The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1904-11-03
"POCKY''


When Jack Maston was taking his
gang of men to his logging-camp UP
among the head waters Of the andre
Bcoggin river his cock fell ill and had
to be sent back, along with the man
who was to have served as "cookee,"
Or cooks assistant.
After a delay Of one or two days
Maston secured g. couple of Frcllch
Canadians to take their places.
Peter, the new cook, a huge, black
bearded fellow, with evil, narrow eyes,
soon began to amuse himself by bully
Ing the cookee, VINO, on account Of
the smallpox scars with which the
little mans face, was covered, he
Rbusivehy called 'PCcky"
Maston, coming into the camp kitch-
en- unexpectedly one evening, found
Peter belaboring Pocky with the soup
paddle.
why you don't put more potat in
dem soup, Pochy? 1 toll you put in
feefteen potat. Hey?"
81 put them in all right" protested
the assistant, trying to ward eff tie
paddle.
"You toll me lie. I'll break your
hade right off, and Peter whacked
again at the cookies head
Hold on, Peter!" said Maston 'T
guess the soups all right. You let the
boy alone"
cook in logging-camp, if he is
good cook, is an important person,
not accustomed to brook interference,
and Peter turned angrily.
81 amt want no boss tell me bout
my beesness," he said '1ll mind my
beesness, me-"
And Selling Pocl1y by the collar, he
flung him half across the room.
Maston took two long strides for
fard.
Peter" he said sternly, eff you ever
lay a hand on that boy again it will
go hard with you"
The cooks face turned black He
threw down the stack of tin plates
which he had just picked up, and
doubling his fists, he cried:
81 amt 'fraid no Yankee boss hever
see! lick you SO quick as l lick dat
boy"
He made at Maston. The next mo-
ment the burly lumberman had
stretched him on the floor.
From that time on there was no
more abuse for Pocky. Peter had
transferred all his malice to the boss,
whom he watched with eyes that often
Redeemed with hate. And meanwhile,
Pocky was watching Peter
The huge tier of logs increased rap
idly. Maston had conceived the idea
of placing them upon smooth and
solid railway, leading to the water.
He believed then, that by knocking
out two props at the foot, he could
launch at once the whole mass of tim
Der. The expense of rolling the los,
would thus be saved, and tbny would
also be kept from mingling much with
those of other river-men.
During the last days of March that
year the weather became unusually
warm, and SO much rain fell that the
mountain stream rose suddenly.
kAo CnC dlA COuIluuCu MdSjCl grew
anxious. If the water should rise
enough to float the raft of logs dis
aster must follow, for the stream was
bound to abate within few hours af-
ter the closing of the storm. Another
quick freeze would be sure to come,
and then tle logs would be held fast
until the ice broke up, when they
would go out with it and be scattered
and lost.
On the third night of the storm
Maston awoke and thought he heard,
with the roaring of the stream and the
beating of the rain, another sound. He
rose on his elbow in his bunk and
listened. Again it came, and this
time there could be no mistake. 1t
was wild cry, as from man in the
extremity of pain and terror.
Maston sprang to the floor and be-
gan hurrying on his boots.
up, men, up!" he shouted.
One by one the SLEEPY loggers poked
their heads out of their hunks, and
again came the terrible cry.
Down by the river, boys!" Maston
said; and without waiting for them to
follow. he seized lighted lantern