The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-06-30

mas small line fastened to it. This
IS SO the second man can jerk it loose
When the log starts. Sometimes the
log with the hook in 1T is wedged SO
tight the men at the rope can't start
it. Then the only way is for the first
man to go down again with his ak
and cut into the log till it is weaken
ed enough for them to break it with
the rope. Well. Joe Farley and l
went down on to the log, just as we
had been many a time before to-
gether. We worked along careful.
toward the front of the jam, where it
was heaped up just over the fall.
"Ifit starts while we are here there
Will be poor chance for u.s." said
Joe.
No chance at ell, Joe.'' I said !;
"but it's tight Jam; there's not
much risk"
Anyhow, have care," he said as
l climbed down to what seemed to be
the wedge logs. l wasn't quite sure
which log of two or three was the
right one, but l hooked my end of
the long rope into the likeliest of
them, then climbed back within run
ming distance of the bank, told Joe
where to stand, and gave the signal
to the men to pull. At the second
pull the log came out, but the drive
only settled few feet, and then
seemed firm as ever,
1.-The wrong logw called Joe.
EYES," l said, and went down
again.
L was sure was right this time,
when fastened the rope to a great
hemlock thirty feet long, driven
there with its base in the air. only
doubted whether the rope alone
would start it. When all was ready,
l climbed back again with Joe to a
safe place, then gave the signal. The
men pulled with will, but they
pulled unevenly at first nothing
moved, They pulled again, steadily
and the rope snapped close up by the
hook. Then the men cursed the rot
ten line. We're hard set, sir. 1
fastened the line again for one more
trial, but twas no use signaled them
to stop pulling.
81 must cut, Joe," 1 said. "You
stray back"
'But he followed me little way.
III would seem strange place to you,
sir, to swing an ak in the huge pine
and spruce, and hemlock logs heaped
up all about. 1t was like a great
rough wall behind me and on both
sides. You would have thought that
they never could move. But l knew
that they could and that when they
did start they would be tossed about
like so many estraws. and snapped,
some of them, as though they were
pipestems. l stood there on some of
the logs that pushed out over the
fall, with the water foaming under
meath, and began cutting into the log
that the rope was fastened to. My
part now was to cut so far into it that
it could be broken by the men at the
rope, yet not for enough for it to be
broken by the pressure of the logs
from above.
Don't cut too far" Joe shouted
down to me.
cit will bear twice as much as
this"
"But l had given hardly half a
dozen more strokes before l saw the
log quiver, then bend. With all my
might 1 sprang for great log above
me. AS L jumped l shouted to Joe
to run. But before l could spring
again l heard the half cut timber
tear apart. Then all those great
trunks leaped and swung as though
they were alive. Down L went, And
that was the last l saw or knew for
many long day."
80 sir" said his wife, when they
brought him home to me, nobody
thought he would eyer be we'll again."
"Surely, it seems a miracle that 1
am alive now. 1t was many minutes
before they took me from among the
logs. I'll not tell you what a torn,
broken creature l was. Joe Farley,
he Jared better than l, through fall
ing into hole, deep, eddy-like
place where the logs drove over him.
They got him out with a broken leg.
He is about again now. That is the
whole, sir. L have made long
story of it, L haven't much except
life left, but / am thankful for that.
1 am thankful 1 did not die as was
then,
spoke a few kindly word of SYM
pathy and encouragement.
"Will you pray with us before you
go ?" the wife asked. "You would
like to have him pray with you,