　the　storm　showed　no　signs　of　abatement。
Their　speed　now　rarely　exceeded　ten　or　fifteen　miles　an　hour。　　Mr。
Dunster　smoked　all　the　time；　occasionally　rubbing　the　window…pane
and　trying　to　look　out。　　Gerald　Fentolin　slept　fitfully。

〃Have　you　any　idea　where　we　are？〃　Mr。　Dunster　asked　once。

The　boy　cautiously　let　down　the　window　a　little　way。　　With　the　noise
of　the　storm　came　another　sound；　to　which　he　listened　for　a　moment
with　puzzled　face：　a　dull；　rumbling　sound　like　the　falling　of　water。
He　closed　the　window；　breathless。

〃I　don't　think　we　are　far　from　Norwich。　　We　passed　Forncett；　anyhow；
some　time　ago。〃

〃Still　raining？〃

〃In　torrents！　　I　can't　see　a　yard　ahead　of　me。　　I　bet　we　get　some
floods　after　this。　　I　expect　they　are　out　now；　if　one　could　only　see。〃

They　crept　on。　　Suddenly；　above　the　storm；　they　heard　what　sounded
at　first　like　the　booming　of　a　gun；　and　then　a　shrill　whistle　from
some　distance　ahead。　　They　felt　the　jerk　as　their　brakes　were　hastily
applied；　the　swaying　of　the　little　train；　and　then　the　crunching　of
earth　beneath　them；　the　roar　of　escaping　steam　as　their　engine
ploughed　its　way　on　into　the　road　bed。

〃Off　the　rails！〃　the　boy　cried；　springing　to　his　feet。　　〃Hold　on
tightly；　sir。　　I'd　keep　away　from　the　window。〃

The　carriage　swayed　and　rocked。　　Suddenly　a　telegraph　post　seemed
to　come　crashing　through　the　window　and　the　polished　mahogany　panels。
The　young　man　escaped　it　by　leaping　to　one　side。　　It　caught　Mr。
Dunster；　who　had　just　risen　to　his　feet；　upon　the　forehead。　　There
was　a　crash　all　around　of　splitting　glass；　a　further　shock。　　They
were　both　thrown　off　their　feet。　　The　light　was　suddenly　extinguished。
With　the　crashing　of　glass；　the　splitting　of　timber　…　a　hideous；
tearing　sound　…　the　wrecked　saloon；　dragging　the　engine　half…way
over　with　it；　slipped　down　a　low　embankment　and　lay　on　its　side；
what　remained　of　it；　in　a　field　of　turnips。




CHAPTER　III

As　the　young　man　staggered　to　his　feet；　he　had　somehow　a　sense　of
detachment；　as　though　he　were　commencing　a　new　life；　or　had　suddenly
come　into　a　new　existence。　　Yet　his　immediate　surroundings　were
charged　with　ugly　reminiscences。　　Through　a　great　gap　in　the　ruined
side　of　the　saloon　the　rain　was　tearing　in。　　As　he　stood　up；　his
head　caught　the　fragments　of　the　roof。　　He　was　able　to　push　back
the　wreckage　with　ease　and　step　out。　　For　a　moment　he　reeled；　as　he
met　the　violence　of　the　storm。　　Then；　clutching　hold　of　the　side　of
the　wreck；　he　steadied　himself。　　A　light　was　moving　back　and　forth；
close　at　hand。　　He　cried　out　weakly：　〃Hullo！〃

A　man　carrying　a　lantern；　bent　double　as　he　made　his　way　against　the
wind；　crawled　up　to　them。　　He　was　a　porter　from　the　station　close
at　hand。

〃My　God！　　〃he　exclaimed。　　〃Any　one　alive　here？〃

〃I'm　all　right；〃　Gerald　muttered；　〃at　least；　I　suppose　I　am。　　What's
it　all　…　what's　it　all　about？　　We've　had　an　accident。〃

The　porter　caught　hold　of　a　piece　of　the　wreckage　with　which　to
steady　himself。

〃Your　train　ran　right　into　three　feet　of　water；〃　he　answered。　　〃The
rails　had　gone　…　torn　up。　　The　telegraph　line's　down。〃

〃Why　didn't　you　stop　the　train？〃

〃We　were　doing　all　we　could；〃　the　man　retorted　gloomily。　　〃We　weren't
expecting　anything　else　through　to…night。　　We'd　a　man　along　the　line
with　a　lantern；　but　he's　just　been　found　blown　over　the　embankment；
with　his　head　in　a　pool　of　water。　　Any　one　else　in　your　carriage？〃

〃One　gentleman　travelling　with　me；〃　Gerald　answered。　　〃We'd　better
try　to　get　him　out。　　What　about　the　guard　and　engine…driver？〃

〃The　engine…driver　and　stoker　are　both　alive；〃　the　porter　told　him。
〃I　came　across　them　before　I　saw　you。　　They're　both　knocked　sort
of　sillylike；　but　they　aren't　much　hurt。　　The　guard's　stone　dead。〃

〃Where　are　we？〃

〃A　few　hundred　yards　from　Wymondham。　　Let's　have　a　look　for　the
other　gentleman。〃

Mr。　John　P。　Dunster　was　lying　quite　still；　his　right　leg　doubled
up；　and　a　huge　block　of　telegraph　post；　which　the　saloon　had　carried
with　it　in　its　fall；　still　pressing　against　his　forehead。　　He
groaned　as　they　dragged　him　out　and　laid　him　down　upon　a　cushion
in　the　shelter　of　the　wreckage。

〃He's　alive　all　right；〃　the　porter　remarked。　　〃There's　a　doctor　on
the　way。　　Let's　cover　him　up　quick　and　wait。〃

〃Can't　we　carry　him　to　shelter　of　some　sort　Gerald　proposed。

The　man　shook　his　head。　　Speech　of　any　sort　was　difficult。　　Even
with　his　lips　close　to　the　other's　ears；　he　had　almost　to　shout。

〃Couldn't　be　done；〃　he　replied。　　〃It's　all　one　can　do　to　walk　alone
when　you　get　out　in　the　middle　of　the　field；　away　from　the　shelter
of　the　embankment　here。　　There's　bits　of　trees　flying　all　down　the
lane。　　Never　was　such　a　night！　　Folks　is　fair　afraid　of　the　morning
to　see　what's　happened。　　There's　a　mill　blown　right　over　on　its　side
in　the　next　field；　and　the　man　in　charge　of　it　lying　dead。　　This
poor　chap's　bad　enough。〃

Gerald；　on　all　fours；　had　crept　back　into　the　compartment。　　The
bottle　of　wine　was　smashed　into　atoms。　　He　came　out；　dragging　the
small　dressing…case　which　his　companion　had　kept　on　the　table　before
him。　　One　side　of　it　was　dented　in；　but　the　lock；　which　was　of　great
strength；　still　held。

〃Perhaps　there's　a　flask　somewhere　in　this　dressing…case；〃　Gerald
said。　　〃　Lend　me　a　knife。〃

Strong　though　it　had　been；　the　lock　was　already　almost　torn　out
from　its　foundation。　　They　forced　the　spring　and　opened　it。　　The
porter　turned　his　lantern　on　the　widening　space。　　Just　as　Gerald
was　raising　the　lid　very　slowly　to　save　the　contents　from　being
scattered　by　the　wind；　the　man　turned　his　head　to　answer　an
approaching　hail。　　Gerald　raised　the　lid　a　little　higher　and
suddenly　closed　it　with　a　bang。

〃There's　folks　coming　at　last！〃　the　porter　exclaimed；　turning　around
excitedly。　　〃They've　been　a　time　and　no　mistake。　　The　village　isn't
a　quarter　of　a　mile　away。　　Did　you　find　a　flask；　sir？〃

Gerald　made　no　answer。　　The　dressing…case　once　more　was　closed；　and
his　hand　pressed　upon　the　lid。　　The　porter　turned　the　light　upon　his
face　and　whistled　softly。

〃You're　about　done　yourself；　sir；〃　he　remarked。　　〃Hold　up。〃

He　caught　the　young　man　in　his　arms。　　There　was　another　roar　in
Gerald's　ears　besides　the　roar　of　the　wind。　　He　had　never　fainted
in　his　life；　but　the　feeling　was　upon　him　now　…　a　deadly　sickness；
a　swaying　of　the　earth。　　The　porter　suddenly　gave　a　little　cry。

〃If　I'm　not　a　born　idiot！〃　he　exclaimed；　drawing　a　bottle　from　the
pocket　of　his　coat　with　his　disengaged　hand。　　〃There's　whisky　here。
I　was　taking　it　home　to　the　missis　for　her　rheumatism。　　Now；　then。〃

He　drew　the　cork　from　the　bottle　with　his　teeth　and　forced　some　of
the　liquid　between　the　lips　of　the　young　man。　　The　voices　now　were
coming　nearer　and　nearer。　　Gerald　made　a　desperate　effort。

〃I　am　all　r