The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 3 — page 124: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

508 THE ARGOSY. ing up my patience to wait for the coming of the imperial train and with it my opportunity, I scanned every inch of the line for some evidence of the Nihilists’ preparations. I could not detect a sign of any change in the road or of any preparation of any kind. The track was not very well laid, and in several spots it bore marks of recent repairs; but beyond that there was nothing. This fact may have helped to conceal the work of the Nihilists, of course ; but although I knew almost the very spot where it had been carried out, I could detect nothing. The suspense was trying indeed; and while I was waiting it was natural enough, perhaps, that my imagination should be chiefly busy in suggesting many reasons why I was almost certain to fail in my desperate venture. I did not know in which train the emperor would travel. I knew of course that there would be first the pilot engine; there would also be the baggage train; probably also a special train for the suite and servants; and the imperial train. But this might be first, second, or third of the three. I had not been told as to this. So far as my Nihilist work was concerned, it was not necessary that I should know it. That work began when the train had left the line; and I had been posted near where that must happen. I concluded, therefore, that I had not been trusted with a single jot more in- formation than it was necessary for me to have. I should have to depend upon the Nihilists who were Pe move the lever being accurately informed on this point. But this troubled me. If the: «6 worst happened, of course, the ‘‘accident’’ must take place and the train be sent off the line, and I must use my opportunity then. But what I wished to do was to stop the train in which the emperor would travel, and if I did not know which that was, I might easily make an ugly blunder, that would expose me to danger from the Nihilists and not only do me no good with the court, but mark me out as an object for ridicule and suspicion. This uncertainty did not present itself to disturb me until I was actually on the line waiting for the coming of the trains, and face to face with the necessity for action. The point where I stood was about a mile and a half to the north of the station, and the line was so dead straight that it could be watched for five or six miles farther north, and I should thus have ample notice of the approach of the trains. It was a very clear day, moreover; and, as my sight was exceedingly keen and good, I knew I should be able to catch the earliest glimpse of the trains whose passing meant so much to me. I managed to get the whole of. the company under my command posted more than two hours before the emperor was timed to pass; and after I had made a show of inspecting those who were in that part of the section which I knew to be outside the sphere of danger, I did the work very thoroughly with those who were in that part where the grim, hazardous drama was to be played. I had been careful to keep the men of my own regiment close to me and on both sides of the five Nihilist spies; and I was glad to see that many of them were among my stanchest admirers. They would have followed me to death without a word; and the sergeant, whose name was Grostef, the Eomichbooks (S@)