Iron County register., 1899-03-09
Nick ArnOld'S Daring
i1DOYS. I'll give anyone of you $50
d if you'll start that jam"

D if you'll start that jam
No one answered. while the boss
paced back and forth, on the shore, and
looked heIplessly from the rough. hardy
woods-then to the huge mass of logs.
through which the water seethed and
foamed at the head of the jam, where the
lumber lay piled many tiers deep and
extended up the stream for a considera-
BILE distance.
On ahead the water foamed and tum-
bled in its mad course through Jackson
falls, a river driver, was not familiar
with the series of long rapids that rem
dered river driving more than usually
hazardous at 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 a will. and every
thing had gone smoothly as far as 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 ye goin' to do it without
gittin' drownded?" asked a weather
beaten old stream driver, after going
out and taking a careful survey of the
situation. We've done all we could.
except chopin off a big spruce that
holds the hull thing. We've got some
as good white water men''-a term APP
piled to the most venturesome and skill
full drivers-"as We can find in Maine,
but there hain't none of 'em goin' to
risk their necks too fur"
'If / was a younger man I'd do it,"
replied the boss.
''Ef you'd "A done as l told ye," re-
Joined the grizzled old veteran, there
wouldn't a been no trouble"
"Yes. / know" said Mr.. Hall. the
boss, impatiently, but l didn't, and
make it a hundred. Every day counts
now. The water will fall soon, and l
want to get this lumber down"
Some of the men walked out on the
jam and looked at the log that acted
as a key. 1t would be a very easy
thing to cut that log and set the mass at
liberty. but how would the one that did
IL 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 as they rushed
through the boiling waters of Jackson
falls. No live man could keep his feet
upon the whirling, rolling logs, and
once down among them, nothing but
death in it's most terrible form could
ensue.
One by one they came back. shaking
their heads.
IF there was a ghost of a chance"
said one athletic young fellow. leaning
upon his peavy. I'D try it. I've cuffed
log through some mighty tough places,
but / dare not tackle this"
We'll" said the boss, moodily. I
don't see what we're going to do. Well
have to get some horses and warp lot
of those logs over with tackle and fall.
It'll spoil two or three days, and every
hours precious"
How much did you say you'd give.
Mr.. Hall?'' questioned boyish voice
at the elbow of the boss.
The latter turned. The voice was
that of Nick Arnold. the "cookee.' or
cocks assistant. who had just come
down the stream with the mems lunch
in a couple of baskets slung upon a
neckyoke.
Mr. Hall laughed.
do you want to try it. Nick? 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, a hardy specimen of
an embryo backwoodsman, apparently
saNout Is years old.
al said I'd give hundred dollars"
"I'll do il for that" said Nick. con-
fidently, setting his baskets of food
down. while more than a score of men
laughed in derision.
The boy ran nimbly out over the com
rpact body of logs. looked keenly at the
one which held the jam and at the inter
-vening space between himself and the
.shore. Then he came slowly back.