The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1891-12-24

of Aleck forman's camps, in northern
minnesota, accordingly, were located
in the winter of IS, some forty OF the
trough giants who make up these little
communities They had settled for
the season in the usual fashion and
wcre looking forward with the lack of
interest natural under the circum-
stances, to lonely Christmas, when
the monOtOny of camp life was broken.
1t is seldom broken except in one
way, and this was in accordance with
the rule. An accident happened. In
some mysterious way John Davidson,
the oldest and most experienced man
in the gang" managed to slip and
fall partly under falling trunk and
was picked up >enseless. The foreman,
Charlie Andrews, was somewhat skilled
in treating ordinary bruises and frac-
lures, and he examined Davidson care
fully, expecting to find several of his
bones broken, but none of them were,
and the men thought their comrade
would soon recover
One evening when Andrews had fin
iShed as careful an examination of the
unfortunate man as he knew how to
make, and had been able to get some
few replies to his questions, he said to
the others: I'm afraid it's no use.
dunno what | kin do fur him. He's
hurt inside somewhereS en- he seems
to be failin rapid. reckon he's goin'
ter cash in
There was silence in the little group
for few moments, and then Joe Pei
ton spoke up. Joe was one of the
youngest luen in camp, being only
twenty-one, but he was almost giant.
Every body in camp knew that Joe was
very much in love with Davidson's
pretty daughter, May, and also that he
had very slender chance of winning
her. for he was rather reckless
youngster and the elder man was sus-
piciouS of him.
Don't you reckon he'd ought to be
taken to Minnea polis?' said Joe.
Yes" said Andrews, but I don't
believe he can get there in time.
There's three foot o snow on the trail
now, and there amt team in camp
that wouldn't break down on the road"
"Weu," said Joe, very slowly, "if
you fellers ii make me a light sled to-
night, I'll pull him down. It's only a
little over fifty miles, an reckon kin
make it in two days.
Il dunno" said Andrews. doubtfully.
II reckon it's likely you cd git through
If anybody could, but yer mighty like
ly ter break down, an if yer do it's all
day with yer"
Il know it." replied Joe, coolly, "but
I'll risk it If I git him home he may
have chance, an if don't lie won't
be No worse off n he is now
Yes, but you WILL" SAID one Of the
other men.
Ill take my chances" said Joe
again, and they all saw he was in
earnest
One Of the men, John Williams, Of
fcred to go, too, but Joe declined.
IF kin git through at ALL he said,
Il kin do it alone, an there's no use O
more than one takin' the risk I'll
turn in now an git good sleep an
take an early start
Joe started at daybreak and John
Williams insisted on going par of
the way with him to tighten the work
in some degree. AS they started every
man in the camp gripped the hand of
the stalwart yOuugster in what each
one thought was a last farewell.
About noon Williams returned to
camp alone and almost broken down
with fatigue. 81 dragged the sleigh
nigh five miles," he said, IAN | knew
] couldn't git back at all if | didn't
turn then So turned. 1 tried to git
Joe ter come back. too, FIR don't be-
licve he'll ever git through alive,
though he was fresh enough when |
left him. But Joes good grit. He on'y
clinched his teeth n said he was goin'
ter make the best stagger he could to-
wards gittin' thar. Eff anybody kin,
he kin, but reckon we've seen the last
O 10th of en-
Joe's Story.
You know the old man was wander
in a bit before we started" Joe used
to say, IAN the greatest fear l had
about the trip was that he'd go clean
crazy out thar in tn woods, fur it
seemed to me s if I'd 60 crazy, too. eff
he did. Ez twas, l sometimes think l
kinder lost my wits fur a spell. Twas
powerful hard work blowing along
over the snow, specially where they
was drifts, m L reckon l must er lost
NOR n five or six mile goin' round the
biggest on 'em. Luckily, though, there
vast many on 'em an the most O. the
way 'twasn't SO bad.