certain that they would have finally overcome him, had he not in one of
his frantic struggles thrust his foot below one of the seats and kicked
the still slumbering Sam Natly on the nose!

That over-wrought but erring porter immediately awoke to the
consciousness of being oppressed with a sense of guilt and of being in a
very strange and awkward position. Quickly perceiving, however, by the
wild motion of the feet and an occasional scream from Mrs Durby, that
something serious was going on, he peeped out, saw at a glance how
matters stood, got to his feet in a moment, and dealt Jenkins such a
blow on the back of the head that he dropped like a stone. To deal
Smith two similar blows, with like result, was the work of two seconds.
Thus freed, Edwin rose like a giant, crushed Thomson down into a seat,
and twisted his neckcloth until his eyes began to glaze and his lips to
turn blue.

Sam Natly was a man of cool self-possession.

Seeing that Edwin was more than a match for his adversary, he left him,
and proceeded to attend to the captain, who showed symptoms of revival;
but happening to glance again at Edwin, and observing the condition of
Thomson, Sam turned and put his hand on the youth's arm.

"I think, sir," he said quietly, "it would be as well to leave enough of
him to be hanged. Besides, it might be raither awkward, sir, to do Jack
Ketch's dooty without the benefit of judge, jury, witnesses, or clergy."

Edwin released his hold at once, and Thomson raised himself in the seat,
clenching his teeth and fists as he did so. He was one of those savage
creatures who, when roused, appear to go mad, and become utterly
regardless of consequences. While Sam was engaged in e
temporising handcuffs for Jenkins and Smith out of a necktie and a
pocket-handkerchief, Thomson sat perfectly still, but breathed very
hard. He was only resting a little to recover strength, for in a
moment, without a sound or warning of any kind, he hit Edwin with all
his force on the temple. Fortunately the youth saw the coming blow in
time to partially give way to it, and in another moment the struggle was
renewed, but terminated almost as quickly, for Edwin gave Thomson a blow
that stunned him and kept him quiet for the next quarter of an hour.

During this period Edwin examined Captain Lee's hurts, which turned out
to be less severe than might have been expected. He also assisted Sam
to secure Thomson's wrists with a handkerchief, and then