beyed him, for he seemed to force me to by his firm way, but the
thought came over me, "Suppose he is that man's companion." But even if
he had been, I was too much unnerved to do anything but what he bade me,
so I passed one hand on to the window-frame of the door, then edged
along and stood holding on with the other hand, for he had me as if his
grasp was a vice, and then his hands glided down to my waist. He
gripped me by my clothes and flesh, and before I could realise it he had
dragged me right in through the window and placed me on the seat.

Then dragging up the window he sank back opposite to me and cried to a
gentleman standing in the compartment:

"Give me a drop of brandy, Jem, or I shall faint!"

I crouched back there, quivering and unable to speak. I was so
unnerved; but I saw the other gentleman hand a flask to the
bluff-looking man who had saved me, and I saw him take a hearty draught
and draw long breath, after which he turned to me.

"You young scoundrel!" he cried; "how dare you give me such a fright!"

I tried to speak, but the words would not come. I was choking, and I
believe for a minute I literally sobbed.

"There, there, my lad," said the other kindly, "You're all right. Don't
speak to him like that now, Jordan. The boy's had a horrible scare."

"Scare!" said the big bluff man; "and so have I. Why, my heart was in
my mouth. I wouldn't go through it again for a hundred pounds. How did
you come there, sir?"

"Let him be for a few minutes," said the other gently. "He'll come
round directly, and tell us."

I gave him a grateful look and held out my wet hand, which he took and
held in his.

"The boy has had a terrible shock," he said. "He'll tell us soon.
Don't hurry, my lad. There, be calm."

I clung to his hand, for he seemed to steady me, my hand jerking and
twitching, and a curious sensation of horror that I had never felt
before seeming to be upon me; but by degrees this passed off, the more
quickly that the two gentlemen went on talking as if I were not there.

"I'm so much obliged," I said at last, and the big bluff man laughed.

"Don't name it," he said, nodding good-humouredly. "Five guineas is my
fee."

I shivered.

"And my friend here, Doctor Brown, will have a bigger one for his
advice."

"He's joking you, my lad," said the other gentleman smiling. "I see you
are not hurt."

"No, sir," I said; "I--"

The trembling came over me again, and I could not spe