owly along the line, with the diplomatic evasiveness which
marks the official dislike to admit any possible hitch in the
arrangements.

'Yes,' he said, stolidly; 'there might be a bit of a stoppage like;
they'd be going on presently; he couldn't say how long that would be;
something had gone wrong with the engine; it was nothing serious; he
didn't exactly know what.'

But he was met just under Mark's window by the guard from the break at
the end of the train, when a hurried conference took place, in which
there was no stolidity on either side. 'Run back as quick as you can
and set the detonators--there ain't a minute to lose, she may be down
on us any time, and she'll never see the other signals this weather.
I'd get 'em all out of the train if I was you, mate--they ain't safe
where they are as it is, that they ain't!'

The one guard ran back to his break, and then on to set the
fog-signals, while the other went to warn the passengers. 'All get out
'ere, please; all get out!' he shouted.

There was the usual obstructive person in the train who required to be
logically convinced first of the necessity for disturbing himself; he
put his head angrily out of a window near Mark's: 'Here, guard!' he
shouted importantly; 'what's all this? _Why_ am I to get out?'
'Because you'd better,' said the guard, shortly. 'But why--where's the
platform? I insist on being taken to a platform--I'm not going to
break my leg getting out here.' Several people, who had half opened
their doors, paused on the steps at this, as if recalled to a sense of
their personal dignity. 'Do as you please, sir,' said the official;
'the engine's broke down, and we may be run into any minute in this
fog; but if you'd be more comfortable up there----' There was no want
of alacrity after that, the obstructive man being the first down; all
the rosy-faced gentlemen hopped out, some of the younger ones still
grasping half-played hands of 'Nap' or 'Loo,' and made the best of
their way down the embankment, and several old ladies were got out in
various stages of flutter, narrowly escaping sprained ankles in the
descent.

Mark, who had seen his opportunity from the first, had rushed to the
door of the next compartment, caught Dolly in his arms as she jumped
down, and, hardly believing in his own good fortune, held Mabel's hand
in his for one happy moment as she stepped from the high and awkward
footboard.

'Down the slope, quick,' he cried to them; 'get as far