over the rail, and
prepared to enjoy the proceedings. The platform was well lighted, but
beyond was a wall of darkness into which the eye could not penetrate
more than a yard or two. Suddenly, out of this obscurity, three men
appeared. Swiftly they crossed the platform, and, without a moment's
hesitation, sprang upon the engine.

"See this?" growled one of them--it was Peck--levelling his bayonet at
the engine-driver who had shrunk back into the cab. "You do? Well, then,
keep quiet or you'll feel it--sharp. We're desp'rit men, we are, and
that's all about it."

The engine-driver understood well enough, and the fireman, who had been
similarly cornered by another of the trio, seemed to understand equally
well that the first doubtful movement on his part would be his last.
Full possession having thus been obtained, the three new-comers gave an
eye to what was happening on the platform.

Events there were sufficiently exciting. From all sides armed men of a
particularly wild-looking variety had suddenly invaded the platform. One
group had promptly seized the telegraph office and seen to it that no
messages appealing for help should be sent along the wires in either
direction. In fact they went a step further, and put the instrument out
of action so thoroughly that all risk from this source was at an end for
a long time to come.

The main body as promptly attacked the guard of soldiers in charge of
the station and overwhelmed them utterly at the first onrush. German
Landsturm and Landwehr troops were as children in the hands of these
veteran British and French soldiers, and complete victory was won at the
cost of two men slightly wounded only. Then came the turn of the
astonished officials, railway porters, and the few passengers waiting to
enter the train. These surrendered with commendable promptitude, and,
dumbfounded with amazement, were shepherded into one of the
waiting-rooms and locked securely in.

The passengers on the train were ordered out on to the platform, ushered
into another waiting-room, and there similarly secured. All was now
ready, and Max gave the signal for the men who had been stationed
outside, guarding all exits, to close in and for the whole of the band
to entrain.

Running forward to the engine, Max sprang up and gave the signal to
start.

"Full speed ahead, Peck. Let her go."

That worthy, by the aid of very expressive pantomime, assisted by a
sentence or two in German from Max, quickly