Macon beacon., 1916-04-07


that the men stationed at the narrows
could not keep the logs moving fast
enough. A jam was beginning TO
form.
Shut her off," he called. "and hus-
tie down here! The narrows are
choked!"
The men swiftly swung out the light
boom and checked the flow OF logs.
Then, shouldering their poles, the ten
Of them marched after their boss down
the narrow path that led to the lower
end of the bay.
The path was merely shelf in the
face of the cliff, which rose above 1t
for nearly a hundred feet. Ten feet
below was another shelf, the lower
path. 1t was even narrower and more
slippery.
The men loosened the jam, and the
logs once bore hurried down the
stream. Then they shouldered the long
poles again and started back up the
path toward the dam.
"Hark!' shouted the foreman. hold.
ing up his hand for silence. From their
left, above the roar of the water, came
yelping of a pack of wolves.
"They are after a deer!" cried Ben
Ford.
Even as he spoke the deer came In
sight. 1t was hard pressed; clouds OF
steam rose from its painting sides, and
it's dropping head and protruding
tongue showed that 1t was completely
exhausted.
The men cheered as It passed, but
1t paid no attention to them. Round
the narrow lower path 1t stumbled,
and on reaching the narrows, which
were now free of logs, 1t plunged IN.
The rushing current carried 1t down
the river, but 1t gained the other shore
at last and lay down, painting.
"Now, boys cried Mordaunt, "the
wolves will follow the path the deer
took! Gather lot Of rocks and spread
yourselves along the path. When the
wolves are past me will give the sig
nal. Then let 60 the stones. After
that you can 60 to them with the pike.
Don't let one get through
The men made every preparation to
give the wolves warm reception. In
q few minutes the animals appeared,
six of them, running close together
AS they reached the narrow path they
fell into single fie without lessening
their speed. As they ran they gave
occasional short yelps.
Their tongues were hanging out and
there was foam about their mouths
and cleaning teeth. Without an up
ward glance they ran In between the
wall and the rushing, foaming water.
NOW for them" shouted Dave.
With yell the men sent down show
er of stones on the unsuspecting pack.
With howls of pain and surprise the
wolves looked up and saw their foes.
Down went their tails and they tried
to retreat; but they were in a trap.
One by one they were pushed of into
the hurrying water.
Only the leader of the pack was left
alive. He had been knocked into the
water by a stone, but had managed to
gain a footing on two logs that were
floating close together. AS the logs
drifted apart, he mounted the larger,
on which he crouched, picture Of alb
ject fear. The log began to move slow
ly toward the narrows. Nearer and
nearer 1t came to the mighty mass OF
water pouring out through the gorge.
The wolf backed to the far end Of the
log and crouched there, shivering
Il hate a wolf worse than poison"
said Job Nelson, "but l can't see that
brute scared plumb to death before
being drowned"
Neither can I, Jot," said the fore
man, "and he sure put up good fight
for It."
The circling current brought the log
to a point just below where the men
stood.
With a spring, Job landed on the
lower path. He stretched out his pole
and drew the log and its frightened
occupant to the shore. Then he quick
ly rejoineo his comrades.
Now, boys" he said, that beggal
must pass you all. Anyone who wants
him can have him.
Realizing that he was free, the vol
leaped ashore and slouched along the
path with one eye on the men above
Not a hand was raised against him
On reaching the divide he struck of
at swift lope and disappeared from
view.
Come, boys" said Dave sharply
'get those logs going again! We've
lost enough time already"
Companion