Cheered by the success which had rewarded his efforts, he continued to bathe and chafe till the gentle stranger opened her eyes. In a few moments more she recovered her consciousness, and cast a bewildered glance around her. "Where is my father?" said she; and, as she spoke, the fearful nature of the catastrophe dawned upon her mind, and she partially rose from her recumbent posture. Lieutenant Somers could not tell where her father was, and his first thought was that he must be beneath the wreck of the shattered cars. For the first time, he looked about him to measure with his eye the extent of the calamity. At that moment he discovered the engine, with the forward part of the train, backing down the railroad. Only the two rear cars had been precipitated over the embankment; the accident having been caused by the breaking of an axle on the last car but one. The shackle connecting this with the next one had given way, and the broken car had darted off the bank, carrying the rear one with it, while the rest of the train dashed on to its destination. Of course the calamity was immediately discovered; but a considerable time elapsed--as time was measured by those who were suffering and dying beneath the _debris_ of the train--before the engine could be stopped, and backed to the scene of the accident. Lieutenant Somers had seen the lady's father go forward, and had heard him say he was going to the smoking-car; he was therefore satisfied that he was safe. "He will be here presently," he replied to the anxious question of the fair stranger. "Perhaps he was--oh, dear! Perhaps he was----" "Oh, no! he wasn't. The smoking-car was not thrown off the track," interposed the young officer, promptly removing from her mind the terrible fear which took possession of her first conscious moments. "Are you much hurt?" "I don't know; I don't think I am; but one of my arms feels very numb." "Let me examine it," continued our traveler, tenderly raising the injured member. He was not deeply skilled in surgery; but he knew enough of the mysteries of anatomy to discover that the arm was broken between the elbow and the shoulder. "I am afraid your arm is broken," said he cautiously, as though he feared the announcement would cause her to faint again. "I am glad it is no worse," said she with a languid smile, and without exhibiting the least indication of feminine weakness. "It might have been worse, certainly. Can I do anything more for you?" added Lieutenant Somers, glancing at the wreck of the cars, with a feeling that his duty then was a less pleasing one than that of attending to the wants of the beautiful stranger; for there were still men and women lying helpless and unserved in the midst of the ruins.