The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-12-21

shaken Off the belief in an impending
struggle. The feel Of il was in the air.
Natures forces were too mighty TO be
so slightly overcome: the splendid en-
ergy developed in these camps too vast
10 be wasted on facile success. Over
against each other were two great
powers. alike in their calm confidence,
animated with the Hottest and most
dignified spirit Of enmity. Slowly they
were moving toward each other. The
air was surcharged with the electricity
Of their opposition Just how the
struggle would begin was uncertain,
but its inevitability was as assured as
its magnitude Thorpe knew it and
shut his teeth, looking keenly about
him. The Fighting Forty knew it, and
longed for the grapple TO come. The
other camps knew it and followed their
leader with perfect trust. The affair
was an epitome of the historic combats
begun with David and Goliath. It was
an affair of Titans. The little cour-
ageous men watched their enemy with
cats eyes.
The last month Of hauling WIS also
one of snow. In this condition were
few severe storms, but each day little
fell BY and by the accumulation
amounted to much. In the woods where
the wind could not get at it, it lap deep
and soft above the tops of bushes. The
hardwood tips like a lot of gOldhnches,
or precipitated themselves headlong
down through five feet OF snow to
reach the ground. Often Thorpe would
come across the Irregular holes of their
entrance. Then if he took the trouble
TO stamp about a little in the vicinity
With his snowshoes, the bird would
spring Unexpectedly from the clear
snow, scattering a cloud with its strong
wings. The deer, herded together
tramped yards where the feed was
good. Between the yards ran narrow
trails. When the animals went from
one yard to another in these trails,
their ears and antlers alone were visi-
bic. On either side of the logging roads
the snow piled SO high as to form a
kind of rampant. When all this water
in suspense should begin to flow, and
TO seek its level in the watercourses of
the district, the logs would have plenty
TO float them. at least.
So late did the cold weather last that,
even with the added blowing to do. the
six camps beat all records. On the
banks at Camp One were 9,000,0 600 feet;
the totals of all five amounted TO 3d.
000, 600. About 10 200, 600 of this was on
French creek; the remainder on the
main banks Of the Ossawinamakee. Be
sides this the firm up river. Sadler &
Smith, had put up some u, 600 900 more.
The drive promised to be quite an af-
fair.
About the 18th of April the tension
became strained Every day the
mounting sun made heavy attacks on
the snow; every night the temperature
dropped below the freezing point The
river began TO show more airhOles, oc-
casionally open places. About the cen
ter the ice looked worn and soggy-
Some one saw a flock of geese high in
the air. Then came rain.
One morning early, Long Pine Jim
came into the mems camp bearing a
huge chuak of taIIow. This he held
against the hot stove until its surface
had softened, when he began TO swab
liberal quantities of grease on his
spiked shoes, which he fiShed out from
under his bunk
shes comm, boys" said he.
He donned a pair Of wooden trousers
that had been chopped of at the knee,
thick wooden stockings and the river
Shoes Then he frightened his broad
leather belt about his heavy shirt, !
cooked his little hat over his ear and
walked over TO the corner to select a !
peavey from the lot the blacksmith had /
just put in shape. A peavey is like a /
canthOok, except that It is pointed at /
the end Thus II can be used either as
a hook or a pike. At the same moment, /
similarly attired and |
equipped, appeared in the doorway. /
The opening of the portal admitted a i
roar of sound The river was rising. I
Come on, boys, she's on" said he /
sharply.
Outside. the cook and cookee were
slowing articles in the already loaded |
wanigan- The scow- contained tents, /
blankets. provisions and a portable /
stove. 1t followed the drive and made /
a camp wherever eXpediency demanded. /
Lively, boys. HvelyI" shouted 4
Thorpe She'll be down on us before 1
we know :ti''
Above the soft creaking Of dead /
branches in the wind sounded a steady +
roar, like the believing Of a wild beast 4
lashing itself TO fury. The freshet was
abroad, forceful with the strength of a I
whole winters accumulated energy
The men heard il and their eyes
frightened with the lust of battle. They
cheered-