Under the Star-Spangled Banner

d Hal waited another minute before discovering the absence of his pos

s he and Hal sat down to dinner, "and the more I think about it the more certain

s the train drew up at a platform, and walked from end to end of th

after boarding the train. There can have been no difficulty, as we crawled out of the station. Well, we shall not be t

e people on the platform. At length the bell clanged, and to the f

l, glancing at two figures on the platform. "Look, Mr.

ain as being a man I have met before. Well, we need not trouble, for the train is off, and they are left behind. Now, lad,

between the sheets, looking sleepily

f the two men who had attemp

an the swarthy-looking foreigners leaped on to the step of the following one, and hastil

doubt their inspection of the cars was to discover us and have us ejected. We have played our cards well. While they fancy that we are miles behind them, we are in reality but a few yards

disdain when alluding to the porter. There was little doubt that he was a half-caste, and

t now, and the majority of passengers are thinking of going to bed. Shall you try

was a small, active-looking man, of undoubted Spanish blood. At first sight he would have been called a handsome fel

t that it was all of your planning. Remember that it was I who decided how we would act; a

roportionately large share of the booty,"

n charge of the precious bag for which we have traveled so far, and from which we hope to recoup ourselves. We know that he is about to retire for the night, for the porter has told us so. Very good. What of the others? They are weary, and will turn in early, so as to awake fresh and rested to-morrow. Our accom

sounds are heard?" he asked. "Supposing t

l not know precisely what has happened, nor, if questions are asked will he have an idea of the appearance of the two mountebanks who have dared to commit robbery on the cars. Our friend, the Se?or Brindle, will not dream of us; for did he not see us descend from the cars some miles back? By the time the passengers have collected their senses we shall be a mile behind, hidden in the forest, and it will be evil lu

the air, and patting his comrade on the knee. "And now to pass the time. It is dull sitting here d

reshed themselves, and carried on an eager conversation in low tones, in the voluble, gesticulating manner common to their

ard exclaimed. "Wait, though; let us

. Two minutes later they were standing at the end of the car in which Hal was sleeping. They paused for a moment as

," Pedro whispered, pointing to the next compartment, in which Mr. Brindle

y. "The porter said we should find him in the fifth from

"But here are the young man's boots

nd it was long before they could come to any solution. To enter the wrong compartment meant ruin to all their hopes. But more than that might come of it, for Mr. Brindle was a powerful man, an

give me the knife. Whatever happe

ng them in the corridor for the porter to attend to, they crept on a pace,

the Spaniard, trying the d

dst the rattle of the wheels, and startled him from his sleep. Ignorant as to what had disturbed him, he lay on his back, his eyes wide open. Another minute, an

r you, Se?or Englishman!" he heard a ho

ppening. "Don't move, or it will be the worse for you!"

g another attempt!" he exclaimed;

l glare of the electric light, which had been switched on by the Spaniard, Pedro, revolver in hand, t

ding flash, followed by a loud report, and Hal felt something strike him on the left shoulder with stunning force. Next second the Spaniard's face, with the long, coal-black beard, suddenly appeared befor

Better? That's it; you're smiling. That's the w

nd queer, and much inclined to close his eyes and sleep, Hal swallowed the contents of the tumbler

he said. "How do you feel, Hal? Come,

es. "Why, what's this? I was asleep, and then--Those thieves! What is it, Mr. Brindle? I dreamed that they had made another attempt, and that I happened to hear

they pitched upon the wrong compartment. I can tell you that it was a ticklish moment for me. As I lay there, not daring to move, I saw you come in. The only wonder to me is that the gentleman called Pedro did not have his revenge at once by shooting me. At an

air, which had formerly cove

fellow passenger, who happens to be a doctor, has already examined and dressed the shoulder, and reports

med Hal, aghast. "Why, I am fit to get up

h much against his inclination, to confess that he was shaken. However, with his old dogged de

seem quite to belong to me; but it's only a tempo

and he drank deeply, for the loss of

dle. "And now, as the thieves have escaped, and your wound

s for Hal, though badly shaken, he suffered little pain. The injured shoulder felt numbed, but nothing more. After lying awake for half an hour, thinking over

le, putting his head into the compartment.

h of his words, he stood up. "Yes," he continued, "I feel ever so much stronger than I did las

ou say, the shock and suddenness of the injury had upset you, and no doubt you felt the rapid loss of blood. A few hours' sleep have made that good, so that you w

Mr. Brindle, Hal entered the breakfast saloon, where they took their places at one of the many small tables

into a large station, and the p

s, Hal," said Mr. Brindle. "They

in surprise; for Mr. Brindle had never men

breathed; and Gerald, the biggest and most mischievous monkey that ever wo

oung fellow of some sixteen years. "Hi! Come along, Do

shed at Mr. Brindle and embraced him, a graceful and pretty girl, l

oo. But I am forgetting my duties. Dora-Gerald-come here and let me introduce you a very great friend, who is to be my overs

ly, and, at first, somewhat shyly at him; while Gerald, boy-like, took

t war have you been in? And are you very much hur

my bag. He has risked his life for me, and he is helpless. I place him in your charge. You

That was enough for any daughter. For his sake she would look after Hal. So she marched our hero from the platform, chuckling secretly at the blush which had now chang

ad decided to start to America, where he would be entirely unknown. But what had happened? Friends seemed to have risen up on every side. Yes, it was g

eagerly to every word she said. It was sense too. Indeed, she discusse

l, "and she's a pretty gir

always to meet his steady eyes, and turn away in confusion. But still, she was able to come to a conclusion. She saw a st

d to herself. "He looks honest, br