The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-05-22
BREAKING OF THE JAM.
ICopyright. 1sg7.1

tCopyrfght. 1871
II amt my own man. 1 know that"
said Jerry. "Tve heard the bows talkin'
about It when they thought | was lis
eeninf to the trees. Yes, I've heard 'em
whisperin' that some day I'd do some
thin crazy with my gun. Well, mebbe
4 wiil-nlebbe / will, if 1 hev' to live
anywhere but here. But L couldn't no.
ways hurt a little kid like you,'-Jerry
laid bis huge hand gently on the head
pf the boy curled on the log cabins
Mearth-ssa pore little sick kid like you"
He lifted his rife and looked along the
Barrel toward the boy. His finger was
on the trigger. The doctor opposite
started to his fest with a word of
alarms then he sat down again. One
glance at Jerry's face convinced him
that, whatever Jerry's failings might
be, shooting sick boys was not one of
them.
Q course you couldn't hurt him."
said the physician. SIN fact, L hope
you'll help me take care of Jim this
winter. We are here because the city
not the place for a boy who has had
pneumonia. These old Adirondacks and
Oswegatchie river, and you for
vide, Jerry, will make Jim as strong
bear before spring, and"
Ever see a bear?" asked Jerry,
bling with pure delight. ever see
Ar in the neatest trap in the
as2 You let the kid come to-morry
4d lll bet en- show him one"
Jim sat up and shouted. Jerry's face
was as simple and glowing as the
Nv HnwHre fkrA 4. o11.-1oI 49, , =, om,1 n,1
ness crept over the docile mouth and
Ahe somawhat vacant eyes.
Don't you forgit I amt right he
owly and ~anxiously. I'D forgitif
oys didn't let on They laugh
Sc / don't dast git away from
mountains. Ye know I stay here
Us, and Pm related some way to
big Windfall up yonder, an to the
fieer an all. Once Invent to town, and
got SO lonesome an cranky 1 wanted
o knock ev'ry blamed fool / They
g1t in my way, an they talked too
nch. The trees here don't git in your
~ay nor talk too much. In course,
4hem peoples along the Windfall CAB
bic constable, but they amt exactly
trees. They jist grew after that storm
blew the real old fellers down. Think
~ that for windl Oh, eff I'd only been
here thenl"
A light flashed into his eyes, and he
funped to his feet, walking restlessly !
"a the door. His hound pressed after
him and followed his handsome, mus
euiar 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:
It's queer about that" he said. Jerry
81 q high wind and Jerry in q calm are
r0 different men. We wouldn't know
hinn when it blows. He's smarter than
Hightnin' then; there amt no cobwebs
his head at such timesi But calm
storm. he's allays the strongest and
best guide in the woods. He just can't
aet lost or tired, or mixed on the
weather or the place to find game.
Everybody likes Jerry, eff he amt his
own man, and ye can't put this boy in
nrefuiler hands than Jerry Wade's."
Evidently Dr.. Wade agreed, for, as
nv winter passed. Jim spent more and
more hours with Jerry In the lumber
mps jerry was the strongest, best
atUred worker among the e Dur
m slack days the pair hunted,
apped and snowshoed together, and
y came to love the boy as he had
ever loved any other human being. Jim
as dear to him as the forestio or the
antiful Oswegatchie.
The cold weather broke suddenly
sh warm rains. The river rose, carry
hundreds of logs down stream until
Al caught upon some rocks, forming
dangerous jam a quarter of a mile
i've the Windfall. Then the river
again, and the men could walk on
zee almost to the foot of the tangle
logs.
ut one morning q warm south wind
Increasing to q violent windstorn
day wore on. The softened ice
to pound against the jam from
ard the loggers stood idly about
na Tor the break. On the Windfail
mem could scarcely stand against
ine. shrieking wind. Late in the
Ia. Mason came. asking for jim.
him, Pierre struggled, breath
nl pale.
Of riyerl" be cried. 'Comel
ndne to the bank, they saw Jim
81 ~ q rock far up the stream.
he had wandered along the