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written from Venice。 She was still peregrinating under
the wing of her brother； and as the latter's business
arrangements would take him across to Fiume for a day or
two； she had conceived the idea that it would be rather
jolly if John could obtain leave of absence and run down
to the Adriatic coast to meet them。 She had looked up
the route on the map； and the journey did not appear
likely to be expensive。 Between the lines of her
communication there lay a hint that if he really cared
for her …
Abbleway obtained leave of absence and added a
journey to Fiume to his life's adventures。 He left
Vienna on a cold； cheerless day。 The flower shops were
full of spring blooms； and the weekly organs of
illustrated humour were full of spring topics； but the
skies were heavy with clouds that looked like cotton…wool
that has been kept over long in a shop window。
〃Snow comes；〃 said the train official to the station
officials； and they agreed that snow was about to come。
And it came； rapidly； plenteously。 The train had not
been more than an hour on its journey when the cotton…
wool clouds commenced to dissolve in a blinding downpour
of snowflakes。 The forest trees on either side of the
line were speedily coated with a heavy white mantle； the
telegraph wires became thick glistening ropes； the line
itself was buried more and more completely under a
carpeting of snow； through which the not very powerful
engine ploughed its way with increasing difficulty。 The
Vienna…Fiume line is scarcely the best equipped of the
Austrian State railways； and Abbleway began to have
serious fears for a breakdown。 The train had slowed down
to a painful and precarious crawl and presently came to a
halt at a spot where the drifting snow had accumulated in
a formidable barrier。 The engine made a special effort
and broke through the obstruction； but in the course of
another twenty minutes it was again held up。 The process
of breaking through was renewed； and the train doggedly
resumed its way； encountering and surmounting fresh
hindrances at frequent intervals。 After a standstill of
unusually long duration in a particularly deep drift the
compartment in which Abbleway was sitting gave a huge
jerk and a lurch； and then seemed to remain stationary；
it undoubtedly was not moving； and yet he could hear the
puffing of the engine and the slow rumbling and jolting
of wheels。 The puffing and rumbling grew fainter； as
though it were dying away through the agency of
intervening distance。 Abbleway suddenly gave vent to an
exclamation of scandalised alarm； opened the window； and
peered out into the snowstorm。 The flakes perched on his
eyelashes and blurred his vision； but he saw enough to
help him to realise what had happened。 The engine had
made a mighty plunge through the drift and had gone
merrily forward； lightened of the load of its rear
carriage； whose coupling had snapped under the strain。
Abbleway was alone； or almost alone； with a derelict
railway waggon； in the heart of some Styrian or Croatian
forest。 In the third…class compartment next to his own
he remembered to have seen a peasant woman； who had
entered the train at a small wayside station。 〃With the
exception of that woman；〃 he exclaimed dramatically to
himself； 〃the nearest living beings are probably a pack
of wolves。〃
Before making his way to the third…class compartment
to acquaint his fellow…traveller with the extent of the
disaster Abbleway hurriedly pondered the question of the
woman's nationality。 He had acquired a smattering of
Slavonic tongues during his residence in Vienna； and felt
competent to grapple with several racial possibilities。
〃If she is Croat or Serb or Bosniak I shall be able
to make her understand；〃 he promised himself。 〃If she is
Magyar； heaven help me！ We shall have to converse
entirely by signs。〃
He entered the carriage and made his momentous
announcement in the best approach to Croat speech that he
could achieve。
〃The train has broken away and left us！〃
The woman shook her head with a movement that might
be intended to convey resignation to the will of heaven；
but probably meant noncomprehension。 Abbleway repeated
his information with variations of Slavonic tongues and
generous displays of pantomime。
〃Ah；〃 said the woman at last in German dialect； 〃the
train has gone？ We are left。 Ah； so。〃
She seemed about as much interested as though
Abbleway had told her the result of the municipal
elections in Amsterdam。
〃They will find out at some station； and when the
line is clear of snow they will send an engine。 It
happens that way sometimes。〃
〃We may be here all night！〃 exclaimed Abbleway。
The woman nodded as though she thought it possible。
〃Are there wolves in these parts？〃 asked Abbleway
hurriedly。
〃Many；〃 said the woman； 〃just outside this forest my
aunt was devoured three years ago； as she was coming home
from market。 The horse and a young pig that was in the
cart were eaten too。 The horse was a very old one； but
it was a beautiful young pig； oh； so fat。 I cried when I
heard that it was taken。 They spare nothing。〃
〃They may attack us here；〃 said Abbleway
tremulously； 〃they could easily break in； these carriages
are like matchwood。 We may both be devoured。〃
〃You； perhaps；〃 said the woman calmly； 〃not me。〃
〃Why not you？〃 demanded Abbleway。
〃It is the day of Saint Maria Kleopha； my name…day。
She would not allow me to be eaten by wolves on her day。
Such a thing could not be thought of。 You； yes； but not
me。〃
Abbleway changed the subject。
〃It is only afternoon now； if we are to be left here
till morning we shall be starving。〃
〃I have here some good eatables；〃 said the woman
tranquilly； 〃on my festival day it is natural that I
should have provision with me。 I have five good blood…
sausages； in the town shops they cost twenty…five heller
each。 Things are dear in the town shops。〃
〃I will give you fifty heller apiece for a couple of
them；〃 said Abbleway with some enthusiasm。
〃In a railway accident things become very dear；〃
said the woman； 〃these blood…sausages are four kronen
apiece。〃
〃Four kronen！〃 exclaimed Abbleway； 〃four kronen for
a blood…sausage！〃
〃You cannot get them any cheaper on this train；〃
said the woman； with relentless logic； 〃because there
aren't any others to get。 In Agram you can buy them
cheaper； and in Paradise no doubt they will be given to
us for nothing； but here they cost four kronen each。 I
have a small piece of Emmenthaler cheese and a honey…cake
and a piece of bread that I can let you have。 That will
be another three kronen； eleven kronen in all。 There is
a piece of ham； but that I cannot let you have on my
name…day。〃
Abbleway wondered to hims