The Princeton union., 1904-06-02
CHAPTER vi.


~ begin on section Il, which lay
two miles to the east. In that direction
the character of the country changed
somewhat.
The pine there grew thick on isolated
islands" of not more than an acre or
so in extent-little knolls rising from
the level of a marsh. In ordinary con-
ditions nothing would have been easier
than to have plowed roads across the
frozen surface of this marsh. The Pc
culiar state of the weather interposed
tremendous difficulties.
The early part Of autumn had been
characterized by a heavy snowfall i'm
mediately after series Of mild days.
A warm blanket of some thickness
thus overlaid the earth, effectually pre-
venting the freezing which subsequent
cold weather would have caused. All
the season Railway had contended with
this condition. Even in the woods,
muddy swamp and spring holes caused
endless difficulty and necessitated a
great deal of 'corduroying," or the lay
ing of poles side by side to form an
artificial bottom. Here in the open
some six inches of water and unlimit-
ed mud awaited the first horse that
should break through the layer of snow
and thin ice. Between each pair Of is
lands road had to be 'tramped."
Thorpe and the rest were put at this
disagreeable job. All day long they
had to walk mechanically back and
forth on diagonals between the marks
set by RadWay with his snoWshoes.
Early in the morning their feet were
wet by icy water, for even the light
weight of man sometimes broke the
frozen skin of the marsh. By night
road of trampled snow of greater or
less strength was marked out across
the expanse. Thus the blanket was
thrown back from the warm earth,
and thus the cold was given a chance
at the water beneath. In day or so
the road would bear horse. A bridge
Of ice had been artifcially constructed,
on either side Of which lay unsounded
depths. This road was indicated by
8 row Of frs stuck in the snow on
either side.
1t was Very cold. All day long the
restless wind swept across the shiver-
ing surface of the plains and tore
around the corners of the islands. The
big woods are as good as an overcoat.
The overcoat had been taken away.
When the lunch sleigh arrived the
men huddled shivering in the lee of
Of t,.; tc
benumbed fingers before fire that
was but mockery. Often it was near
ly dark before their work warmed
them again. All Of the sideways had
to be placed on the edges Of the is
lands themselves, and the logs had to
be travoyed over the steep little knolls.
A single misstep out on to the plain
meant a mired horse. Three times
heavy SHOWS obliterated the roads, so
that they had to be plowed out before
the men could go to work again. It
was a struggle.
Radway was evidently worried. He
often paused before a gang to inquire
how they were making it," He SEEM
ed afraid they might wish to quit,
which was indeed the case, but he
should never have taken before them
any attitude but that of absolute con-
fdence in their intentions. His anx-
iety was natural, however. He re-
allied the absolute necessity of skid
ding and hauling this job before the
heavy choking SHOWS Of the latter part
of January should make it impossible
to keep the roads open. So insistent
was this necessity that he had seized
the first respite in the phenomenal
snowfall of the early autumn to begin
work. The cutting in the woods could
wait
Left to themselves, probably the men
would never have dreamed of objecting
to whatever privations the task car
ried with it. Railways anxiety for
their comfort, however, caused them
finally to imagine that perhaps they
might have some just grounds for COM
plant after all. That is a 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 well after
daylight. To this there could be NO
objection except 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 strong antipa.
thy to the north wind on the plains.
Il don't pose for no tough son Of q
gun!'' said he to Railway. "And I've
got some respect for my ears and feet
She'll warm up little by tomorrow
and perhaps the wind I'll die. I car
catch up to you fellows by hustling {
little, so I guess I'll stay in and worl
on the books today"
Gail right" Railway assented, lit
tie doubtfully.
This happened perhaps two days ou
of the week. Finally Dyer hung out {
thermometer, which he used to consult
The men saw it and consulted it too
At once they felt much colder