Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-07-09

|
un, We are all right as long as she
keeps on the track" The short time
occupied by these remarks had seri
ously increased our speed; faster and
faster we flew, crouchng on our
knees, holding on to the front platform,
our hats (playthings for the monkeys)
left far behind, the wind whistling
past us as we smiled grim and
ghastly smile at each other, and like
Mr.. Micawber waited for something
to turn up.
Still faster we went, till we flew like
an express train, and our carriage
being so light, rocked from side t. side,
now on two wheels, now on three, and
sometimes on none at all. Presently
we passed the Chinamen's quarters,
about half mile from the pier, and
were greeted with a chorus of "Hi
yah. Iii YAH
Want Of time and breath comp He'd
us to forego any reply to their remark.
Like fash their long, low building
disappeared, and we were in front of
the resident doctors house, and on the
veranda the doctor himself, with our
captain and the superintendent Of the
mines, was sitting. They started up
and ran towards us, shouting some
tting which We could not hear an
which, like much other good advice,
w',S wasted on the air
If we could only keep the track, |
had made up my mind for nothing
worse than a plunge into the sea over
the end of the dock and swim ashore,
and carefully approaching my mouth
TO Ned's ear, shouted:
"We shall have to swim for it"
! doubt if he understood, and just
then we wheeled round the corner at
he approach of the pier. The wheels
struck and we tipped to an angle of
about thirty degrees, but righted again,
nd plunged along, when l saw some
hing which made my heart rise to my
throat.
. distinctly remembered that in the
morning the track was empty, but
during our absence train of some ten
cars had come down and was standing
on our track. This was awkward, to
say the least, and only two seconds in
which to decide what to do, but | rose
to the occasion, literally as well as fig
uratively, as we neared the end car,
which was filled with dark rubble
from the pits mouth for filling in
ground. | made a desperate leap up
wards-the impetus Of the carriage
hurled me headlong shoulder deep, in
to the contents of the loaded car, while
| caught glimpse of Ned springing
off sideways on to some bundles of
some kind.
When | came to my senses, able to
sit up and commence clearing my eyes,
nose and ears of the dust with which |
was nearly choked, l found | had no
worse injury than some rather bad
scratches and cuts on my face and
neck. My attention to my own condi-
ton was soon disturbed by cries and
yells in Chinese and Malay, and look
ing round, the scene which met my
eyes compelled me to laugh in spite of
my nearly broken neck.
Ned was sitting up holding his left
arm carefully in his right hand, and
was surrounded by dozen Chinese
and Malays. who were dancing around
him and yelling most vo2iferously,
and | believe, in spite of the pain he
was suffering, Ned paid them back in
kind. What he had thought were
bundles of mating and jumped for,
hoping thus to break his fall, turned
out to be some sleepy Malays taking
their siesta, and he had rudely awaken
ed them by plunging on them with all
the added impetus of fifty miles an
hour speed.
Things were looking serious for him,
and | was almost too dazed TO think of
going to his assistance, when luckily
the doctor and captain, who had fol
lowed us down as fast us possible, ap-
peared on the scene, and by liberal
use Of talk, got the fellows to under
stand the case and SubSde. One, who
had received the full brunt of Ned's
descent, had two ribs broken, while
Ned himself, besides a bad cut on his
forehead, had broken his left forearm
lie was put on a strctcher and carried
back to the doctors house, while
managed to hobblc along 10y the kind
ly help of the superintendent's arm,
and once at the house Il good bath and
a little sticking plaster were all | want
ed, though my neck and shoulders were
stiff for several days. OF course Ned
was off duty until his arm was knit
and lit for service again, and we both
considered ourselves very fortunate in
getting off so cheaply under the cir
cumStances.
Now, as recall the wild cxhilara.
ton | felt as | whirled along on that
car, l am always glad that | had the
experience, and, spite of the danger
attending it, look back with a pleasant
memory On the maddest, widest ride
of my life.
Fresh Water Pearls.
The cultivation of the pearls of
freshwatcr mussels has become an in