came jerkily, because the footplate of an outraged locomotive
pounding forward at an unaccustomed speed was not a good foundation for
continued eloquence. "Rendering the jolly old country a
service--helping the Cabinet--dear old Chenney awfully fond of me----"

"Aren't we going rather fast?" said the girl, gripping the side of the
cab for support.

"Not at all," jerked Bones, "not at all. I am going to show 'em just
how this----"

He felt a touch on his arm, and looked down at the diminutive stoker.

"There's a lot of sand round here," said the melancholy child; "it
won't hurt you to jump I'm going to."

"Jump!" gasped Bones. "What do you mean? Hey! Don't do that, you
silly young----"

But his black-visaged assistant was already poised on the step of the
engine, and Bones, looking back, saw him performing somersaults down a
sandy slope. Bones looked at the girl in amazement.

"Suicide, dear old miss!" he said in an awed voice. "Terrible!"

"Isn't that a station?" said the girl, more interested for the moment
in her own future.

Bones peered through the windows ahead.

"That's the junction, dear old thing," he said. "This is where we stop
her."

He tugged at the lever, but the lever was not to be moved. He tugged
desperately, but it seemed the steel bar was riveted in position. The
"Mary Louisa" was leaping along at an incredible speed, and less than
five hundred yards away was the dead-end of the Bayham platform, into
which the Lynhaven train was due to run.

Bones went white and looked at the girl with fearful eyes. He took a
swift scrutiny to the left and right, but they had passed out of the
sandy country, and any attempt to leave the train now would mean
certain destruction.

* * * * *

The Right Honourable Mr. Parkinson Chenney had concluded a very
satisfactory morning's work of inspection at Tolness, and had secured
all the information he needed to answer any question which might be put
to him in Parliament by the best-informed of questioners.

He was lunching with the officers of the small garrison, when a
telephone message was brought to him. He read it and smiled.

"Good!" he said. "Gentlemen, I am afraid I have to leave you a little
earlier than I expected. Colonel Wraggle, will you see that my special
train is ready! I must leave in ten minutes. The Chinese Commission
has arrived," he said impressively, "or, rather, it arrives in London
this after