The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1902-03-13

You may as well go back, boys"
be sang ont. "The Beltrami COM
pany's in charge here"
The river thieves stood with open
mouths for some seconds. Then one
Of them spoke. "Guess that guy means
business. fellers." he said.
The Others evidently agreed with
him, for they turned promptly upon
their heels. At the end of IS or 20
minutes the cruiser heard men shout
ing above, and a foreman calling or
ders to some one to "go for the dyna-
mite.~
There were no logs afloat to speak
Of and the cruiser knew there was a
jam up above somewhere. Doubtless
they intended to "blow it," and SO let
the whole raft down upon him. But
he felt no fear; his jam was too solid
to be pushed by raft.
An hour passed, with no demonstra-
ton from above. Then came dull
boom Of dynamite, which sounded a
quarter-mile or more up-river.
Presently log appeared sailing
round bend some 200 yards above;
but hardly had the timber heaved in
sight when it disappeared in the foam
and squirt Of surface explosion. In
stantly the cruiser understood. BY
means Of dynamite floated down
against his jam and exploded, these
river thieves intended to break it or
to annihilate him.
Secoin was worried. Stick dyna-
mite, such as river men use, is a low
explosive, to be shot only by fulminat,
ing caps, but very powerful. 1t works
downward so that, under slight con-
finement, few pounds will fairly
empty creek channel Of its water or
of its distractions.
While the cruiser watched, another
log appeared, but was caught in an
eddy, and was finally exploded within
so yards of his jam. Another came
on and burst at the edge of the raft; !;
splinters shrieked spitefully above
bis head. but these small charges were
tentative. The thieves were timing
their waterproof fuse.
After another interval Of quiet. two
large logs lashed together swept
round the bend.
"Now look out!~ thought the
cruiser. These timbers also were
caught In tumbling eddy. They were
tossed, heaved and hustled, and for q
moment secoin hoped they might be
held until their shots went off, but
they were presently flung out Of the
whirlpool, although wrenched apart
at one end.
As they foated upon smoother wa
ter, the head and rim Of . large keg
came to the surface-a keg which had
been lashcd beneath, but was now
forced upward by the break that had
spread the timbers.
secoin knew perfectly well that the
keg was filed with stick dynamite. q
hundred pounds at least. and carried
enough long fuse and caps to insure
it, explosion against the Jam.
Should he run for it7 Very likely
he would be shot by men lying in
wait. Yet certain destruction await
ed him At the jam unless he swiftly
unloaded his rife and refilled its mag
aEins with sems shells loaded with ex.
plosive builets- II he could put one OF
those inside.
He aimed and fred quickly. His
hrst shot missed. His second struck
the keg and exploded. splintering ia
rim. The big torpedo was getting
dangerously near. In frantic haste,
the cruiser hred . fusillade at his
growing target-four, five, six, sever
shots. and the river suddenly parted
in mid-channei. 20
The sight was appalling. Two huga
sheets were blown out upon either
bank, and vertical wave ten feet
high rolled swiftly in upon the jam
For a moment Secoin gave himself
up for Lost. He looked for the jam
to part under his feet.
Then the edge Of the big raft above
was lifted, It's great logs tumbled and
piled upon one another until the heap
formed breakwater through the In.
tsrstises sf which spouts and jets fell
upon the logs below. For several min
utes the water rushed against and
through this suddenly formed and
effective dam. Then the commotion
subsidized, leaving the jam doubly ef-
fective against any kind of a "break"
which river men may devise.
In reaction from his recent fright
the cruiser became hilarious. In .
reckless eXuberanee Of spirit he
behind the new rampant, and
turning his gun upon the pine stubs
bsmbarded them furiously
With explssivs bullets.
The thieves had doubtless expend.
ed all their dynamite, for. they both
cred the plucky cruiser no more.
Two days passed before he ventured
out Of cover. Then, making cautious
explorations, he found a deserted
drivers' camp and clear field. A
week went by. and he was living on
game rations when armed men from
Beltrami came to his rescue.
C>~4lu A-t.lnL II. ~u--V.