Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1907-05-17
The
Marksrnan.
BY FRANK LILLE POLLOCK.

Louis and Allen Wright were snow
shoeing back to the lumber camp
where they worked. 1t was a small
camp upon the Tobago River, near
the Ottawa, close to the border be-
tween the Provinces of Ontario and
Quebec, and the pine had for the
most part been cut long ago. There
was little pine left, however, with
good deal of pulpwood and mixed
timber to be got out, and the fore
man had sent the boys to look over
patch of spruce about twelve miles
from the shanty. They were return
ing with their axes upon the frozen
Tobago River, which formed con-
venient roadway through the tangled
and snowy Canadian forest.
The boys were not professional
"lumber-jacks," but they were both
deeply DESTROYS of acquiring couple
of hundred dollars to cover the ex-
penses of course in mining engi-
neering, and that winter high wages
were being offered for even inexperi-
enced men in the lumber camps.
AS they were country-bred youths,
they took to the work naturally, and
Allen, although he had not yet come
to his full strength, speedily devel-
oped surprising dextcrity with the
ak. He could 4lay" a tree within a
few inches of where he desired it to
fall, and had been the instrument of
victory several times in numbering
matches with rival camps.
1t was late in February and still
bitterly cold, but the deep snow was
packing and softening. In a few
weeks the ice might break up, and
mountains OF logs were piled upon
the. river in readiness for the drive.
About three miles before it reached
the shanty the river broke into rapids
for about thirty rods before it fell
tumultously over a low ridge of
rocks.
1t was necessary to make a detour
round this obstacle, and Allen went
ashore at cautious distance from
the water. Louis, however, remained
upon the ice. walking almost to the
verge, and looking over into the inky
stream.
Be careful, Lou! That ice is get
ting rotten!" Allen shouted, from the
bank.
"It's as strong as rock. Look"
answered Louis, jumping in his rack
cts with heavy thud upon the snow.
He proved the reverse of what he
intended. There was a dull cracking
under the snow and a startled shout
from the reckless snow-shoer. A
great cake of ice broke off, drifting
away, with Louis standing upon it.
He balanced unsteadily for a mo-
ment, staggered, and plunged off
with terrified yell, going clean out
of sight under the icy water.
The cake of ice drifted over the
rapids and broke up. Allen had
scarcely had time to move before his
brother -eappeared, struggling feebly.
and evidently almost paralyzed by
the cold immersion. BY good luck
he managed to catch the top of a
projecting rock at the head of the
fall, and there he chung, driven
against the rock by the force of the
current.
"Hold on minute, Lou, III get
you out! screamed Allen, frantic
ally, Louis turned slue face
toward him, without answering.
Allen tore and Kicked off his snow
shoes, and was on the point of plung-
ing into the water: but common
sense returned to him In time. Louis
was in the middle of the stream,
thirty feet away. Allen could never
reach him throug., that swift, deep
current, and If he could, he would be
SO chilled as to be Incapable of CIV
ing any sort of help.
But the boy certainly could not
hold on long in his present position,
and should he let go he would be
swept over the rapids and under the
ice at the foot. His life hung on
seconds.
Allen could think of no plan. He
shouted encouraging words without
knowing what he said. while his eyes
roved desperately up and down the
snowy shores in search of some in
spiration.
II he had only a rope, or anything
to make a bridge-and then his eve
fell upon tall dead pine stub, .
barkless and almost branches.
standing few feet back from the
stream.
It was long enough to reach to the
imperiled youth, If it could be feIled
SO accurately as to lie close beside
him. But foot or two above or be-
low him would make it useless, and
to aim too closely would be to run a
deadly risk of crushing the boy under
the falling trunk.
BY a queer yagary OF mis- excited
brain he remembered William Te1l
and the apple. He would have to
perform somewhat similar feat OF
Workmanship; but it was the ONLY
chance that ne could think of. He
plunged through the snow for his AK.
wallowed back to the dead stub, and
began to chop.
In the need Tor action his nerves
grew suddenly cool. The feat was
a more delicate one than ..e had ever
attempted, and his brothers life
hung upon his steadiness Of nerve
and muscle. But he cut quietly and
without haste. The great yellow