The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-07-25


from. the rest OF the train and were
tearin' away down the steepest grade
In the whole line Whether they'd
come uncoupled. or whether they'd
never been coupled at all. never
found out; but any how. there were
we two. hyin' downhill at such rate
that the wind reg 'larly whistled through
our hair.
You tells me you've been on run
away horse once or twice In your time;
well. just fancy an iron horse that
can't be stopped. or coaxed. or even
killed. tearin' away down a steep hill
with you on its back. at the rate OF
sixty miles an hour. and you'll know
how i felt just then.
81 had turned of the steam Directly.
CT course; but what was the good? On
such an. incline ~ that the engine
would run down the line by its-own
weight without any steam at all
'.And then remembered this sharp
curve just where we're a-sittin' now;
sn1 at that gave myself up for lost
and began 10 think OF iumpin' of and
takin' my chance. But 10 jump of.
with precipice on one side and wall
OF rock TO be dashed against on the
ether. would have been pretty much
ike case OF out o. the fryingpan into
The fire.
But just when IL seemed 10 me all
up new thought struck me.
III can't jump down. says | 20
myself. III just Jump up instead. The
telegraph line crosses the railway just
a. Chat sharp turn, / rec'lect, and 1t
AIN so high up. neither, hut what
one might manage 10 reach II with a
good Jump. I'll have try at IL any
way. for it's neck or nothing with US
nov p
IL tried 10 make Jack Karloff under
stxnd what l was goin' TO do, so as he
might take his chance at it as well;
and l think he did not take IL Ia at
last. But whether 1t was that he'd
fairly lost his nerve with fright or
that he didn't think twas any good
tryip IL he only shook his head. and
wouldn't bulge. And then there was
no more tiue to try and pursuade him.
for all at ofce we came Aging round q
corner. and there was the last curve
right afore us, and the telegraph wires
a-stretching across IL, just as you see
'em now.
1T made me feel cold all over / can
promise you. when | thought OF what
was before me; and well IL might for.
ms you can see for yourself, 1t waren't
'zactly the sort o. leap az any man
would lie in hurry TO try without he
was obligated TO il. Howsomdever, il
was my only chance. and IL seemed TO
me that any chance. even though twas
but "A poor one. would be better than
sartain aeath.
las WE spun round this last curve
here, the sharpness OF the turn Stacked
down the speed OF the engine just for
one moment and in that moment shut
my teeth hard. drew myself together
for spring, and went at it as il I'd
been fired out OF gun.
well. SIR you may be sure that
what with the spring OF my leap and
what with the go OF the train itself
/ few up in the air like sky rocket
as II j never meant 10 come down no
more. But in another minute Ifelt
something come across my chest like
q blow OF stick. and there | was
a-hangin' upon the telegraph wires
hard and fast-saved, as one might
say. by an inchl
For moment / felt so sick and
giddy like that everything seemed 10
spin round me like top. But could
just see dimly. as II twas in dream.
the train jump right of the line and
go flying down the side OF the ridge
(as il might be this way) straight
down upon the station; and with the
force OF It's rush-b'lieve IL or not as
you like-it went slap through the
station building, In at one side and out
at tother, carryin' away the whole
roof on its back, same as "A snail car
RIGS It's shell.
"And poor KarloffP' suggest /. as
the old fellow ended his story. He
was killed. OF courseP"
We'll. no; he wasn't killed. after
ALL Howsomdever. he sartainly ought
10 have been killed. il he hadn't had
as many lives as cat. You see,
when the old train jumped of the
rails that way, and went galloping
down the slope into the station. the
swing of il chucked Jacky of head
foremost, and he went neck and crop
into water tank; and / s'posc that
broke his fall somehow. Anyway. he
came of not much the worse for IT,
barring the fright; and | was as glad
20 see him again as II they'd guy me n
thousand silver roubles But II any
body was TO offer me twice as much, ]
wouldn't try that ERE job over again. :"
II.e MIND gcuIutor.