Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-05-21
Rivals No More.

Ned Thorne were such bitter enemies
They were both capital watermen,
experts in the rips" or rapids, cool
headed in handling lumber through
the deadwater, where the logs, with
no current to stay them, would roll
suddenly over.
The drive had dragged slowly along,
spring rains had been light, the snow
had disappeared from the woods, and
now, though the first week in May was
drawing to a Close another series of
shallow rapids lay between the main
body of the lumber and the deep waters
of the Penobscot river.
1t was ocIoc in the morning.
The crew filed slowly along to their
work from the tents which were
pitched beside the stream.
The men were tired out, and moved
with languid, sjaded steps, as though
their heavy driving boots-the soles
filled with steel spikes to prevent slip
ping on the smooth logs-were all they
could carry.
But Langdon strobe along in adj
vance of the rest, while Ned Thorne, a
young man of heavier build, walked
with slower pace, a sullen look upon
his dark brows, and a fierce CLEAN in
his eyes.
The two men had fallen into one of
their frequent alterations over some
trivial subject at breakfast, and but
for the boss" would have come to
blows.
Ned" said the boss, you go down
to the long turn and keep the rocks
clear after the logs begin to run. The
water'H be along in half an hour or
SO.
''All right!' Ned replied, striking
into a path that led down along the
bank of the stream, the place desig-
mated being some quarters of a
mile away
Burt, what's the trouble between
you and Thorne? Why are you al
ways iarring?" asked Mr. Lane, the
boss, turning to Langdon.
II dunno, sir, as | can hardly tell
you" he answered, after a slight hest
tation
Il am sorry there should be any
trouble. You're too good men to be
wasting your time quarreling."
Log after log was started in motion,
and went whirling away OH it's jour
ney down the rapidly swelling stream.
Burt said the boss Jump on
log and ride down to the eddy below
the rips. | am AFRAID the lumber will
stick there"
Burt leaped upon a straight, hand
some spruce that had just been
loosened, and, standing as firmly, APP
parently, as upon the solid ground,
swept down the foaming stream, bal
ancing himself with his pole, the water
Ieaping and dashirg around his feet
There's a girl concerned in the
trouble betwiXt Burt and Ned" said
Mr.. Lane to a gray-bearded old river
driver beside him 81 heard that Ned
got the better of him in the good graces
of Molly Fairchild, though why she
should prefer Ned Thorne to Burt
Langdon is more than | can under
stand"
When Burt reached the eddy, which
was something mere than halfway to
where Ned Thorne was posted, he
found the place unobstructed, and
springing upon the rocks near which
his log glded, he sat upon a huge
boulder and watched the logs run by,
for the stream had risen considerably.
He was Illuminating somewhat mood
lily upon his unfortunate position re-
garding the girl he loved and hoped to
marry-for Mr.. Lanes statement was
nf
tress came echoing family up the
stream.
Help! Help
He leaped TO his feet In a moment,
for Burt was ever ready to lend help
ing hand, and in another instant was
posing himself upon swiftly moving
log.
At what was known as the long
turn" the stream widens out to quite a
distance, and on one side a lot of low,
water-worn rocks ran out from the
shore, the channel turning around
these in the form of an ox-bow.
At high water these rocks were
wholly submerged, but now, at about
half driving pitch" they were par
TALLY out of water
But as Bert drew near to the turn
he again heard the cry for help. and
discerned dark form struggling be-
meath a log near where the rapidly
rising flood was rushing by.
Burt guided his somewhat unweildy
craft as near the shore as possible and
effected a landing, though not without
number of severe scratches and
bruises. Burt found Ned pinioned be
meath huge pine log, which lay
across his hips in such a way that
while he was not badly crushed owing
to the sharp projections of the rocks
keeping the weight of the log from him
in great measure, he was perfectly
helpless.
He turned his frightened eyes upon
Burt as the latter came hurriedly up.
Roll this log off me, for heavens
sakei" he gasped LCarsely, his strength
and voice exhausted by his shouting
and exertions to free himself.
Burt bent his strength to free him
self
But the log was of immense weight
and lay damned between the rocks in
such way that his lifting in spite o.