The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-10-05

shivering surface Of the plains. and
tore around the corners OF the is
lands The big woods are as good
as an overcoat. The overcoat had
been taken away.
When the 1unch-sleish arrived. the
men huddled shivering in tho lee OF
one of the knobs. and tried to eat
with benumbed fingers before TIRE
that was but a mockery. Often IL
was nearly dark before their work
warmed them again. All of the skid
ways had to be placed on the edges
Of the islands themselves. and the
logs had to be travoyed over the steep
little knobs A single missep out on
to the plain meant mired horse. :
Three times heavy SHOWS obtterated
the roads. so that they had to be
ploughed out before the men could
20 to work again. 1t was a struggle.
Railway was evidently worried. He
often paused before a gang to inquire
how they were making it,. He
seemed afraid they might wish to
#1uit, which was indeed the case. but
he should never have taken before
them any attitude but that of alb
solute confidence In their intentions.
His anxiety was natural. however.
He realized the absolute necessity of
skidding and hauling this job be-
fore the heavy choking SHOWS of
the latter part of January should
make it impossible to keep the roads
omen So insistent was this neces-
sIty that he had seized the first re-
spite in the phenomenal snowfall OF
the early autumn to begin work
The cutting in the woods could walt.
Left to themselves. probably the
men would never have dreamed OF
Directing to whatever privations the
task carried with it. Railways arN-
iety for their comfort, however.
caused them finally to imagine that
perhaps they might have some Just
grounds for complaint after all. That
is great trait of the lumber-jack.
But Dyer, the scaler. finally caused
the outbreak. Dyer was an efficient
enough man in his way. but he loved
his own ease. His habit was to stay
in his bunk of mornings until we'll at
ter daylight To THIS there could be
no objection-eNcept on the part of
the cook. who was supposed
to attend to his business himself
for the scaler was active in his work.
: when once he began it. and could
keep UP with the skidding. But now
he displayed a strong antipathy to
the north wind on the plains.
'L don't pose for no tough son-of-
a-gun.'' said he to Railway, land I've
got some respect for my. ears and
feet. She'll warm up a little by to-
morrow and perhaps the wind'iI die
can catch up to you fellows by
IustIing2a little so I guess LII stay
in and work on the books to-day.
'.All right" Railway assented, lit
tie doubtfully.
This happened perhaps two days
out of the week. Finally Dyer hung
out thermometer. which he used
to consult. The men saw it. and con-
suited it too. at once they felt much
colder.
She was stan ten below sput-
tered Baptiste Teller. the Frenchman.
who played the fiddle. .'He freeze
t'rou to hees eenside. Dat is too cole
for maxim de work.
Them plains is sure a holy fright
assented Purdy.
TIL old man knows it himself
agreed big Nolan: Did you see him
rammin' around yesterday askin us if
we found her too cold? He knows
damn we'll he ought not to keep a
man out that sort o. weather
You'd shtver like dog in briar
ath on a warm day in July" said
Jackson Hines. contemptuously
Shut up.' said they You're barn
boss. You don't have to be out In tn
cold
" G fr,,a 81, ~
vention went for a little worse than
nothing.
Tt amt lax he has nuttin' BESIDES
went on Baptiste. ..He can max. de
cut in Gle needle of de fores'.'.
That's right, agreed Bob STRAIT
ton, "they's the west half Of eight
amt been cut yet
So they sent delegation to Rad
way Big Nolan was the spokesman
Boss. said he h!untly. shes too
cold to work on them plains to-day.
She s the coolest day we had
Railway was too old a hand at the
business to make any promises on the
spot.
Il see, boys said he.
When the breakfast was over the
crew We're set to making sideways and
travorlng roads on eight. This was
precedent. In time the work on the
k'ittiii' . 5UOIlee49 III
weather. However. as TO this Railway
proved firm enough. He was a good
sE fighter when he knew he was being
imposed upon
And as the days slipped by. he tight
ened the reins. Christmas was APP
preaching. An easy mathematical COM
putation reduced the question OF COM
pleting his contract with Morrison &
DAILY to certain weekly quota. In
fact he was surprised at rhe size of it.
He would have 20 work diligently and
steadily during the rest of the winter
Having thus definite task to accom-
plish In definite NUMBER OF days.
master. Thus he regaired to small
degree the respect of his men Then
he lost it again.
One morning he came in from talk
81 with the Supply-teamster and woke
Dyer. who Was not up re>
I'm going down home for two or
three weeks he announced to Dyer,
YOU know my address. You'll have to
take charge. and guess you'd better
let the scaling go. We can get the tally
at the banking grounds when we be-
pin 70 haul Now we amt cot all
the time there is SO. you want to keep
the boys at 1T rretty we'll
Over twisted the little points of HIS
mustache. .'Aii right. SIR said he
with his smile so inscruta bly, insolent
that Railway never saw the fnsolence
at all He thought this poor year
for Il man In Radway's position to
spend Christmas with his family. but
it was none of his ous-ness