Activate Javascript or update your browser for the full Digital Library experience.
Previous Page
–
Next Page
OCR
6 BRAVE AND BOLD.
still more perilous circumstances, for the two yoiztlis
were now on the narrow platform outside the car.
From this point the odds were in favor of Duffield,
who succeeded in securing an advantage in position.
A cry of triumph burst from the scouiidrel s. lips as he
succeeded in forcing his opponent to relax his hold on
the rail. -
The next moment Tom was hurled from the train,
which rushed onward at the same terrific rate of speed, no
one having been a witness of the crime.
CHAPTER IV.
SMOOTH SAILING.
Had our hero’ fallen from the train ten seconds sooner,
he would inevitably have met a horrible death.
But it chanced that at the moment Diiffield secured
his advantage the train was crossing a bridge, and Tom
fell headlong into the river below.
Under unfavorable conditions, this fall would have
killed him, but, as it chanced. the boy rose to the surface
of the stream somewhat bewildered, but as full of pluck
and determination as ever.
As he struck out for the shore his first thought was
one of keen disappointment that the train was going on
without him.
His own personal safety had become a secon(lary con-
sideration to the accomplishment of his task, and he felt
more disappointment that he had been obliged to miss a
connection than anger toward the villain who had at‘
tempted his life.
In a few minutes he had reached the shore in safety.
As he clambered up the steep bank he shut his teeth
firmly, and muttered:
“I’ll get there anyhow!
and if there is I’ll find it.”
A very easy way presented itself.
Tom hurried up the track. intending to walk to the
next station and make inquiries as to the best means of
proceeding on his journey. Suddenly a turn in the road
revealed a sight that caused him to utter an involuntary
cry of joy.
Standing on the track, not a hundred rods ahead of
him, was the train on which he had so recently been a
passenger. Something had occurred to delay it, and
many of the passengers were standing beside the track
near the engine.
Tom hurried to the carriage which he had occupied in
company with Duffield, hoping to find the villain there.
Brt the compartment was empty, and the. door stood wide
open. Unfortunately Duftield was among the group oiit-
side.
“I'll wait for him,” said Tom, seating hiniself in his
ztill dripping garments; “and when he roiiii.-sAm-"
The sentence was finished by a look thztt woiihl li::.w
been more emphatic and expressive than words if ziiiyoiie
had been there to see it.
But our hero was cliillcd to the bone. 21ll“l si7.'ir<:ely in
condition to carry out his plans of vengeanrie.
In a few minutes the train started. ht-t still ,l)t1fiiel(l
had not returned. Tom closed the door. but a few ino-
There must be some way,
ments later it reopened, and the young scoundrel en’
tered.
He did not see Tom at first; and at the moment he did
he started back. his first impulse evidently being to
retreat.
Tom seized him and attempted to prevent him from
reopening the door. which was plainly his intention. But
Duflield succeeded in wrenching himself from our hero‘.<
grasp. The next moment he had thrown the door open
and leaped from the train, which was then going at the
rate of nearly twenty miles an hour, and the speed of
which was momentarily increasing.
Toni looked from the window horror-stricken, expect
ing that the fellow would be instantly killed. But he
could not refrain from smiling when he saw Dufiielrl
slowly rise to his feet and shake his fist at the swiftly
moving train.
.The next moment a curve in the road hid him from
view.
“VVell,” mused Tom. “I guess I’ve seen the last of
him for the present. Now, then, to make myself a little
more comfortable." .
Luckily there was another suit of clothes in his valise.
and in a very few moments he had stripped off his water-
soaked garments and donned other and more comfortable
ones.
Then he fell asleep, and was only awakened by the
arrival of the train at its destination.
For some time his agreeable anticipations were realized.
Everything went smoothly. He caught all trains and
b0F1tS, and made all necessary connections, and he be;;‘:1H
to congratulate himself that a trip around the world in
seventy-five days was mere child's play to a healthy, ani-
bitioiis. energetic young fellow,
He saw no more of Duftield. nor for a long time did
he meet Nellie Bly, although he was always on the look-
out for her.
It was not without a feeling of disappointment that he
passed tliroiigh Paris-one of the objective points of his
trip as .0I‘1fJ,1I1Z1ll'V planned-abut much as he longed to
remain in the great Freiich -metropolis. he was able only
to catch a glimpse of it. i
Turin, too. where our hero had friends whom he had
hoped to meet, was passed in the same manner, and on
the evening of the following day Brindigi was reached,
In this old seaport city Toni had only a very brief
rest, for he was obliged to be on shipboard at two 'o’clock
the next morning.
He embarked at midnight, after a glance by moonlight
at the historic and venerable cathedral which is the ob-
jective point of all visitors to the place,
Several times-during his walks tllI‘0U<"l] the streets Of
the city he fancied that he was followed bv a tall, dark
man, apparently an Italian, but wheneverihe turned t0
look at him. which he did several times this individual
would seem to nave his attention intently nxed on SOIUC
interestiiig ()l)]L‘Cl. and to be quite oblivious to the gazco
the boy.
As he stepped on board the steamship Tom was sure
prised and a little startled to see the stranger standing
on deck. his eyes fixed upon him. 3
Our hero brushed past him and went to his staterooms
gt , .