ARRIVE!"

The villain's eyes sparkled as he nodded at Edgardo.

"Enough,--you understand; leave me!"


CHAPTER IV.


About half a mile from Sloperton Station the South Clapham and
Medway line crossed a bridge over Sloperton-on-Trent. As the
shades of evening were closing, a man in a slouched hat might have
been seen carrying a saw and axe under his arm, hanging about the
bridge. From time to time he disappeared in the shadow of its
abutments, but the sound of a saw and axe still betrayed his
vicinity. At exactly nine o'clock he reappeared, and, crossing to
the Sloperton side, rested his shoulder against the abutment and
gave a shove. The bridge swayed a moment, and then fell with a
splash into the water, leaving a space of one hundred feet between
the two banks. This done, Burke the Slogger,--for it was he,--with
a fiendish chuckle seated himself on the divided railway track and
awaited the coming of the train.

A shriek from the woods announced its approach. For an instant
Burke the Slogger saw the glaring of a red lamp. The ground
trembled. The train was going with fearful rapidity. Another
second and it had reached the bank. Burke the Slogger uttered a
fiendish laugh. But the next moment the train leaped across the
chasm, striking the rails exactly even, and, dashing out the life