St. Landry democrat., 1888-01-21

| A cry ofhorror broke from the GROVE
as the brave young lumberman fell t.
what all thought must be certain death
| and many turned away from the terri
BILE sight with a heart-sick pan@. II
that mad torrent of crushing timbe,
rescue seemed impossible.
But there are times when even thu
| impossible must be attempted, and " il
liam Layton was not 4 man to be founo
wanting in such a crisis. In Il momcn
he was by his brothers side. trying t.
drag him from among the logs i,
which he had been caught. Excite
ment doubled his strength, but it wa:
all in vain. One leg was held as in /;
wise, and no human power could get il
free.
Meanwhile, the slightest misstep. the
unlucky fall of a log. any little acct
dent, meant certain death to both men.
'.It's no use, WILL" said Samuel,
"Im fast here and can't get out. YOU
can't help me and it's no use our both
going. Save yourself, if you can.
And he added, ''say goodbye to
mother and the rest, and tell the boys
1 wasn't afraid"
don't give up, Sam, don't give up;
We'll get out yet, or, if we don't, we'll
stay together" was the reply.
The fall, the swift attempt at rescue,
and the conversation had taken place
in Il scanty minute, but during that
time the jam had gone many yards
down the stream, and was now in the
rapids. Fortunately the men were
near the shore, where the current was
least swift, and where the movements
of the logs were not SO violent as in
the middle of the stream.
But on either side were banks of pre-
cipitous rocks, and it was many rods
to a place where it would be practical
BILE to leap ashore. More than this it
was impossible that they should go far
without such a change in the timber
around them as would crush Samuel;
indeed, it was almost miraculous that
he had escaped so long. Only some
unseen weaving and binding of logs
underneath the surface of the jam had
protected him, and when they struck
the rocks, as they soon must, nothing
but death could be expected.
In that moment, when all seemed
lost, when the shadow of death was al
most darkening their bri yht, heroic
young faces, the cruel timber trap re-
Taxed little its hold upon the imprls-
oned boy, and in a moment, with his
brothers stalwart help, he was pulled,
with one bootless foot, upon the top of
the logs.
What glad shout rang out over the
water and above the roar of the Jam,
when the fearful, excited watchers saw
both men riding the logs again! They
we're still in deadly peril, the chances
we're against their escape, but, thank
Heaven, their case was no longer hope
css.
''1n moment we.shall be against
he bank, said William, 'and our only
chance is to jump on to that ledge of
'ock, and cling to the bushes till the
'oys can help us off: Can you do it?'
Il don't know; I'll try, but my leg
nat was down in the logs can't use."
I'm help you," William said, land
guess we can make it. "
They did make it, Just as the logs |
cached the bank William jumped, half |
Tagging his brother, who sprang as
veil as his disabled leg would permit
lin to do, and in moment both were
N the narrow, slippery ledge, clutch
ng the small hemlock bushes, while
he logs went laundering by, scattering
he icy spray over them and almost
them away.
But they H'.re not long left in this
recarious position. Their comrades,
SISTED by some Of the other men, hur-
ledly secured ropes which were let
own the rocks, and first Samuel, and
hen William, was drawn up the cliff.
When both We're quite safe, how the
len and women and children all
rowded around them to shake hands,
0 ask questions, and to praise the cour-
&c OF the young man who had run SO
sarful a risk for his brothers. sake!
at was only what anybody would
o." he said, blushing and half-inclined
run away from the compliments Law
he'd upon him. Il should have been
coward it had done less. And" he
Sam is hurt and needs
clip. We must look after him.
1t was true that Samuel leg was
adly bruised, but for the present he
as too happy to be conscious of the
ain. Indeed, the people could hardly
ave Cooked after him" better than
y filling his ears, as they were now
Ding, with the praises of his brother,
,e hero of Kettle Creek.-H. r.
larsh. in YOUTHS Companion.
A COW belonging to Colonel J. Fl.
~n 50 |