Wind Against Steam.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 120, 25 April 1885, Page 4

Wind Against Steam.

There is a roar and a rush behind them. What next? The down train? The boys look over their shoulders as the big black monster sweeps past. The whistles blow sharply ; there are handkerchiefs waving from the windows. The ice yacht is just now holding nearly across the river. " A race ! a race, boys ! Steam against wind ! How they fly ! Everything is blurred and melted and indistinct. The ice is all a bluish white haze, with that ' diamond sparkle from the runners, blazing up. The windows of the train are filled with heads ; they seem to shout at the party on the ice yacht, who hear only the rush and roar of the wind and the runners. The wind increases ; the boat roars higher; the windward runner cuts fiercely through the air, and the crushed ice flies m a shower. Almost up with the train, now ; and creeping on ! Will the wind hold ! but never fear ; there is no flaw, but a steady gale. It seems as if the black train were slowing up ; yet no — it is the yacht which is flying faster literally on the wings of the wind. And now — a crack m the ice ahead ! The skipper raises himself and scans the ice with an eagle eye. An old hand at the ice yachting is he. *• We can do it, I think," he says. Now, brave " Rondina ?" And the train sees the crack, too : the cars seem alive all their long length with heads and gestures and warning shouts. Do they think everybody is asleep there on that light, flying, feathery wanderer? The upper edge of the crack is higher by fully six inches than the lower ; and between swirls the black, treacherous water. They are upon it. Whiz ! — splash ! — as the edge ice sags and the runner catches the cold tide. There is a wide, tremulous swing and sway, a toss of the windward runner, and the crack is far astern. How the train cheers ! And look now the black snorting engine falls behind ! Wind against steam .' Give them three cheors, boys, and swing your caps, and hold fast while you are abont it. The track is clear ahead ! the locomotive whistles, and snorts and shouts m w : ld salute at the yacht's victory. Faster — faster — till there is only the rin£ of the runners, the roar and rush of the wind, the tremble, and loan and swing and sway of the wayward craft.— E. Vinton Blake, 'm M Nicholas.