Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-02-09
en- a Raft.

issippi known as Rufftown.
The method of spelling the name is
malice aforethought: for when the set
Element was first christened the RATS
men and steamboat hands meant
trough" but a thinner-skinned gene
ration sold provisions, and wood, and
poor whisky to the travelling public
generally in the year 1857 than when
the name was first given, and by their
efforts the orthography was modified as
give it above.
The town consisted of long wood
dock, where steamers occasionally
came for fuel, full halfdozen slab
"hotels, where all the Accommodations"
to be had were sold by the quart from
a ing, two stores, mere traps for the I'M
wary, score of shrunken houses, and
away back, almost to the bluff, a log
school-houge.
In the year of which / write, was
the teacher in that iog school-house, at
a salary Of seven dollars month and
board; the latter, in New England style,
"boarding round"
] think / earned my wages. That
may be rs it may, Certain it was that
when spring came and the term closed,
the trustees could have been no better
pleased to pay and discharge me than
was at being discharged. Had he
forgotten to pay me, should have dis
charged myself. The fact was / was
Disguised with Rufftown and Rufftown
people, and had determined to voyage
to New Orleans. Consequently the
close OF nay engagement pleased me
better than it's continuance
School Finished" as the boys had it,
on Saturday. On Monday | had found
place as raftsman upon great raft,
bound for the end of the river. From
teaching the young idea how to shoot |
had changed to teaching logs how to
hoat-from landsman had become
sailor,
The crew were one and II strangers
to me, tough and brAwney lumbermen
from the up-country. was probably
the only green hand on board.
For u few DAYS all went well. / could
push an oar and boil potatoes, so that
was able to fill the duties of steersman
or cook, but | WAS young and foolish
enough that my book knowledge, slight
though it was, placed me above the
other men upon the raft, and | prob
ably showed it. This engendered
strife.
At first, the scorn which grew in my
companions breasts showed itself in
looks and sneering words; but rs the
days and nights passed, and smoked
my pipe appart from the others, and
did not Join them i'll their songs and
dances after the sun went down, q
more open and hostile spirit betrayed
itself and suddenly WAS aroused from
my dream of superiority by the return
OLA blow for some soornful word which
had cast at one :of the raftsmen.
defended myself rs best might, and
rather hltter myself now, as look
back and gave NJ many hard knocks as
received; but the bad blood was out
now, and my life became wretched.
For time held my own with my
opponents, but when the number of
my prosecutors grew, as it did, to in
clude every man on board from cap
tain down, | felt that prudence was
the better part of valor and | simply
sought to avoid Intercourse or trouble
of any kind.
"The teachers kinder techy, eh?'
said Zach Nicholson to his companion,
IA they eyed me where | sat, Mt the
rear of the great raft smoking alone.
"Hes kinder techy an heightened.
Won't speak TO no one now. What he
wants is anothcrIgood thrashing."
These words were spoken loud
lough for me 10 hear distinctly, but |
ave no heed.
yes continued Nicholson, "he
needs more lickin to make him know
his place. He's like niger, the more
you lick 'cm, the more
| was southern born, and this conf
parison was too much for me. Quick
as flash seized block of wood and
hurled it ut the speaker and feled him
To the floor of the raft. His compan-
ion assisted him to rise and walk away
but that night slept with my hand
within my bosom upon my knife
The climax had come. Nicholson
would kill me now if was not careful.
At noon the next day, the friend of
my enemy spoke to me after dinner,
aRd called me one side. | followed
him.
"You knocked Zach down yesterday"
81 know l." | replied.
lie wants satisfaction
"Then let him get it" said I, turning
away, cnraged.
"No, nor said the other, "dont be q
fool. He's mad clear through. IF We
won't fight him he'll strike We in the
dark. Ye must fight"
reelected moment. What this
man said was doubtless true. Nicholson
hated me and wished to do me injury.
Ny safest course would be to have it
ont nj once.
what docs he propose?" said I.
"a duel, with knives"
shuddered. The man meant to kill
me, ~ had feared.
But this Nicholson is twice my size.
He could seize me and cut my throat
while | struggled hopelessly," | return
ed. at would not be fair fight"
Zach has thought of that. and pro-
poses to fight like this: Each man
shall choose a log and set it atloat be-
hind the raft. Then you shall both
Jump into the river and swim for the
logs, each seat yourself upon one, and
so fight"
/ laughed.
But if we fought with knives the logs
might be hundred feet apart, and we
could not do each other much HARM"
The logs to be fastened together by
thirty feet of chain"
1t was plan to murder me; but l
would die game.
agreed" said l, hoarsely. "When
shall the duel take place."
Now" said Nicholson's friend. It's
as good a time rs any"
Ibowed my head in silent consent.
"Who's your second?', said the other
"Nsme him, and We will fix things up
ready"
l choked little, and sense of my
utter desolation amid this crew Of saw
age men atioat upon 3 mighty river,
swept over me; then the spirit of my
youth and independence arose again.
81 have no friend, and will fix things
for myself. Get your chain, and come
to the rear of the raft. We will pick
It the logs and fssten them together,
and then you can call Nicholson" and
turned away.
"But you'll have some one to act for
you-to see fair play-too"
''No !" cried, sharply-"no one Ii
my knife cannot win me fair play, I'll
not look for it among this gang. Get
your chain"
l..