The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-04-24
BREAKING OF THE JAM.
Copyright, 1871

Il ain my own L know that
said Jerry. I've heard the boys talkin'
about it when they thought L was lis
TENN to the trees. Yes, I've heard EN-
whisperin' that some day I'd do some
thin crazy with my gun. Well, mebbe
1 will-mebbe l will, if l hev' to live
anywhere but here. But l couldn't no.
ways hurt a 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 rife 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
glance 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. In fact, 1 hope
you'll help me take care of Jim this
winter. We are here because the city
is not the place for a boy who has had
pneumonia. These old .Adirnndacks and
the Oswegatchie river, and you for
guide, Jerry, will make Jim as strong
as a bear before spring, and"
Ever see a bear?" asked Jerry,
laughing with pure delight. Ever see
n bear in the neatest trap in the
woods? You let the kid come to-morry
and I'll bet 1 en- show him one"
Jim sat up and shouted. Jerry's face
was as simple and glowing as the
boys; then it clouded, and Il vague sad
ness crept over the docile mouth and
the somewhat vacant eyes.
Don't you forgit 1 amt right" he
said, slowly and ~anxiously. I'D forgiti if
the boys didn't let on. They laugh
because l don't dast git away from
these mountains. Ye know | stay here
always, and I'm related some way 10
the big Windfall up yonder. an to the
river an all. Once l went to town, and
! got so lonesome an cranky l 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 Tor talk too much. In curse,
them peoples along the Windfall CAB
bic consid'ble, but they amt exactly
trees. They jist grew after that storm
blew the real old fellers down. Think
of that for wind. Oh, eff I'd only beer
here them"
4 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, mus
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:
Its queer about that" he said. Jerry
in a high wind and Jerry in n calm are
two different men. Ye wouldn't know
him when it blows. He's smarter than
lightnin' then; there amt no cobwebs
in his head at suc2: tunes! 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 Wade'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 or 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
above the Windfall. Then the river
froze again, and the men could walk on
the ice almost TO the foot of the tangle
of logs.
But one morning a warn south wind
rose, increasing to a violent windstorm
as the day wore u. The softened ice
began to pound against the jam from
above, and the loggers stood idly about
waiting for the break. On the Windfail
the men could scarcely stand against
the raging. shrieking wind. Late in the
day DIR. Mason came, asking for jim.
Behind him, Pierre struggled, breath
less and pale.
boy on ~river!" he cried. "ComeI
Hurry!"
Running to the bank, they saw Jim
clinging to a rock far up the stream.
Evidently he had wandered along the