apprenticeship in his own country, and his name had become a
household word owing to his brilliant success as war correspondent
in the Russo-Japanese War. His experience of European countries,
however, was limited. After the more obvious dangers with which
he had grappled and which he had overcome during his adventurous
career, he was disposed to be a little contemptuous of the subtler
perils at which his friend Bellamy had plainly hinted. He had made
his escape from the hotel without any very serious difficulty, and
since that time, although he had taken no particular precautions,
he had remained unmolested. From his own point of view, therefore,
it was perhaps only reasonable that he should no longer have any
misgiving as to his personal safety. ARREST as a thief was the
worst which he had feared. Even that he seemed now to have evaded.

The coupe was exceedingly comfortable and, after all, he had had a
somewhat exciting day. He lit a cigarette and stretched himself
out with a murmur of immense satisfaction. He was close upon the
great triumph of his life. He was perfectly content to lie there
and look out upon the flying landscape, upon which the shadows were
now fast descending. He was safe, absolutely safe, he assured
himself. Nevertheless, when the door of his coupe was opened, he
started almost like a guilty man. The relief in his face as he
recognized his visitor was obvious. It was Bellamy who entered
and dropped into a seat by his side.

"Wasting your time, aren't you?" the latter remarked, pointing to
the growing heap of cigarettes.

"Well, I guess not," Dorward answered. "I can smoke this lot before
we reach London."

Bellamy smiled enigmatically.

"I don't think that you will," he said.

"Why not?"

"You are such a sanguine person," Bellamy sighed. "Personally, I
do not think that there is the slightest chance of your reaching
London at all."

Dorward laughed scornfully.

"And why not?" he asked.

Bellamy merely shrugged his shoulders. Dorward seemed to find the
gesture irritating.

"You've got espionage on the brain, my dear friend," he declared
dryly. "I suppose it's the result of your profession. I may not
know so much about Europe as you do, but I am inclined to think
that an American citizen traveling with his passport on a train
like this is moderately safe, especially when he's not above a
scrap by way of taking care of himself."

"You're a plucky fellow," remarke