Page 281 - AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS

Around the World in 80 Days

come to themselves. The train had then stopped. The
engineer, when he found himself in the desert, and the
locomotive without cars, understood what had happened.
He could not imagine how the locomotive had become

separated from the train; but he did not doubt that the
train left behind was in distress.
He did not hesitate what to do. It would be prudent to
continue on to Omaha, for it would be dangerous to
return to the train, which the Indians might still be
engaged in pillaging. Nevertheless, he began to rebuild the
fire in the furnace; the pressure again mounted, and the
locomotive returned, running backwards to Fort Kearney.
This it was which was whistling in the mist.
The travellers were glad to see the locomotive resume
its place at the head of the train. They could now
continue the journey so terribly interrupted.
Aouda, on seeing the locomotive come up, hurried out
of the station, and asked the conductor, ‘Are you going to
start?’
‘At once, madam.’
‘But the prisoners, our unfortunate fellow-travellers—‘
‘I cannot interrupt the trip,’ replied the conductor. ‘We
are already three hours behind time.’

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