the vanished messenger-第3章
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〃What are we going to do； then？〃 Mr。 Dunster demanded。
〃That's just what I've come to ask you； sir；〃 the guard replied。
〃The mail's going slowly on as far as Ipswich。 I fancy they'll
lie by there until the morning。 The best thing that I can see is；
if you're agreeable； to take you back to London。 We can very
likely do that all right； if we start at once。〃
Mr。 Dunster； ignoring the man's suggestion； drew from one of the
voluminous pockets of his ulster a small map。 He spread it open
upon the table before him and studied it attentively。
〃If I cannot get to Harwich；〃 he asked； 〃is there any possibility
of keeping straight on and reaching Yarmouth？〃
The guard hesitated。
〃We haven't heard anything about the line from Ipswich to Norwich；
sir；〃 he replied； 〃but we can't very well change our course without
definite instructions。〃
〃Your definite instructions；〃 Mr。 Dunster reminded him drily； 〃were
to take me to Harwich。 You have been forced to depart from them。
I see no harm in your adopting any suggestions I may have to make
concerning our altered destination。 I will pay the extra mileage；
naturally。〃
〃How far did you wish to go； sir？〃 the guard enquired。
〃To Yarmouth；〃 Mr。 Dunster replied firmly。 〃If there are bridges
down； and communication with Harwich is blocked； Yarmouth would
suit me better than anywhere。〃
The guard shook his head。
〃I couldn't go on that way； sir； without instructions。〃
〃Is there a telegraph office at this station？〃 Mr。 Dunster inquired。
〃We can speak anywhere on the line；〃 the guard replied。
〃Then wire to the station…master at Liverpool Street；〃 Mr。 Dunster
instructed。 〃You can get a reply from him in the course of a few
minutes。 Explain the situation and tell him what my wishes are。〃
The guard hesitated。
〃It's a goodish way from here to Norwich；〃 he observed； 〃and for
all we know …〃
〃When we left Liverpool Street Station；〃 Mr。 Dunster interrupted；
〃I promised five pounds each to you； the engine…driver； and his mate。
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？
