The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-07-10
WILD RIDE,

WILD RlDE.
A few years ago l was second Off
Ger of the good ship Sea Queen, and
at tht time the following incident oc-
CURED we were lying at Labuan, an
island about thirteen miles long and
from three to five broad, off the north
east coast of Borneo. One Sunday
morning Ned Wells (the third officer
and resolved to walk to Victoria, a
small and, indeed, the only regular set
tlement on the is and, imposed of a
few Scotch eng neers and mechanics,
the superintendent of the mines and
200 Chinese, who worked them. Re-
ports varied as to our distance from
Victoria, whether eight, ten or twelve
miles. All agreed that there was only
half-beaten foot-track through the
dense jungle. So, prepared for good
tramp, we started at $50 A. NJ through
such wonderful luXuriance of tropical
growth as can be seen nowhere in
greater profusion than in Borneo
where the vegetation is most diversi-
fed, from dense underground of
ferns and creepers to the gigantic trees
of the forest, towering aloft from 80
to 200 feet, often rising more than 10C
feet before the symmetry of their out
line is broken by branch. We pushed
on for about two hours and half,
max ng $ ow progress, for the track
was nothing more than an Indian
trail, and so overgrown that it was
difficult to keep it, even for me, who
had had some experience in the back
woods of Canada and Australia.
About l o'clock we came to a natu-
raj clearing about 200 feet acros
covered with a beautiful growth OF
grass, and nearly across its center lay
huge fallen tree-the roots were
away in the jungle beyond the clear.
ing, and the head was lost in the un'
dergrowth on he other side so one
can imagine the size of the fallen mon.
arch. Feeling hot and rather tired
we oncluded to rest here, so lighting
our pipes, we climbed upon the huge
trunk and began to look arounl and
admire the birds with their brilliant
plumage, and the hundreds of lizards
and humming-birds to be seen in every
direction. Our quiet enjoyment wa:
suddenly disturbed by Ned, who giving
a scream like wild Indian, slipped
off the tree, and while holding his
calf, exclaimed: "1've been bitten"
was off in second looking for snakes
and after few moments of unpleas
ant conjectures, we found we had beer
trespassing on the right of way Of
some large black ants, who had proba
bly, long been undisturbed in their oc
cupancy of the tree. Their bite
though irritating, is not dangerous, Sc
reassured, but our ardor perhaps some
what cooled, we decided to give VI
Victoria, and find our way back agair
and while thinking of the scramble
before us bright idea struck me.
"Why, Ned, we can walk back or
the track, the mine must be some
where near here"
After taking our bearings by the
sun as well as the trees would allow
and after half an hours pushing anc
cutting through the mass of creeper
and underwood, with an uncomforts
BILE sensation of possible snakes all tht
time, we came out on the track, cut
ting through the forest just W d,
enough for the narrow tracks side b,
side, the whole being on a grade, tn,
loaded cars going down pulling tn,
empty ones up. We were not fa
from the mouth of the pit, consequent
ly about two IL lies from the dock. how
ever sure now of our way, we tradget
along contentedly, when l chanced t,
see small construction truck lyin,
overturned by the side of the track.
said to Ned:
"Why should we walk when we cal
ride? let us put the machine right sid
up, and we'll spin along the whole wa,
in no time"
1t was the work of a moment t
turn the truck over on to the rails, i
was only small platform about 81.
feet by four, mounted on wheels b
carry rails or 81 sepers, with no railing
or sides of any kind and we sool
found another more serious deficiency
Our momentum increasing each mo
ment by the force of gravity, we wer
soon spinning along, and said. "Ned
/ guess we had better put or the brake,
and to our dismsy we found this mos
important accessory had been brokel
off, which probably accounted for tn
truck being where we had fcunl it.