The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-12-07
r no. intelligence leaped promptly to

Is hit"
whorpe's intelligence leaped promptly to
the practical question.
.tlniun Charley. whered he come from :?
sent him up Sadier & Smiths. It's TWEEN
~ miles even through the woods
AS though by way of colossal answer
the whole surface OF the jam moved
inward and upward. thrushng the logs
bristling sainst the no. lion
She's going to break,''' shouted Thorpe
starting on a run towards the river. "A
chain. quick
The men followed strung high with
excitement. Hamilton. the journalist.
paused long enough to glance up stream.
Then ne too ran after them screaming
that the river above was full logs. BY
that they all knew that Injn Charley's
mission had failed and that something
under ten million feet Of logs were rae
ing down the river like SO many batter
. ing rams.
NJ the boom the great Jam was al
ready a-trembe with eagerness to spring.
Indeed a miracle alone seemed to hold
the timbers in their place
Its death. certain death, to go out
on that BOOM" muttered Billy Ma
son.
Tim shearer stepped forward coolly.
ready as always to assume the perilous
duty He was thrust back by Thorpe.
who seized the chain, coldshut and
hammer which Scotty Parsons brought,
and ran lightly out over the boums.
shouting:
Back. back. Don't follow me, on
your lives! Keep EN- back, Tim!''
The swift water boiled from under the
boo-ns. Bang: Smash! bang. crashed
the logs, a nile upstream, but plainly
atdibte above the waters and the wind.
rI,I-. Oh,
through on either side Of the weakened
link. and prepared to close 1t With his
hammer, He intended further to
strengthen the connection with the other
chain
len me hold for you. You can't
close her alone said an unexpected
voice next his elbow.
Thorpe looked III in surprise and
anger Over him leaned Big Junko The
men had been unable to prevent his toll
lowing Animated by the blind devo-
ton Of the animal for rs master. and
further stung to action by that masters
doubt Of his fidelity. the giant had fol-
lowed to assist as he might.
You damned fool" cried Thorpe ez-
asperated, then held the hammer to
him. strike while l keep the chain un-
derneath." he commanded.
Big Junko leaned forward to obey.
kicking strongly his caulks into the
barked surface of the boom log The
spikes, worn blunt by the river work
already accomplished. failed TO grip. Big
Junko slipped caught himself by an eff
fort. overba lanced in the other dorec-
ton. and fell into the stream. Thescur
rent at once swept him away, bat forth
nately in such a direction that he U.s.
enabled to catch the slanting end of q
dead head" log whose lower end was
TANNED in the crib The dead head was
slippery the current strong; Big Junko
had no cretice by which to assure his
hold In another moment he would be
torn away.
Let go and swim shouted Thorpe.
Il can't swim replied Junko in SO
low a voice as to be scarcely auible.
For a moment Thorpe started at him
Tell Carrie" said Big Junko.
Then there beneath the whirling gray
sky. under the frowning jam, in the
m DIST of flood waters, Thorpe had his
second Moment of Decision. He did not
discuss with himself expedIency. or tho
moralites of failure. His actions were
foreordained, mechanical All at once the
great forces which the winter had been
bringing to power, crystallzed into some
thing bigger than himself or his ideas.
The trail lay before him; there was no
choice.
Now. clearly. with no shadow OF
doubt. he took the other view: There
could be nothing but Love. Men. their
works. their deeds were little things. Sue
cess was little thing. Instantly he
felt the truth of it.
And here was love in danger. That it
held its moments habitation in clay Of