The leader., 1897-04-21
BREAKING OF THE JAM.
Copyright, 1871

,enin' to the trees. Yes, I've heard 'em
wbisperin' that some day I'd do some
thin crazy with my gun. Well, mebbe
d, will-mebbe l will, if / hev' to live
anywhere but here. But couldn't no.
wavs hurt little kid like you,"-Jerry
laid his huge hand gently on the head
of the boy curled on the log cabins
hearth-"a pore little sick kid like you"
He lifted his rifle and looked along the
barrel toward the boy. His finger was
on the trigger. The doctor opposite
started to his feet with a word of
alarm; then he sat down again. One
plance at Jerry's face convinced him
that, whatever Jerry's failings might
be, shooting sick boys was not one Of
them.
"Of course you couldn't hurt him."
said the physician. I'm fact, l hope
You'll help me take care of Jim this
winter. We are here because the city
is not the place for boy who has had
pneumonia. These old Adirondacks and
the Oswegatchie river, and you for
guide, Jerry, will make Jim as strong
as a bear before spring, and"
ever see bear?' asked Jerry,
laughing with pure delight. Ever see
a bear in the neatest trap in the
woods? You let the kid come to-morry
and I'll bet | en- show him one"
Jim sat up and shouted. Jerry's face
was as simple and glowing as the
boys; then it clouded, and a vague sad
ness crept over the docile mouth and
the somewhat vacant eyes.
"Don't you forgit l amt right" he
said, slowly and anxiously. I'D forgit if
the boys didn't let on. They laugh
because | don't dast git away from
these mountains. Ye know | stay here
always, and I'm related some way to
the big Wndfall up yonder, an to the
river an all. Once I went to town, and
got so lonesome an cranky | wanted
to knock ev'ry blamed fool met. They
got in my way, an they talked too
much The trees here don't git in your
way nor talk too much. In course,
them peoples along the Windfall CAB
bic constable, but they amt exactly
trees. They jist grew after that stern
blew the real old fellers down. Think
Of that for wind! Oh, eff I'd only been
here them"
\ light flashed into his eyes, and he
jumped to his feet, walking restlessly
to the door. His hound pressed after
him and followed his handsome, paus
cular master out into the forest.
Ward, the owner of the log house
where DR.. Mason and his charge had
arrived that day, turned to his guest:
TITS queer about that" he said. Jerry
in high wind and Jerry in calm are
two different men. Ye wouldn't know
him when it blows. He's smarter than
hghtnin' then; there amt no cobwebs
in his head at such times! But calm
or storm, he's allays the strongest and
best guide in the woods. He just can't
get lost or tired, or mixed on the
weather or the place to find game.
Everybody likes Jerry, eff he amt his
own man, and We can't put this boy in
carefuller hands than Jerry Wadc's."
Evidently DR.. Wade agreed, for, as
the winter passed, Jim spent more and
more hours with Jerry. In the lumber
camps jerry was the strongest, best
natured worker among the men. Dur
ing slack days the pair hunted,
trapped and snowshoed together, and
Jerry came to love the boy as he had
never loved any other human being. Jim
was as dear to him as the forest OK the
beautiful Oswegatchie.
The cold weather broke suddenly
with warm rains. The river rose, carry
ing hundreds of logs down stream until
they caught upon some rocks, forming
dangerous jam quarter of mile
above the Windfall. Then the river
iroze again, and the men could walk on
Inc ice almost to the foot of the tangle
Of logs.
But one morning warm south wind
rose, increasing to violent windstorm
as the day wore on. The softened ice
negan to pound against the jam from
above, and the loggers stood idly about
waiting for the break. On the Windfall
the men could scarcely stand against
the raging, shrieking wind. Late in the
Gay DIR. Mason came, asking for Jim.
Behind him, Pierre struggled, breath
less and pale.
Boy on river!" he cried. "Come!
Hurry"
Cumming to the bank, they saw Jim
singing to rock far up the stream.
evidently he had wandered along the
,ee' ignorant of danger. They beckoned
him wildly. but he was now panic
struck, and would not move. The shores
opposite him were rocky and steep, and
spiked with drift wood. The men stood
AZ The only spot where he could reach
.ahd. But none offered to go to him in
the face of almost certain death.
As they waited, there came sudden
pause, moment when the wind rested,
ana the oswegatchie doomed less
'hreateningly against its barriers. 1t
Was the moment to rescue him, and
.ne men faced each other. Then they
shfunk back with pale faces. Why
'hrow away their lives?
a moment later the wind swept
!, .i'n a grim roar along the path which
y mad moved through the forest 40
Y, before. The great Windfall was
IKE tunnel opening on the river,
mnsre already the log jam creaked
sao swayed. Jim might live to be
swept into that whirlpool with its
sisunching timbers. Sickened and
.aemohng, they awaited the dreadful
sssnt; these men who braved dangers
aa'iy We're crayens now. There was
sas-one only-one more man in such
storm; but he was mile away in the
ma sasy thought Of Jerry with COM