The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1907-05-02
THE MARKSMAN
BY FRANK L. PoLLSck'

where they WOfkeu'
AS they were country-Dred youths,
they took to the work naturally anu
Allen. although he had not yet come
to his full strength, speedily deVelo''eu
a surprising dexterity with the AK
He could lay" tree within lew
inches of where he. desired 1t TO faii'
and had been the instrument OF VIC
tory several times in NUMBERING
matches with rival camps.
1t was late in February and still plt'
terlv cold. but the deep snow was
packing and softening. In 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 1t reached
the shanty the river broke into rapids
for about 80 rods before 1t fell tu-
multuously over low ridge of rocks.
1t was necessary to make detour
round this obstacle and Allen went
ashore at a 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.
ITS as strong as rock. Look!" an
swered Louis, jumping in his rackets
with a 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 bal
anced unsteadily for a moment, stag
gered, 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 reappeared, struggling feebly,
and evidently almost paralyzed by the
cold immersion. BY good luck he
jecting rock at the head of the fall,
and there he chung, driven against the
rock by the force of the current
Hold on a minute, Lou! I'll get
you Quit" screamed Allen, frantically
Louis turned blue face toward him
without answering
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.
If he had only a rope, or anything
| to make bridge-and then his eye
fell upon tall dead pine stub" bark
less and almost brancl1}ess, standing q
few feet back from the stream.
1t was long enough to reach to the
imperiled youth, if it could be felled
so accurately as to lie close beside
him. But a foot or two above or be
low him would make it useless, and
to aim too closely would be to run q
deadly risk of crushing the boy under
the falling trunk.
BY queer vagary of his excited
brain he remembered William Tel
and the apple. He would have to per
form somewhat similar feat OF
craftsmanship; but it was the only
chance that he could think of. He
plunged through the snow for his ak
wallowed back to the dead stub. and
began to chop.
In the need for action his nerves
grew suddenly cool. The feat was a
more delicate one than he had ever at
tempted, and his brothers life hung
upon his steadiness of nerve and mus
Gle. But he cut quietly and without
haste. The great yellow chips flew
and wide notch grew in the trunk.
In few moments he shifted to the
other side, cut another notch and
sighted for the probable direction OF
the fall of the stub.
1t was the critical moment. He
sighted again most carefully, and cut
out few small chips here and there
The stub tottered 1t was standing
poised upon thin edge of uncut wood
and he stood behind it and pushed
cautiously, and. then heavily
The tall trunk wavered, and the
hbers snapped loudly. 1t hesitated
bowed, and Allen leaped away from
the butt Down came the pine. roar
ing through the air.
it crashed into the wsIer with
mighty wave AID splash that hid bov
and rock, and Allen had moment ot
Mortified belief that his brother had
been crushed under it. A moment
later he saw that Louis was unburt
but the tree had actually grazed the
ROCK 1t had fallen within eight inches
OF the boys body,
1t made a perfect bridge as It Law
but in his nervous reaction Allen was
almost too shaky to walk the trnnb
and pull his brother out. He did IL
although how he got him to land he
never quite knew. Louis was almost
unconscious, and his wei clothes rro1e
instantly into mass of ice.
He would certainly have lapsed into
sleep and died but Allen niIed tho