Peril on the Royal Train

by Edward Marston

  ‘What about that reward offered by the Caledonian?’ he wondered. ‘Is there any chance I could have a slice of that?’

  On the train journey back, Colbeck saw evidence that the sabbatarians had been continuing their campaign. As they approached Motherwell, over a dozen miles south of Glasgow, he caught sight of another bold message gouged into the turf of an embankment. Colbeck had missed it on the journey south because he’d been seated on the other side of the compartment. Closer to Glasgow, there were other signs of sabbatarian activity. Paint was daubed and banners had been hung. It was costing the Caledonian a lot of money to remove the exhortations to preserve the Sabbath for its original purpose. The campaigners did seem to be concentrating on one particular railway company.

  After their earlier meeting, Craig had been despondent when he left them at the hotel. Colbeck was glad to have good news to impart at last. Once they’d found what amounted to buried treasure, they covered it up again and made it look as if the ground had been undisturbed. The conspirators would be back. They had to believe that their hiding place had been undiscovered. Jamie Farr had been elated and Colbeck had had to warn him that there was some time to go before there was a chance to make any arrests. Like Craig, he was irritated by the shepherd’s obsession with the reward. Angus had been satisfied with a burst of praise and a congratulatory pat. Farr wanted more. He didn’t realise the significance of the find and Colbeck didn’t enlighten him. The shepherd would be staggered to learn that something they’d uncovered on a remote Scottish hillside posed a threat to the royal family.

  When he arrived back at the hotel, Colbeck saw that Leeming was waiting for him in the lounge. They’d adjourned upstairs so that they could talk in private. It was Leeming who spoke first, bemoaning the fact that he’d been sent to Perth.

  ‘It’s the ancient capital of Scotland,’ said Colbeck. ‘If you’d taken the trouble to go to Scone Palace, you’d have seen the Stone of Destiny.’

  ‘What’s that?’

  ‘It’s the place where the king of Scotland was traditionally crowned.’

  ‘But they don’t have any kings here now.’

  ‘That’s a source of great bitterness in some quarters, Victor. The Scots have long memories. English armies might have subdued them but there are still those who yearn for independence. It’s not beyond the bounds of probability that that’s what’s prompting this attack on the royal family.’

  ‘Well, I couldn’t wait to get away from Perth,’ said Leeming.

  ‘Why was that?’

  ‘I went a very long way to answer a very simple question. The reason that it was possible to steal that gunpowder from the Black Watch is that the regiment is in India. The barracks was almost empty.’

  ‘To whom did you speak?’

  ‘I got no further than the main gate, sir. The sentries wouldn’t let me in. They were very rude to me.’

  ‘I did say that you might get a dusty answer.’

  ‘There was no need for it.’

  ‘Did you tell them we were engaged in a murder investigation?’

  ‘Yes,’ said Leeming, ‘but they still wouldn’t let me in because they claimed that they had no connection with the crime. According to them, no gunpowder was stolen from there.’

  ‘They were lying, Victor.’

  ‘I was about to tell them that but they both had loaded rifles.’

  ‘We mustn’t blame them,’ said Colbeck, tolerantly. ‘They’re under orders to deny that the barracks was so vulnerable. It must have been embarrassing for them to have their security breached. But I’ve just seen incontrovertible proof that the gunpowder did come from there.’

  ‘What proof is that, sir?’

  ‘The name of the regiment was on the barrel.’

  Colbeck told him about the visit to Jamie Farr and how the sheepdog had helped them to find the gunpowder. Leeming shook off his boredom at once. He was convinced that one crime had been solved and that another could now be prevented. Since they knew when and where the next strike would be, all that they had to do was to lie in wait for the would-be assassins to arrive then arrest them.

  ‘So the place they chose this time is not far from the original crash,’ he noted.

  ‘It offers them the same advantages,’ said Colbeck. ‘An explosion at that point on the line would cause rock to hit the royal train with destructive effect.’

  ‘They’re merciless!’

  ‘They’re also clever and resourceful. We mustn’t underrate them.’

  Leeming grinned. ‘They’re in for a nasty surprise.’

  ‘We must set the trap with great care, Victor.’

  ‘Mr Craig is going to be overjoyed when he hears the news.’

  ‘It should renew his faith in us. That’s been sapped of late.’

  ‘What about Inspector Rae?’

  ‘He never had any faith in us at the start,’ said Colbeck. ‘When we bring this investigation to a happy conclusion, he’ll be enraged that he was not kept informed. But all that he was told to do by the procurator fiscal was to prepare a report on the first crash. He’s totally unaware that there’s a second, far more serious crime in the offing.’ Colbeck became pensive. ‘I was just thinking about your comment on Perth.’

  ‘I hope I never have to visit the city again, sir.’

  ‘You said that it was a long way to go.’

  ‘The journey seemed endless,’ said Leeming. ‘We stopped at every hole in the hedge. I thought that we’d never get there.’

  ‘An obvious question springs to mind, Victor.’

  ‘It’s not obvious to me.’

  ‘Perth is some way north of Glasgow yet the train crash was nearly seventy miles south of it. Do you follow my reasoning?’

  ‘I can’t say that I do, sir.’

  ‘Why go all the way to Perth to steal gunpowder when they had a supply of it close by at the quarry? Yes, I know that the barracks had only a skeleton battalion there but they’d still have had an armed guard on their arsenal. That wouldn’t happen at the quarry,’ said Colbeck, developing his argument. ‘There’d probably have been no more than a nightwatchman on duty. There’d certainly have been no trained soldiers there to act as sentries. My first question leads on to another. Why raid the barracks in Perth when there are regiments stationed much further south? They’d all have a ready supply of gunpowder.’

  ‘I’ve no answer to either of those questions,’ admitted Leeming, ‘but I can add a third one of my own.’

  ‘What’s that?’

  ‘Who are these devils?’

  When they caught the train at Euston, they travelled in separate compartments so that they wouldn’t be seen together. While other passengers complained about the long and irksome journey, they held their peace. Had the distance been twice as far, they’d have voiced no protest. They were travelling north for a purpose that fired them so much that all else was blocked out of their minds. Aches and pains were irrelevant. Lengthy delays on cold platforms caused no irritation. They were buoyed up by a missionary zeal. When the train rattled past the site of the earlier crash, they both afforded themselves a quiet smile.

  One of them alighted at Beattock. He was stolid man of middle height with curly dark hair and a beard. Tossing his luggage onto the back of a cart, he climbed up beside the driver who squeezed his arm by way of a greeting. The driver was tall, square-shouldered, clean-shaven and with close-cropped hair. Both men were in their thirties. A snap of the reins set the horse off at a trot. Almost nobody saw them leave the station and they were out of the little village within a couple of minutes. They talked with the easy familiarity of cousins.

  ‘It’s so guid to see ye again, Callum,’ said the driver.

  ‘Aye, it’s great to be back on Scottish soil.’

  ‘Did everything go well in London?’

  ‘It went very well,’ said Callum Matthews.

  ‘What aboot tha’ train timetable?’

  ‘Oh, we ken all we need to ken aboot tha’. And w
e’ve ye to thank, Davey. It was ye who told us to steal a look at it. We hired a burglar to do just tha’ for us.’

  ‘Did he ask why ye wanted it?’

  ‘He was paid not to ask questions.’

  ‘The man must have been curious.’

  ‘Aye, he was,’ said Matthews, ‘but he took his curiosity to the grave. We cut his throat and emptied his safe. Getting what we needed didnae cost us a penny.’

  Davey Ure laughed. ‘Ye had some fun in London, then?’

  ‘We did what had to be done – nothing more.’

  ‘Well, I’ve no’ been idle heer. I’ve timed so many bloody trains with my stopwatch that I can tell ye the exact speed at a glance. He’s going to be pleased with me, Callum.’

  ‘Everything’s gone to plan so far. He’s very happy.’

  ‘Where will he get off the train?’

  ‘He’ll go as far as Carstairs,’ replied Matthews, ‘then cross to the other platform and catch the train back heer. By the time ye pick him up, it’ll be pitch-dark. Nobody will see ye together.’

  ‘Nobody will see any of us together. We’ll disappear as if we never existed.’ A flick of the wrist made the horse pick up the pace. Ure was excited. ‘Not long to go now, Callum.’

  ‘No,’ said the other, smirking. ‘Queen Victoria and her family will have a warm welcome to Scotland.’

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  As he sat in his armchair with a bottle of whisky at hand, Nairn Craig was downcast. He was facing problems of all kinds and their cumulative effect was almost too much to bear. While at work, it was necessary for him to wear a brave face and maintain his composure but there was no such pressure to do that at home. His true feelings were etched into his face. He was pale, drawn and melancholy. Frown lines had deepened and his stare was vacant. His high ambitions for the Caledonian Railway now seemed both ridiculous and unattainable. And the worst, he feared, was yet to come. Even the arrival of his visitors failed to lift him out of his gloom. He assumed that Colbeck and Leeming had come to bring more bad tidings.

  A servant showed them into the drawing room where Craig accorded them a lukewarm greeting. He didn’t even rise from his armchair. In response to his limp gesture, they sat on the sofa opposite him.

  ‘Forgive us for bothering you at home, sir,’ said Colbeck, ‘but we have news that we felt could not wait until the morning.’

  ‘What sort of news?’ asked Craig, dully.

  ‘It’s the very best kind,’ said Leeming. ‘The inspector went to see Jamie Farr.’

  ‘He’s that crafty young shepherd I met, isn’t he?’

  ‘Whatever he is,’ said Colbeck, ‘he’s helped us to make the discovery that we needed in this case. He and his dog located the site of the next train crash.’

  Craig rallied. ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘We found gunpowder hidden there.’

  ‘It was stolen from the barracks in Perth,’ Leeming blurted out.

  ‘Let me tell the story, Sergeant.’

  ‘I’m sorry, sir.’

  Colbeck gave details of his excursion to meet Jamie Farr. While praising the shepherd for showing such enterprise, he also criticised him for asking repeatedly about the prospects of a reward. Colbeck made sure that due credit was given to Angus. The sheepdog was the real hero.

  ‘This is remarkable,’ said Craig, animated. ‘I should have put more trust in the lad. I misjudged him cruelly.’

  ‘He doesn’t know the implications of what he found, of course, and I didn’t tell him what they were. I’m not sure that Jamie could cope with the notion that what he found has a direct relevance to the safety of the royal family.’

  ‘No, he’s just an ignorant shepherd.’

  ‘You undervalue him, Mr Craig. The lad was clever enough to teach me something. He’d bought himself a telescope.’ He smacked his head. ‘Why didn’t I think of that? It’s how he was able to spot that trap going along the railway line. A telescope defies distance,’ Colbeck went on. ‘We must acquire one.’

  ‘Yes,’ agreed Leeming. ‘It will come in useful.’

  Craig was intrigued. ‘How will you catch them, Inspector?’

  ‘We’ll arrange an ambush.’

  ‘Won’t you need more men?’

  ‘No,’ said Colbeck, ‘I fancy that the sergeant and I can manage, especially if we’re armed. I doubt if there are more than two or three of them. A large gang would be bound to attract attention and they’ve been careful not to do that. It only takes one person to set off an explosion.’

  ‘I still think it’s dangerous. You don’t know what you’re up against.’

  ‘Neither do they,’ said Leeming. ‘Because they got away with it the first time, they’ll think they can do the same again. They’ll be off guard when we pounce.’

  ‘I admire your courage in taking these fiends on.’

  ‘They have a lot to answer for,’ said Colbeck, ‘so we’ll do our best to capture them alive. If that’s not possible, I’ll have no compunction in pulling the trigger.’

  ‘I’ll enjoy doing it,’ asserted Leeming with almost bloodthirsty relish. ‘After the way they killed Patrick Scanlan, they deserve no quarter. We should save the cost of a trial and shoot them.’

  Colbeck disagreed strongly. ‘We’d never understand their real motives if we did that,’ he argued. ‘And we’d never know if they were acting on their own or if they were merely part of a much larger movement. No, Sergeant, due process of law must be followed if at all feasible. We mustn’t sink to their level.’

  ‘My instinct is to support the sergeant,’ said Craig, slapping the arm of the chair. ‘These men are vermin. They should be exterminated.’

  ‘It’s a task we should leave to the public executioner,’ said Colbeck, sternly.

  ‘You’ll have to take them alive first.’

  ‘I believe that we can do that, sir.’

  Craig got to his feet. ‘I knew that it was right to send for you, Inspector,’ he said, gratefully, ‘and I’m sorry for doubting you. It will give me so much pleasure to taunt Rae for a change. While he’s still burrowing around for suspects among NBR employees, you’ve actually found the culprits.’

  ‘Don’t breathe a syllable about this until they’re in custody.’

  ‘Rely on me. And excuse my poor hospitality,’ added Craig. ‘Can I offer you refreshment of any kind?’

  ‘No, thank you, sir,’ said Colbeck. ‘We dined at the hotel.’

  ‘But a glass of that whisky wouldn’t come amiss,’ said Leeming, covetously.

  Colbeck grinned. ‘The sergeant speaks for both of us.’

  ‘Be my guest.’

  After finding some glasses, Craig poured each of them a measure of whisky. All three of them were soon relaxing over a bracing drink. The mood had changed completely. Craig’s melancholy had been transformed into elation.

  ‘The inspector had an interesting thought,’ observed Leeming.

  ‘Oh – what was it?’

  ‘He wondered why the gunpowder was stolen from the barracks in Perth when there was a supply of it at the quarry near the site of the train crash.’

  ‘It is odd,’ said Craig. ‘Do you have an answer to that, Inspector?’

  ‘No, sir,’ replied Colbeck, ‘but I have a theory about how someone was able to gain entry to the barracks. The man must have been a soldier in the regiment. Who else would know where the arsenal was and what sort of guard was mounted on it?’

  ‘That makes sense.’

  ‘It’s highly likely that one of the people we’re looking for is a deserter. Nobody still in the army would plot against Her Majesty. They fight for Queen and Country. It would be instructive if we knew the names of any deserters from the Black Watch.’

  ‘I could have found those names for you.’

  ‘You wouldn’t even get past the main gate, sir,’ warned Leeming. ‘The sentries gave me the cold shoulder and sent me on the way. The regiment is in India.’

  ‘I know that, Sergean
t,’ said Craig. ‘They were deployed to Lucknow. My brother went with them. He’s a lieutenant colonel in the Black Watch. Had he still been in Perth, he’d have willingly given me a list of deserters.’

  Leeming was furious. ‘You knew that the regiment was abroad?’

  ‘Of course, I did. I’m proud to say that their journey began on the Caledonian. We put out all the flags for them. They were going on a hazardous mission. It wasn’t only a deadly enemy they had to face. India is rife with terrible diseases.’

  ‘You could have saved me a miserable journey on the train, sir. Why didn’t you tell me that you knew that the Black Watch was abroad?’

  ‘You never asked me, Sergeant.’

  ‘That’s true, alas,’ said Colbeck. ‘It was a foolish omission.’

  ‘If you lived in Scotland,’ Craig told them, ‘you’d know that many of our regiments were sent to India in the wake of the mutiny there last year. Apart from the Black Watch, we waved off the Gordon Highlanders, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, the Seaforth Highlanders, the Camerons and so forth.’

  ‘You seem well versed in troop movements,’ remarked Colbeck.

  ‘It comes from having a soldier in the family.’

  ‘Tell me a little more about your brother.’

  ‘Yes,’ said Leeming, testily, ‘and ask him to give us fair warning next time he’s likely to vanish overseas. It would be helpful to know.’

  ‘Listen to what Mr Craig has to say,’ advised Colbeck. ‘He might be about to solve another thorny problem for us.’

  ‘What’s that, sir?’

  ‘Why the Caledonian was singled out as a target.’

  Madeleine Colbeck felt that she’d been unduly harsh on her father. She was still appalled by what he’d suggested but decided that she’d reacted too bluntly. In order to repair the rift, she went off to see him the next morning. As the cab dropped her off outside the little house in Camden Town, she looked up at it fondly. It was a treasure trove of memories. Some of them were sad but the overwhelming majority were happy. Born and brought up there, Madeleine would always regard it with affection. At the same time, however, it was a measure of how far she’d gone in the world. Had she not met and married Robert Colbeck, the most that she could have hoped for was to pass the rest of her days in a similarly modest abode. Instead of that, she occupied a fine house in Westminster with servants to relieve her of the routine chores she did when she lived with her father.