The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-01-10
The Little
Iron Spikes

Oit tuC A(u hOiuS IlfcIt IL tributary VI
the Ottawa, when / first knew them.
Lumberers, as perhaps you know are
the men who cut down the trees in
the forest, and shape them into logs
ready for the saw-mills.
"The two youths were French Cana
'dians, from the same little Quebec vii
lage. but they represented two differ
ent types. Louis, who was quite a
boy, turned 16 and slight in figure
came of pure French family
with claim to nobility on his moth
er's side. Pierre, on the other hand
was Of the peasant class, heavily built
and with touch Of Indian blood in
him that made his skin darker and his
features coarser.
Both the youths were noted for
their strength and their skill in lum-
bering. and it was well known that
each wanted to win the little silver
bell which is awarded to the best lum-
berer on many of the rivers In Can
ada. Louis was especially keen on
gaining this honor. for he knew that If
he returned with the little bell tied
to his knee. its gay ribbons huttering
and its tinkle-tinkle sounding at every
step, ii would raise him in the esteem
OF pretty Jeanette, the notary's
daughter.
If Legros had been forced to admit
why he most wanted the silver bell he
would have said that it was because
he could not bear to be beaten By al
boy. He was four years older. and
surpassed Louis in sheer strength; but
the younger one was more 1.-THE and
active, and in the riVer work this gave
him an advantage.
Il saw them start off from Montreal
one September morning for the lum
bering camp, and it did not need two,
glances TO see that mischief was brew
ing. While Louis was in high spirits,
laughing and chatting with his friends.
Pierre sulked moodily by himself
wearing an ugly scowl on his swarthy
face. learned from Radillac himself
that there had been a wrestling match
in the village the previous day, and
that he had thrown Pierre three times.
The months passed quickly by, and
sAe winter gave place to spring ! was
still in Montreal engaged in some busi
ness when the next news Of the lum-
berers reached my ears.
"One evening in May some river
men came down the Ottawa with
raft. and brought a startling tale with
them There had been trouble In the
Du Nome camp-trouble between
Louis and Pierre. Briefly put this
was what had happened.
The winter had passed without any
open quarrel taking place, the con2
stant work Of Telling trees. hauling
logs and saving them, having Kept
everybody busy from early morn to
sunset Then, in tho shanty where
they all roomed together, the presence
Of the other men had prevented
Pierre's ill-will from showing itself.
After the ice had broken up. how.
ever. and the river was ready to re.
ceive the logs and carry them down
into the Ottawa. Pierre found moro
than one opportunity to vent his spite.
To his disgust Louis had become a
great favorite with the gang, and had
been specially commended by their
chief. so that if the silver bell were
% be awarded TO one of them it was
plain that Pierre stood little chance.
Then came the drive. the most ex.
citing and dangerous part of the lum-
1erer's work, when he has to pilot
hundreds of logs through the tum-
'ling water Of the river, guiding them
through rapids and over waterfalls
md keeping them from forming a
jam in awkward places 1t was
when one OF these jams occurred
hat Pierre's ill-will carried him to the
engths it did
Louis was one of the hest of the
ivermen, expert with pole and cant
Iook. and at these times he was al.
vays among the first to leap out on to
he heaving mass of logs and release
hose which blocked the way. On this
ccasion he had hardly set foot on the
utter ones when he realized that his
oots had been tampered with.
A lumberer in his work wears
harp spikes in his boots to prevent
i'm from slipping on the wet shifting
1gs; but to Louis horror he found
difficult to maintain his balance. He
ept his head, however, and sprang
ghtly from one position to another
ntil he reached the head Of the lam.
here he began pushing and pulling
18th his hooked pole.
Pierre was working near by him
'ith another man. but Louis had no
me for questions, although the sus.
icion that his rival knew something
the affair had entered his mind. At
lst the key log was found, and as the
lass suddenly commenced to move he I
ave q warning shout, and leapt back
n to safer spot.
The need OF those sharp spiles m
is boots now made itself felt for
gain and again his feet slipped on
le treacher9Is surface, and It was
nly by desperate effort that he re-
aimed his balance and saved himself
ON falling between the logs. Pierre
nd his commanders nuicklv yo;raa