aving all been tightly closed.

Spotts, who led the way, wasted no time in explanation, but making one
dash at the burly baggage-master who confronted him, gave him a blow
that sent him flying backwards. At the same instant he managed to trip
up his assistant, causing the two men to come down on the floor
together, bringing with them in their fall two bicycles and half a dozen
crates of eggs.

Grasping any light luggage he could seize, Friend Othniel added this to
the heap, while Spotts, throwing open the great door in the side of the
car, cried:

"Jump for all you're worth!"

Smith stood cowering on the edge of the door-sill, little relishing the
prospect of a wild leap into the night. But the Quaker, who had no time
to waste on arguments, smashed down the top bicycle with one hand, thus
placing his two opponents on their backs on the floor, and swinging
round at the same moment, delivered a kick to the tragedian which sent
him flying into outer darkness after the manner of a spread eagle.

The train was only just moving, and Spotts sprang quickly to the ground,
and, running alongside the car, called to Miss Arminster to jump into
his arms, which she promptly did. Putting her to one side out of the
reach of the train, he ran forward to receive Mrs. Mackintosh; but that
good lady, being unaccustomed to such acrobatic feats, and arriving with
more force than precision, completely bowled him over, and they went
flying into space together. Banborough and Friend Othniel followed
almost immediately, and, both trying to get out of the door at the same
time, collided with considerable force, and performed a series of
somersaults, landing with safety, but emphasis, in a potato-patch.

As the engine swept by them, Cecil sat up and surveyed the scene. It
certainly was an unusual situation, and the half-light of the early
morning only served to make their attitudes the more grotesque. The
party was scattered at large over the field in question. Smith, on one
knee, was rubbing the bruised portions of his body. Miss Arminster, who
had landed safely on her feet, was standing with both hands clasped to
her head, an attitude suggesting concussion of the brain, but which in
reality betokened nothing more dreadful than an utter disarrangement of
her hair. Spotts had assumed an unconventional attitude at her feet,
while the Quaker, face down, with hands and legs outspread, seemed to be
trying to swim due north.

Directly opposite