The Savannah morning news., 1902-11-23
ung man with a deep sigh began to

young man with a deep sigh began to
pull it towards him.
At once a hundred surmises, ques-
tions, CALCULATIONS broke out.
What happened?" cried Wallace
Carpenter.
What was that mans name?" asked
the Chicago journalist with the eager
instinct of his profession.
THAT is terrible, terrible, terrible!"
white-haired physician from Mar
quette kept repeating over and over.
A half dozen ran towards the point
of the cliff to peer down stream, as
though they could hope to distinguish
anything in that waste of flood water.
1.-The dams gone out" replied
Thorpe. 81 don't understand it. Ev-
erything was in good shape, as far as
could see. 1t didn't act like an ordi-
nary break. The water came too fast.
Why, it was as dry as a bone until
just as that wave came along. An
ordinary break would have eaten
through little by little before it burst.
and Davis should have been able to
stop it. This came all at once, as IL
the dam had disappeared. 1 don't
see."
His mind of the professional had al
ready began to query causes.
How about the 'nen?" asked WAL
lace. isn't there something 1 can
do?"
You can head a hunt down the
river" answered Thorpe. II think it is
useless until the water goes down.
Poor Jimmy. He was one of the best
men 1 had. 1 wouldn't have had this
happen"
The horror of the scene was at last
beginning to filter through numbness
into Wallace Carpenters impression
able imagination.
mo, no." he cried vehemently.
There is something criminal about it
to me! I'd rather lose every log in the
river!"
Thorpe looked at him curiously. at
is one of the chances of war" said he.
'Tll better divide the crew and take
in both banks of the river" suggested
Wallace.
'See if you can't get volunteers
from this crowd" suggested Thorpe. II
can let you have two men to show you
trails. / need as many of the crew
as possible to use this flood water"
"Oh, Harry" cried Crapter, shock
ed. You can't be going to work again
to-day, before we have made the
slightest effort to recover the bodies!''
IF the bodies can be recovered, they
shall be- replied Thorpe quietly. But
dams to depend on now, you must re-
member, and we shall have to get out
on the freshet water"
your men won't work. I'd refuse
just as they will!' cried Carpenter,
his sensibiliHes still suffering.
Thorpe smiled proudly. You do not
know them
"By Jove!'' cried the journalist in
sudden enthusiasm. by JoVe! that is
magnificent"
The men on the river crew had
crouched on their narrow footholds
while the jam went out. Each had
chung to his peavey, as is the habit
of rivermen. Down the current past
their fet swept the debris of flood
Soon logs began to swirl by-at first
few, then many-from the remaining
rollways which the river had automat-
icalIy broken. In little time the ed
dy caught up some Of these logs, and
Immediately another jam threatened.
The rivermen, without hesitation, as
calmly as though catastrophe had not
thrown the weight of its moral terror
against their stoicism, sprang, peavey
in hand, to the insstent work
Thorpe's face lit with qualification.
He turned to the young man.
You see." he said in proud simplic-
itv,
water, the work went on.
At this moment Tim Shearer ap-
preached from inland, his clothes drip
ping wet, and his face retaining its
habitual expression of iron caimness.
Anybody caught?" was his first ques-
ton as he drew near.
Five men under the face" replied
Thorpe briefly.
Shearer cast a glance at the river.
He needed to be told no more.
II was afraid of it, said he '"The
rollways must be all broken out IT'S
saved us that much. but the freshet
water don't last long. It's going to be
a close squeak to get 'em out now
Don't exactly figure on what struck
the dam. Thought first I'd go right up
that way. but then l came down to
see about the boys"
Where were your" asked Thorpe
ION the pole trail. 1 got in a little
as YOU see."
In reality the foreman had had a
close call for his life.
Wed better go up and take a
look" he suggested. 9TH boys has
things going here all right"
The two men turned towards the
brush.
Hi, Tim" called a voice behind
them.
Red Jacket appeared Laundering up
the cliff.
Jack told me to give this to YOU"
he painted, holding out chunk of
strangely twisted wood.
'Where'd he get this?" inquired
Thorpe, quickly. IT'S a piece of the
DAM" he exclaimed to Wallace, who
had drawn near.
picked ii out of the current" re-
piled the man.
The foremen and his boss went ca
gerly over the morsel. Then they
stared with solemnity into each 9TH
res eyes.
Dynamite. by Cod" exclaimed
Shearer.
TO Be Continued in Next Snndav,s