302. Our track
was continued across the pontoon bridge and ran around the west shore of
Kite Island. The track was straight as far as the shore of Kite Island,
whence, by an easy curve, it was carried around to the log cabin.
The First Railway Accident.
Dutchy was the first one to try the railway. He sneaked back to the
platform while the rest of us were putting a few last touches on the
track. The first we knew the car came tearing down the track at full
speed, with Dutchy yelling at the top of his voice for us to get out of
his way. Bill was on the bridge when the car came along and he had no time
to run for shore, but with great presence of mind he jumped into the water
and clung to one of the barrels. But the joke of it all was that Dutchy
himself got a wetting too. The track at the middle of the bridge was not
quite true to gauge. It was this very spot that Bill was fixing up when
Dutchy, came along. The end of a rail was bent in far enough to catch the
flange of one of the car wheels, and in a moment Dutchy, car and all, was
slung head over heels into the mill-race. Fortunately no serious harm was
done. Dutchy landed a little ways down-stream, and Reddy, by quick work,
managed to rescue the car just as it was floating off under the suspension
bridge.
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