the vanished messenger- 第3部分

〃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　right；〃　he　declared。　　〃Let's　look　after　him。〃

They　groped　their　way　towards　the　unconscious　man；　Gerald　still
gripping　the　dressing…case　with　both　hands。　　There　were　no　signs
of　any　change　in　his　condition；　but　he　was　still　breathing　heavily。
Then　they　heard　a　shout　behind；　almost　in　their　ears。　　The　porter
staggered　to　his　feet。

〃It's　all　right　now；　sir！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃They've　brought　blankets
and　a　stretcher　and　brandy。　　Here's　a　doctor；　sir。〃

A　powerful…looking　man；　hatless；　and　wrapped　in　a　great　ulster；
moved　towards　them。

〃How　many　are　there　of　you？〃　he　asked；　as　he　bent　over　Mr。　Dunster。

〃Only　we　two；〃　Gerald　replied。　　〃Is　my　friend　badly　hurt？〃

〃Concussion；〃　the　doctor　announced。　　〃We'll　take　him　to　the　village。
What　about　you；　young　man？　　Your　face　is　bleeding；　I　see。〃

〃Just　a　cut；〃　Gerald　faltered；　〃nothing　else。〃

〃Lucky　chap；〃　the　doctor　remarked。　　〃Let's　get　him　to　shelter　of
some　sort。　　Come　along。　　There's　an　inn　at　the　corner　of　the　lane
there。〃

They　all　staggered　along；　Gerald　still　clutching　the　dressing…case；
and　supported　on　the　other　side　by　an　excited　and　somewhat
incoherent　villager。

〃Such　a　storm　as　never　was；〃　the　latter　volunteered。　　〃The　telegraph
wires　are　all　down　for　miles　and　miles。　　There　won't　be　no　trains
running　along　this　line　come　many　a　week；　and　as　for　trees　…　why；
it's　as　though　some　one　had　been　playing　ninepins　in　Squire
Fellowes's　park。　　When　the　morning　do　come；　for　sure　there　will　be
things　to　be　seen。　　This　way；　sir。　　Be　careful　of　the　gate。〃

They　staggered　along　down　the　lane；　climbing　once　over　a　tree
which　lay　across　the　lane　and　far　into　the　adjoining　field。　　Soon
they　were　joined　by　more　of　the　villagers；　roused　from　their　beds
by　rumours　of　terrible　happenings。　　The　little；　single…storey；
ivy…covered　inn　was　all　lit　up　and　the　door　held　firmly　open。　　They
passed　through　the　narrow　entrance　and　into　the　stone…flagged
barroom；　where　the　men　laid　down　their　stretcher。　　As　many　of　the
villagers　as　could　crowd　in　filled　the　passage。　　Gerald　sank　into
a　chair。　　The　sudden　absence　of　wind　was　almost　disconcerting。　　He
felt　himself　once　more　in　danger　of　fainting。　　He　was　only　vaguely
conscious　of　drinking　hot　milk；　poured　from　a　jug　by　a　red…faced
and　sympathetic　woman。　　Its　restorative　effect；　however；　was
immediate　and　wonderful。　　The　mist　cleared　from　before　his　eyes；
his　brain　began　to　work。　　Always　in　the　background　the　horror　and
the　shame　were　there；　the　shame　which　kept　his　hand　pressed　with
unnatural　strength　upon　the　broken　lock　of　that　dressing…case。
He　sat　a　little　apart　from　the　others　and　listened。　　Above　the
confused　murmur　of　voices　he　could　hear　the　doctor's　comment　and
brief　orders；　as　he　rose　to　his　feet　after　examining　the　unconscious
man。

〃An　ordinary　concussion；〃　he　declared。　　〃I　must　get　round　and　see
the　engine…driver　now。　　They　have　got　him　in　a　shed　by　the　embankment。
I'll　call　in　again　later　on。　　Let's　have　one　more　look　at　you；
young　man。〃

He　glanced　at　the　cut　on　Gerald's　f