San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-02-29

what goes to the gravel bank? well, you
goupthere an you'll find my private yacht;
she's a daisy if you can sail her. Beats
grasshopper out o. sight. She don't make
no leeway, neither
Thinking to settle the thing there and
then we decided to go and see the yacht.
We accordingly went up to the switch and
followed it into the gravel pit. Sure
enough, there we found rail car, such as
you see about big yards, a low affair on
four wheels, about twice rs long as hand
car, but with no top works. On it was
rugged mast and sail, with spars and
tackle. Winthrop understood the thing at
once.
"a sail carr he joyfully exclaimed; just
the cheese, If we can work it,
III could work it, knew, for I had often
sailed catboat when a boy. We went
back to the shanty to get our traps and
got few pointers from the owner of the
yacht. Winthrop wanted him to come with
us, but he declined, saying he would rather
stay out and see the scrimmage when the
train came in.
"'Besides,' he added, If one of 'em should
turn mp an ! was gone they'd suspicion
somethin; | reckon they'll have sense
enough TO bring doctor on the train
1--WE agreed with this and made prepar-
ations to get away. AS we were saying
goodby to Carter l suggested that we
might take look down about the robber
camp; you see they were in the opposite
direction from where the yacht lay, being
down toward the station from which the
train that they were to rob was to come,
and which, by the way, was the train we
had expected to take back to Sidney.
"I don't reckon you got much time to
spare observed the stationkeeper.
81 held my watch i'm the moonlight, and
to my surprise it was half past 8; more
than an hour later than had thought
Winthrop's watch agreed with mine, as
also did the station house clock.
"'They must be right said Carter, fol
amt touched 'em since you left 'em, an
them robbers never seen 'em at ALL
1--WE had left our watches at the shanty
when we went out to the ponds and in view
| of the guests Carter had had we were sur
| prised to see them, although we had not
| thought of them until we got ready tc
leave.
"'You've got to do some tall climin,' he
added, II didn't know it was so late; that
train'll be in Antelope inside Of an awful
| short hour
"How we did hurry We did not stop
| for any more palaver; we FASTENED to the
| yacht, ran her down to the main line,
hoisted the sail-there was good breeze,
| as there always is in that country-and
away we went. The owners last words
were Don't let the wheels to windward
| leave the rail morn six inches
"Iess than forty minutes to go twenty
miles. Can we make itS'
az don't know replied, but we ought
to make good time If this breeze holds
1--WE started rather gently, while felt
my boat and got the sail at the proper
angle. took my seat at the rear end,
with my foot on the brake. There was no
rudder to manage, of course. Winthrop
| placed himself in in front of the mast, pre-
pairing to keep a sharp lookout, for we did
not feel sure that the robbers had not put
some obstacle ON the track or posted a
watch. As it proved, they had done neither.
1--WE both were well on the windward
side of the car, for we knew it would be
canted as soon as we got up any speed. As
got the hang of the thing drew in the
sheet and the craft ut once responded. The
wind was apparently just right. believe
sailor would call it on our quarter, and
everything looked favorable for a quick
run We knew the track lad sharp
curves or heavy grades.
GAS Winthrop felt the motion he kept
saying Faster, fasterp The wind seemed
to freshen and we were soon making ex-
press time The car began to lurch and
bound in very unpleasant way.
"'More yet, more YETI yelled my COM
panion, and let out link; the wheels on
the windward side were raised from the
rail and |, not knowing just how much of
aslant my vessel would stand, began to be
alarmed
"Still we raced along. l did not touch
the sheet The windward wheels had not
been on the rails for some miles, it seemed
to me, and the strain on the car, rigging
and passengers, too, for that matter, was
fearful.
1.-The moon was now well up from the
horizon and we had a clear view ahead.
We were certainly making mile minute
and would get to Sidney in time, if we got
there at all.
winthrop was wild with excitement
and was bit exhilarated myself; | took
another turn of the sheet around the cleat.
On we went, the car jumping and cracking,
the wind whistling about our ears and the
telegraph poles punched like pickets.
"Iet her out more YETI he yelled, now
thoroughly wild with excitement, the
tracks good and we'll beat the recordp
ION and on, faster and fasterl | could
hardly get my breath and as slight bend
in the track, changing the slant Of the
wind, made it necessary to ease off tried
to loosen the sheet. The rope was jammed!
Try as would could not unite it and the
car was getting more and more off of the
level-too much, felt sure.
''The windward wheels were foot from
the rail the sneed terrific | thought of