running after the train, fast gliding along past
the platform.

I had lost too much time already as I darted
along, for in a few more seconds it would have
been impossible to overtake the fast-receding
carriages. There was a shouting behind me as
I ran; one porter stood right in my way looking
after the red lights, and, in passing, I knocked
him over. The platform past, and, bounding
along the incline at the end, I was out in the
snowy night, when I tripped over one of the
point handles, and fell heavily, uttering a cry of
despair; but I was up again directly, and
running along the rough line amidst crossing metals
and rods that threatened to throw me every
instant.

It seemed the act of a madman to run now,
for the red lights were some distance ahead, and
gradually growing dim and blurry amid the
fog; but through the thick snow I ran panting
on, with my breath coming shorter and heavier,
and a hot burning sensation at my chest, while
it seemed that I could taste blood, though my
mouth was dry and hot.

All at once my heart leaped and every nerve
tingled. From the fast vanishing train came a
long shrill whistle, which I knew well enough
meant red signals in front, while, to my unutterable joy,
the end lamps of the guard's van
showed plainer and plainer as I panted on.

Another stumble and fall over the point rods—
and I was up again, heedless that my hands and
forehead were bleeding, and that I had lost my
cap. There were the lamps plainer and plainer,
for the train had almost stopped; but now, a
hundred yards ahead, could I overtake it before
it started again? The suspense was horrible.
I felt my head swim as I panted on.

Fifty yards passed, and the red lamps still
receding, but bigger and less dim. On still,
gasping and choking, and drawing my breath
witli difficulty. Not twenty yards off, and, if I
could have run, another few seconds would have
seen me holding on by a carriage handle; but
I could only go at a heavy trot.

"Bang! bang!" went a couple of fog-signals,
and hope rose again as the engine slackened pace
once more, and, almost at a walk, I panted on—
nearer, nearer, nearer—the red lights growing
brighter and plainer; and at last, just as the
engine gave a final shriek and dashed on all clear,
I laid my hand on the red bull's-eye, and the
next moment was sitting clinging to the foot-
board of the guard's van.

The fog had been my friend. In another
few seconds I must have dropped; while, in an
ordinary way, the train would have been miles
down the line by this time.

"Bang! bang!" went the fog-signals again,
as I sat helplessly there, with my legs drawn up,
and again we slackened for a few seconds; but
all clear once more, and we were dashing on, and
fast getting into full swing as I rose up, and,
opening the door, stood with the guard of the
train.

"Pooh! nonsense!" he said. "You're mad.
I shan't stop the train."

"Then I shall," I shouted, making towards
the wheel connected with the gong upon the
engine.

"Not if I know it, you won't," he said,
stopping me.

I was too weak and done up to scuffle with
him.

"Will you come with me to the next carriage,
then?" I said.

He only shook his head.

"Will you lend me your key?" I said; for I
had dropped my own when I fell.

He shook his head again, and then it struck
me that perhaps he might stop me, seeing how
rough and wild and excited I looked. I backed
slowly towards the door, facing him all the time.
He told me afterwards, if he had not felt afraid,
he would have pinned me while I turned my
back.

But I didn't turn my back, and the next
moment I was outside on the long step clinging
to the door handle, and with the guard leaning
out and watching me.

"Come back!" he shouted, as we dashed
along at full speed now, rushing through the
darkness ahead, and giving a wild shriek as we
passed a station, the lights looking like one
streak. There were the carriages shaking and the
wind tearing at me as if to beat me off; but I
was recovering myself fast, and in a few
moments I was at the end of the guard's van,
leaning towards the carriage I wanted to reach.

So far my task had been easy, though, of
course, very dangerous, with the train dashing
along at fifty miles an hour; but now there was
a gap to pass between the van and the carriage,
for the buffers keep the carriages at some
distance apart. For a few moments I stopped in
dread, but, as I got my breath more and more,
courage and the recollection of her wild appealing
face came to me, and, clinging to the buffers, I
contrived to get one foot on to the step of the
carriage, and, still holding on by the iron, tried
to get the other there.

Just then the train gave a jerk, and I thought
it was all over; but the next moment I was on
the step, and had hold of the door-handle.

"At last," I muttered, as I drew myself up
on to the next step, and tried the door, which
was, as I expected, fast. Then I looked back.
There was the guard, with half his body out, and
his hand screening his eyes, trying to follow my
motions; but, with the darkness all round, the
snow cutting by like knives and points, and the
dense fog-clouds we kept entering, I felt sure he
could not see me, though I could make him out
from the light in his compartment. Then I
listened, and my heart seemed to stand still; for
I fancied I could hear the sound of a struggle
going on inside, though I was not sure, from the
rattling made by the train. I was not wasting
time, for I had tried to look in at the window;
and, after opening my knife with my teeth, was