injuries. The driver and his assistant died in the accident; the stoker was badly hurt. Two conductors also died and three were severely injured.
When we heard this news, we adjourned to the cargo platform and, getting out the food we had prepared in advance, satisfied our hunger pangs, which were finally beginning to appear.
Then Holmes brought out his notebook and began to write something in it. ‘I am making a note of those who, in England, would be considered criminals,’ he said.
‘Many?’ I asked.
‘I’m afraid that by the end of our travels, my notebook won’t suffice,’ answered Holmes and shook his head.
Some four hours later, the next goods train pulled into the station. One of the rear carriages being empty, the conductors let the public into it, pocketing the fares for themselves. This was probably common practice, because none of the station higher-ups paid any attention.
I was in total agreement with Holmes, when he said, ‘It seems all Siberian railways are made by the Russian government, not for the population but for the engineers and railroad staff.’
On this second train we passed through several stations, stopping the length of time determined by the driver, though this one didn’t take as long over his meals. This was a great consolation to us.
Unnoticeably, evening crept over us again. It became completely dark. Our train left some station or other and covered about six or seven miles. Suddenly, the engine began to emit alarming whistles. One after another the whistles followed turning into a frenzied wail, while the brakes pressed hard against the wheels. At last the train halted.
We jumped off the platform to see what was going on ahead. Shouts, yells and the most angry swearing came from there, and some sort of light flickered.
‘What’s happened?’ asked an alarmed Holmes of a conductor returning from the locomotive with a torch.
‘We nearly ran into an open freight wagon,’ the man answered and swore.
Soon the train moved again. In fact, as we moved forward, we saw about ten such wagons uncoupled by the side of the track. Piled sleepers lay beside them. Beside the uncoupled wagons, people with torches stood and cursed for all they were worth.
When our train had moved past this scene and picked up speed, Holmes smirked and said, ‘I’m prepared to bet there’s something illegal going on here, too.’
‘Namely,’ I prompted.
‘First of all, why move sleepers by night? Next, why are ten freight cars being hauled by people when all the sleepers could be hauled on a flat-bed wagon by a locomotive?’
‘Perhaps there wasn’t a locomotive available!’ I said.
‘Now that I gravely doubt,’ said Holmes with a laugh.
Mile after mile flashed by and, at last, the train stopped at a station.
Holmes suggested a break. We got off the train and stretched out on benches for first-and second-class passengers and slept soundly.
VI
Exhausted by the events of the two previous nights, we slept till about eight in the morning. We breakfasted at the station buffet and then explored the station and the area around.
There were earthen huts for building workers not far off.
It was a holiday, and the workers sat in circles by their huts, drinking tea or vodka. We strolled past responding with bows to theirs. One of the groups attracted our attention.
A man, evidently drunk, stood in their midst, addressing the others, ‘I know enough to spill things on him,’ he yelled. ‘I don’t care if he’s an engineer. I’ll make him sorry.’
‘Fired you?’ someone asked.
‘You’re kidding!’ said the first. ‘The section head told me to clear out, so I went to his superior. This is how it is, I tell him. He steals sleepers by the thousand and fires me for taking just a couple of hundred. I’ll send a report to Mr Yugovitch and a copy to the Minister of Transport Communication.’
‘And what happened?’ asked one of the workers.
‘He promised he’d transfer me to another section if I didn’t send any report. They’ve all got their snouts in the trough, see, so they oughtn’t to make a big deal out of what we small fellows do!’
‘Right! Right! That’s for sure!’ burst out approving voices.
‘See what they do when presented with some of their bloomin’ wonders!’ said one of the workers stepping forward. ‘For example, that one engineer steals sleepers from another engineer. Say, for example, Engineer Ilya Petrovitch instructs his foreman to take ten freight wagons and load them up with sleepers stolen from his friend Feodor Nikolayevitch who runs the adjoining section!’
‘The devil knows what they do under the circumstances!’
‘Don’t you know?’ exclaimed the first worker. ‘Don’t you understand? Say Ilya Petrovitch stole from Feodor Nikolayevitch. Of course, that’s all done to pull the wool over the eyes because, if Feodor Nikolayevitch didn’t want anyone to steal from him, he’d mount more watchmen. But this is what is really going on. Feodor Nikolayevitch will now notice the theft and draw up a charge sheet in the presence of witnesses. The charge sheet will say, nicked by Chinese bandits. A detachment will be despatched and no Chinese bandits will be found, but money is sent to Feodor Nikolayevitch to replace the stolen sleepers. Now Ilya Petrovitch stacks up the stolen sleepers. Enter the contractor who supplies Ilya Petrovitch with sleepers and who is in on this. If Ilya Petrovitch steals a thousand sleepers, his contractor delivers a thousand less, but bills for the full number. Ilya Petrovitch now gets paid by the contractor. Out of this deal Ilya Petrovitch gets something, and Feodor Nikolayevitch gets something. It’s all the work of Chinese bandits and they’re not around! That’s how it is!’
The conversation turned toward Chinese bandits.
‘Do you hear that?’ Holmes said with a laugh, as he led me aside. ‘This is well organized, orderly thievery. I don’t know what we’ll uncover further, but so far I haven’t yet come across a single honest person.’
We walked to the little village, consisting of a few small shops and houses.
‘Shall we try that shop?’ suggested Holmes.
‘Let’s,’ I said.
We went in.
VII
Sherlock Holmes threw a quick glance round the shop and asked to be shown long underwear, singlets and boots. The owner produced all three.
‘Do you have any other sort?’ asked Holmes. He then rummaged through the entire shop and finally selected a pair of boots, two singlets and a pair of long underwear. He paid, picked up his purchases and we moved along to the next shop.
Once again Holmes rummaged and rummaged, but only bought two lemons.
One after another, we went through the other shops and came away with china from one, suspenders from another and in yet another, for some reason, cut-offs of materials for women’s dresses.
After that we found an open field.
‘Now, then, let’s have a look at our purchases,’ said Sherlock Holmes. He sat down on the grass and began to untie the packets we had brought with us.
‘I’m wondering why you had to buy all this rubbish, for which we have absolutely no use,’ I said, shrugging
