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

pipe out OF his mouth. and settled him.
self more comfortably on the pile OF
timber upon which we were both seat
ed. on a slope just above the quaint
little Russian railway station OF Suram.
in the Southern Caucasus. you were
a-sayin' that you'd had more narrow
'scapes OF your life In the streets OF
London and New York than ever you
had In South Africa or Central Asia
Well. there's many man could say
just the same. Them soldier and sailor
fellows make a big talk about hairs
breadth escapes from death. and NIL
that; but I'll be bound I've had as
many close shaves as any Of 'em In the
way OF my business. and on this very
line OF railway toor'
II can't quite believe TT said /.
"You remember that story OF how
somebody once heard read out In a
church Ia the West: "a man who had
just taken season ticket upon the So
and-So railway desires the earnest
prayers OF the congregation. II IL
comes 70 that I've had one or two
pretty sensational adventures on this
very line myself"
II daresay you have. sir" rejoined
the veteran with grim chuckle over
the congenial pleasantly; and. II Il
comes 10 that IL was just close by this
here spot where we're a-sittin' now
that had the nearest shave o. being
killed as ever / had Ia my life, and
that's sayin' pretty good deal. l can
tel yer"
This preface savorcd so strongly OF
a good story TO come that at once be-
gan 10 press him for an explanation;
but no pressing was needed. The old
fellow refilled his short black pipe
took a Whit or two to get himself lin
tune. as he said. for his story, and
then began as follows:-
You'd never guess-not II you tried
all day--how this here 'scape OF mine
came about. Robbers. says youp No.
IT waren't robbers although there was
goodish few OF 'em then. too. Land
slipsp No, nor that either Bridges
breakin'p No, nor yet bridges. though
I've had taste OF that, too. In my
time. Fact you'd never guess, SO I'd
better just tell you all about IL.
You see, the way OF IL was this
When the line was first opened as far
rs this here station of Suram, whore
we are now. used to run the morning
train from Poti; and my mate was a
Rooshan chap from Taganrog-name
Of Ivan Karlon. A jolly. good-natured
fellow he was as ever stepped into
shoe leather; and for a Rooshan. he
didn't make half bad sort o. stolser
neither.
when we first came 10 work to-
gether. him and me. we used 10 have
prime fun out OF IL. and no mistake
He'd be- always tryin' 10 talk English.
and I'd be always tryin' TO talk Roo
shan; and proper hash we both made
OF IL. as you may think.
However. old Jacky (as / always
called him) was such good-natured
chap that he didn't mind bit being
laughed ut; and he picked up my lingo
q deal quicker than i could pick up
his'n. which was a very good job.
for had 70 keep tellin' him lots o.
things which / couldn't have turned
into Rooshan nohow.
Now, bout six months after first
took on with this line, Il got broken
up for goodish lit by one OF them
blessed earth slides that you yourself
got taste OF t'other day; and just ut
tho top OF the Suram Pass yonder
there was a big gap in the rails that
no train could git across for love or
money. So the way they managed
was 10 run one train close up 10 this
here gap. and then have another one
with me and Jacky Karloff 10 work
i,) standing all ready just at tother
side; and then the passengers and lug
gage was shifted from one train TO
tother. and away they went
We'll. one day me and Jacky was
on the tender as usual with steam up.
Just awaitin' for n signal 10 start the
train. when all at once we felt our
selves beginnin' 20 move slowly for
ward.
Il thought nothing OF II nj the first
moment. and didn't even look up from
what | was doin'. thinkln' they were
only shown us for'ard 10 make room
for some'at more behind. But all ia n
minute we went quicker and quicker.
till we was regularly hyin'; and then
heard shout from behind. and Jacky
sang out 'Gospodi pomilui' Qord
have mercy upon US and I looked
round and saw"
THAT the train had run away.
suppose" said !.