The engine of an ordinary railway train broke down midway between two
stations. As an express train was momentarily expected to arrive at the
spot, the passengers were urgently called upon to get out of the
carriages. A countryman in leather breeches and top-boots, who sat in a
corner of one of the carriages, comfortably swathed in a travelling
blanket, obstinately refused to budge. In vain the porter begged him to
come out, saying the express would reach the spot in a minute, and the
train would in all probability be dashed to pieces. The traveller pulled
an insurance ticket out of his breeches pocket, exclaiming, “Don’t you
see I’ve insured my life?” and with that he set up a horse laugh, and
sunk back into his corner. They had to force him out of the train, and
an instant afterwards the express ran into it.