The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1909-04-08

the forms were plainly visible. An
other, and the drive was opposite, with
the owner and his daughter upon the
bank. trying to distinguish what the
foreman near the other shore was
shouting to them.
To the girl It was only a succession
Of hoarse sounds. But her father lis
tened eagerly and from time to time
nodded his head approvingly, shaking
1t only once In dissent. At that time
he threw his own followed palms to
his mouth In some hoarse answer or
explanation. Florence listened deri-
sively.
"Was that just recognition yell,
like the boys make. father" she ques-
toned, cor was 1t some sort of sig
nal?"
Her father smiled down at her in
diligently.
"AIac was telling me about the
drive" he answered, land how they
managed so far to keep the bulk Of
the logs in a compact mass. OF course
there are a good s.iany laggards and
castaways on account Of the unusual
size Of the drive and the lack of men
to control it. but they are much fewer
than one might expect under the cir
cumstances. l told Mac not to bother
about them until after he passed the
long rapids, forty miles below, then to
send a man back to dislodge all the
grounded and snagged logs and start
them afloat after the main body. Be-
yond the long rapids the river will be
clearer, and Mac can easily spare a
man. If only the water will keep up
long enough l think we can get them
all down to market, and then" with
an odd note of wondering anticipation
in his voice, I'VE will start of on our
long vacation. l haven't taken a rest
from work in over thirty years, Flor
ence"
But will these few stray logs make
any difference. father:' the girl asked,
her voice growing tender. "They are
such tiny. tiny. part Of the whole
lot?"
II know, and very likely could
"
spring the logs failed to run, and l
have two years. expenses to meet,
notes renewed for the mems wages,
payments for timber lands and many
| other items Of cost The amount will
be very large. and. though that great
mass Of logs will far more than meet
| 1t, do not want to take any chances.
The number Of stray logs will likely
run into hundreds and their value into
thousands It will be several days be-
fore man can he sent back. Of course,
but If the water stays up ten days
longer he can float them all in."
Twill it:''
W-hope So" doubtfully. "At any
rate, 1t Is all that can be done. The
logs cannot pass the long rapids under
three or four days. and 1t Will take
another for the man to reach here:
then 1t will take time to loosen and
start the logs over such distance"
Hire another man, then, at once
she advised land not waste so much
time waiting"
Her father laughed.
"You don't know the country at this
season. Florence" he said. II am not
the only man taking advantage Of THIS
high water. I couldn't hire man, OF
boy even. at any price. They are oil
engaged"
Then I'll start the logs loose my.
self" sturdily. Il can do It,"
"In the quicter water, yes, but not
in the rapids and swift currents. But
I'll tell you what we can do, Florence
In the morning we will row up the
river as far as we can, keeping away
from the dangerous places. We car
start some afioat perhaps. and every
one will count few weeks ago
could have done the job myself, but
would not dare to attempt It now"
So the next morning they were agair
out with the light and rowing slowly
up the river, this time keeping watch
full eyes OH the bank, especially where
the water etldied in under overhang
ing boughs or the banks fell away
into quiet coves and shadows. Th'
far side was too distant, with too swift
Intervening currents for them to ven
ture across.
Several logs were found and released
and then, just as they were passing
bend, mile or so up, D. IL. Jone.
suddenly paused on his oars with al
exclamation Of wonder. Logs wer
coming down the river. dozens o
them-hundreds, it seemed. rs his ga1
! swept increduIously from side to side
and several Of the foremost were al
ready floating around and past thei
boat Then low warning from Flol
, ence caused him to look toward mid
: stream, and there. not more than thre
or four rods away and being born
swiftly by the current, was A youn
man standing upright In boat an
gazing toward them. For an instan
D. II. Jones stared, then his face dari
ened
"It Is the son of cook discharge
two winters ago for stealing" he sait
Barker, the foreman I had befol
Mac, caught him"
: "And yet / think / heard you 50
8 that you discharged Barker himself Il
stealing later" observed Florence.
"Yes, and now young Brown Is TO
lowing in their footsteps. A few do
Ell of these logs carefully conceale
: for awhile and with my mark remove
would be valuable booty. Hi, 70
= there, Ike Brown," raising his voh