country.

That was where I was wrong. The road took me round to the other side of
the town, and just when I was beginning to think I had a fair chance I
saw before me the lights of a signal-box and a little to the left of it
the lights of the station. In half an hour's time the Edinburgh train
would be leaving, but I had made that impossible. Behind me I could
hear the pursuers, giving tongue like hound puppies, for they had
attracted some pretty drunken gentlemen to their party. I was badly
puzzled where to turn, when I noticed outside the station a long line
of blurred lights, which could only mean a train with the carriage
blinds down. It had an engine attached and seemed to be waiting for the
addition of a couple of trucks to start. It was a wild chance, but the
only one I saw. I scrambled across a piece of waste ground, climbed an
embankment and found myself on the metals. I ducked under the couplings
and got on the far side of the train, away from the enemy.

Then simultaneously two things happened. I heard the yells of my
pursuers a dozen yards off, and the train jolted into motion. I jumped
on the footboard, and looked into an open window. The compartment was
packed with troops, six a side and two men sitting on the floor, and
the door was locked. I dived headforemost through the window and landed
on the neck of a weary warrior who had just dropped off to sleep.

While I was falling I made up my mind on my conduct. I must be
intoxicated, for I knew the infinite sympathy of the British soldier
towards those thus overtaken. They pulled me to my feet, and the man I
had descended on rubbed his skull and blasphemously demanded
explanations.

'Gen'lmen,' I hiccoughed, 'I 'pologize. I was late for this bl-blighted
train and I mus' be in E'inburgh 'morrow or I'll get the sack. I
'pologize. If I've hurt my friend's head, I'll kiss it and make it
well.'

At this there was a great laugh. 'Ye'd better accept, Pete,' said one.
'It's the first time anybody ever offered to kiss your ugly heid.'

A man asked me who I was, and I appeared to be searching for a
card-case.

'Losht,' I groaned. 'Losht, and so's my wee bag and I've bashed my po'
hat. I'm an awful sight, gen'lmen--an awful warning to be in time for
trains. I'm John Johnstone, managing clerk to Messrs Watters, Brown &
Elph'stone, 923 Charl'tte Street, E'inburgh. I've been up north seein'
my mamma.'

'Ye should be in France,' said one man.

'Wish't I was, b