The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1899-03-16
Nick ArnOld'S Daring
DOYs, I'll give anyone Of you $50
10 II you'll start that JAM"

No one answered, while the boss
paced bsck and forth, ION the shore, and
3ooked helplessiy from the rough. hardy
wosds-then TO the huge mass Of logs,
Though which the water sesthed and
toaned at the head Of the jam. whore the
lumber lay piled many tiers deep and
sxtended up the stream for considera-
BE DISTANCE.
2 On ahead the water foamed and tum-
bled in It's mad course through jackson
falls, . river driver, was not familiar
with the series Of long rapids that rem.
dered river driving more than usually
hazardous al that point.
The drive Of million and half feet
Of lumber had progressed down the
swollen stream very rapidly SO far. The
men had worked with will, and every
thing had gone smoothly as far az jack
son falls. ="
The leader Of the gang, though fair
stream, and had neglected the usual
precautions Of stationing men at the
head of the falls, and rigging wing
Jams to keep the logs from lodging as
they came down the stream.
"How be We goin' to do II without
,gittin' drownded?" asked a weather.
beaten old stream driver, after going
out and taking careful survey of the
situation. "We've done all we could,
except chopin of big spruce that
holds the hull thing. We've got some
lAs good white water men"-a term ap-
piled to the most venturesome and skill
ful drivers-"as ye can find in Maine,
but there hain't none Of 'em goin' to
lFisk their necks too fur"
'lf wss q younger man I'd do It,"
replied the boss.
"Ef you'd a done a. told ye," re-
Joined the grizzled old veteran. "there
wouldn't a been no trouble"
eyes, know" said Mr.. Hall, the
boss, impatiently, "but didn't, and
we've got to make the best Of 1t. I'll
make 1t a hundred. Every day counts
now. The water will fall soon, and
want to get this lumber down."
Some of the men walked out on the
jam and looked at the log that acted
Ias key. 1t would be very easy
thing to cut that log and set the mass at
liberty, but how would the one that did
1t regain the shore?
The men knew that the instant the
log was severed those pressing against
it would dash forward, rolling and tum-
bling over each other 40 they rushed
through the boiling waters of jackson
falls No live man could keep his feet
upon the whirlins, rolling logs, and
once down among them, nothing but
death in its most terrible form could
ensue.
One by one they came back, shaking
their heads.
IF there was ghost Of chance"
said one athletic young fellow, leaning
upon his peavy, "I'd try 1t. I've cuffed q
log through some mighty tough places,
but dare not tackle this"
"Well." said the boss, moodily, II
don't sec what we're going to do. Well
hAve to get some horses and warp lot
OF those logs over with tackle and fall.
TN spoil Two or three days, and every
hours precious"
"How much did you say you'd give,
Mr.. Hall?" questioned boyish voice
st the elbow Of the boss.
The latter turned. The voice was
that Of Nick Arnold, the "cookee," or
cooks assistant, who had just come
down tho stream with the mems lunch |
in . couple Of baskets slung upon q
neckyoke.
Mr.. Hall laughed.
"Do you want to try 1t, Nick2 I'm
afraid you wouldn't do, when these old |
hands are afraid to undertake it,"
"How much did you say you'd give? ?"
persisted the boy, hardy specimen of
an embryo backwoodsman, apparently |
about IS years old.
II said I'd give hundred dollars"
TIL do 1t for that" said Nick, con-
fdently, setting his baskets Of food |
down, while more than a score Of men
laughed in derision.
The boy ran nimbly out over the COM
pact body of logs looked keeniy at the
one which held the jam and at the inter
vening space between himself and the
shore. Then he came slowly back.
TITS hard-looking place." he said,
his usually merry face wearing
rather subdued expression, "but I'm 60
ing to earn that hundred. Honest, I |
amp he added, looking steadily at his
employers face.
"Oh, I'll pay the money fast enough"
replied Mr.. Hall; "but cant consent
to your risking it,"
LES tackle the grub" said one Of the
men, an invitation which was imme-
diately complied with.
And they distributed the food, which
rapidly disappeared.
If get drowned in starting the jam,
and it goes all right, will you pay the
money to mother?" asked the boy,
while the men were eating.
"Of course; but can't agree to let
you. What would your mother do If |
you were killed?"
Il am not going to be killed." said |
the boy. resolutely. "Tm going to hold |
you toyour bargain"
would you let him try it?" queried |
the boss. turning to the men. do you |
think he'd stand any show?"
"Well." responded one of them, paus-