442 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[June 8, igoi. 
— — 
When the Logs Went Down. 
Being the sequel to "Peshtigo Sam's Repentance," in issue of last 
week. 
The earh^ days of spring had come. The voice of the 
young god was alsroad throttgh the land, bidding the dead 
world arise and cast o& its frozen fetters, for the time of 
rejoicing was nigh at hand. The forest had not as yet 
fully awakened from its long winter's slumber, but there 
was a strange stirring among the tall trees in response 
to the summons of the god, like the restless movements of 
some heavy sleeper, half-aroused from his dreamings. 
Instead of the "cauld, cauld blasts" that swooped d6wii 
from the north upon the frozen w'orld, howling and 
shrieking through the stiffened, lifeless branches of the 
trees and piling up the snow in great drifts, the first low 
mtirmurings and soft sighings of the gentle south wind 
sounded overhead, whispering its message of hope and 
of balmy days soon to come. 
These signs of the changing season were not un- 
noticed by Captain Jenkins and his crew of loggers. They 
had toiled hard during the long, cold, dreary winter 
months and had stripped acres upon acres_ of the sui-- 
rounding forest of its richest treasures — its crowning 
glory of towering pines ; and although their labors in this 
direction were at an end, the coming of spring but meant 
work of another kind for them. Down at the river the 
great mass of logs — ^the accumulation of the season's cut- 
ting — lay ready to be launched on their long journey to 
the abodes of. men, so soon as the snows melted and the 
spring freshets swelled the volume of the river's water. 
Preparations for this new work had been going on for 
some i3.ys) everything was in readiness and the men 
waited impatiently for the command to move. 
Long Tom Bartlett called to tnind the vow — still un- 
filled — which he had at one time made to encompass the 
death of a certain big stag before the snows left the 
ground, and he therefore availed himself of the oppor- 
tunity presented by this period of enforced idleness and 
went forth in search of his prey. This w^as in no wise his 
first enfleavor of a like nature, for he had made many 
ineffectual attempts to outwit the ever-wary stag. The 
hunter tramped many miles on the trail of the big stag 
during these days of waiting. He learned many things 
about the waj's of a hunted deer that were previously un- 
known to him, but there his success ended. Beyond an 
occasional fleeting glimpse of an antlered head, or the 
flash of a disappearing white flag, he never got within 
shot of the ever-watchful and resourcefid quarry. 
At last came the thaw, and Long Tom's hunting days 
were over for the time being. A warm south wind had 
been blowing for two days, and the temperature was 
steadily rising. One could almost see the snows melt 
and disappear before the e3'^e. The mild-mannered river 
was the first to feel the effects of the south wind's breath 
— ^the first to show signs of life. Like a giant refreshed 
with sleep, it aroused itself and the first spree dispelled all 
gloomy thoughts. Old songs were sung with a fresh 
gusto; old jokes were told with a new relish as they 
packed their kits and made ready for their departure. 
Sleep — heretofore a guest most gladly welcomed by the 
weary lumbermen — was not admitted to the camp until 
late that night, and even then her touch was light upon 
their drooping eyelids; so light that all through the 
night many a restless form stirred uneasily, and many a 
drowsy head was lifted with listening ear to catch the 
wished-for sound — the dripping of the melting snows. 
One there was whom she forsook altogether, and that 
was Peshtigo Sam. His treachery to Long Tom — the lie 
he had told about the woman they both loved — stared him 
accusingly in the face ; and to make matters worse, he 
owed his life to the man whom he had so basely deceived. 
He had intended to make a full confession before they 
broke cai?ip, but the time had come and the words that 
would bring happiness to his rival still remained un- 
spoken. The forlorn hope that with Long Tom out of 
the way he might eventually prosper in his suit kept him 
silent, hvA added nothing to his peace of mind. A guilty 
conscience is an imwelcome bedfellow, as Peshtigo Sam 
had discovered long ere this. The man with a sensitive 
conscience is poorly equipped for villainy, and Peshtigo 
Sam was not of the stuff of which successful villains are 
made; he therefore tossed uneasily in his bunk trying to 
decide upon some course of action that would serve as an 
atonement to Long Tom, and at the same time fit in with 
his own selfish inclination. He finally compromised with 
himself by postponing the meditated confession until they 
were out of the woods, or until he had again seen the 
object of his affections and learned beyond a doubt that 
his love was hopeless. 
"All hands up !" Captain Jenkins' voice thus aroused 
the camp before daj'break the next morning. "Hey, there. 
Slim Jim," he shouted, shaking the sleepy cook. "Git out 
o' this. Git a move on an' git grub ready. We're goin' 
to bust camp to-day." 
In a moment the place was alive with hurrjang, bustling 
men, and by the time Slim Jim had the breakfast on the 
table the sleds were half-packed and the camp already 
had the appearance of being empty and deserted. That 
last breakfast was an all-important meal, and the men 
did full justice to the good fare. 
When the logs went down it would be a different story, 
for in the days of toil about to come eating would be a 
matter of secondary consideration. How well the log- 
gers realized this fact was evidenced by the quantities of 
food set forth by Slim Jim and the rapidity with which 
it disappeared down their capacious throats. After they 
had "eaten and were filled," they finished the packing 
of the sleds, aild then with a chorus of good-bys to the 
drivers of the teams, the drivers of the logs shouldered 
their axes and other tools and started for the river. 
When they reached the landing the men whistled softly 
to themselves or muttered an occasional oath under their 
breath as they gazed upon the swollen flood of water now 
rushing and foaming upon its way. Cakes of ke were 
whirled swiftly by, grinding themselves to pieces iji their 
mad flight; in places where the banks w^ere low the waters 
had overleaped their natural confines, forming new chan- 
nels, so thgt thf whole scene as far as the eye could re^ch 
was metamorphosed. The river, now thoroughly routed, 
rejoiced in its freedom after the long winter's bondage 
and shouted and roared in riotous glee, calling loudly to 
all things within hearing of its voice that spring had 
come at last. 
"Let's git f w^ork, boys," Captain Jenkins cried, cheerily. 
"Here, Long Tom, you an' Bill White an' Jack Billings 
an' Peshtigo Sam start with the leaders. Git ready t' 
knock the chocks out." 
"We kin git 'long without Peshtigo ef you need him 
anywhere else," Long Tom remarked, in an off-hand 
maimer, 
"No," said Captain Jenkins. "He goes with you. He 
kin hold his own with the rest of you at log drivin', can't 
you, Sam?" 
, "I reck'n so," replied the latter. " 'Tain't. allers the 
biggest ox what kin pull the biggest load," 
Long Tom made no further objection. He merely 
shrugged his shoulders, and consoled himself with the 
thought that Peshtigo Sam might get drdwned before 
they reached the settlements, in which event — well, he 
understood that widows had been known to marry a 
second time. 
With skillful blows of the axe the chocks, or blocks of 
wood, that held the logs in place on the skids were 
knocked out and the first lot of logs was released, and 
gathering headway rushed impetuously down the skids 
into the turbulent water with a great splashing and com- 
motion; here caught up by the flood they were hurried 
away on their long journey. 
This is where the perilous work of the driver begins. 
The logs must be kept constantly in motion, and the men 
in charge labor like Trojans to prevent them froiri groimd- 
ing in some shallow place, or, worse luck, from forming 
a jam in the first narrow bend they come to. Leaping 
from one slippery, rolling log to another, where a mis- 
step may mean death' the driver watches over his charge 
like a shepherd over his flock, piloting it safely over all 
the diflfictilties of the way. 
After the departure of Long Tom and the rest of the 
vanguard, the remainder of the logs was released, and 
the whole river for a mile or more was soon strewn 
wath the floating sticks of timber, and the exciting work 
had begun. In the meanwhile the teamsters who had been 
left behind were not idle, and by the time the last log 
had rolled down the skids all was in readiness and the 
train pulled out from camp, the men merrily cracking 
their whips and making the forest echo with snatches of 
some rude song, glad at heart to be once more homeward 
bound. 
From his hidden lair the big stag watched them until 
they were swallowed up in the wilderness and wondered 
greatly W'hat this new move might portend. That night 
he cautiously drew near the recent abode of his enemies, 
marveling at; the brooding stillness where but yesterday all 
was noise and disorder, and where danger ever lurked. 
The unwonted silence brought with it a feeling of peace- 
ful rest to the heart of the hunted stag. He stood for a 
long time in the deep shadow at the edge of the clear- 
ing, gazing upon the abandoned lumber camp; but he 
dared not expose himself in the bright moonlight that 
flooded the open for fear of becoming a target for the 
rifle of some hidden enemy who had lingered behind. 
Many days passed by and spring had come in all its 
glory before the big stag trod these new roadways through 
his former trackless domain — now, alas ! so sadly altered 
and defaced — with his old-time freedom. In time he 
brought his mate with her fawn to this spot and showed 
them the deserted cabin, all overgrown with weeds and 
brambles, and told them the story of that dreadful winter 
when he had hung about this dwelling of their new 
enemies, risking his life almost daily that he might learn 
all their ways, against the time to come when they should 
overrun all the land, leaving death and destruction in 
their path. 
Three days had come and gone since the logs were 
turned loose, and the drivers were in the midst of their 
exhausting labors, daily encountering and daily overcom- 
ing ever-increasing dangers. The angry flood into which 
the river had transformed itself grew mightier and more 
treacherotis with every tnile that was traversed, and the 
big logs were tossed about on its heaving bosom like so 
much driftwood. The men followed along the flooded 
banks through slush and icy water, and released the logs 
that were caught by the fringing trees and bushes. To 
venture out upon these slippery, tumbling "stick;^ o' pine" 
was to take your life in your hands, and yet these men 
had done this thing many times, and thought but little of 
the deed. 
For bold recklessness and skill in their craft the men 
composing the vanguard excelled all others. They became 
heroes. To Peshtigo Sam the labor was a relief, and the 
ever-threatening danger acted as a tonic to his nerves. 
Long Tom and his friend Bill White laid aside their old 
grudge against him for the time being, and the feeling 
of ill-will between these three gave place to one of 
mutual admiration and respect for one another's courage, 
although no word was spoken to indicate this change of 
sentiment. 
When Long Tom slipped and disappeared beneath the 
rushing water, it was Peshtigo Sam who caught his van- 
ishing hand and dragged him from the very jaws of death 
onto the log which he himself had gained by a daring 
leap that meant death if he had failed in the attempt. 
"Guess we're quits now," Long Tom had said as he 
clasped Peshtigo Sam's hand with a grip that meant more 
than words, when they were safe on shore again. 
" 'Twa'n't as bad as freezin' an' bein' eat up by them 
wolves," Peshtigo Sam had protested. "We ain't squar* 
yet." 
When ttie logs jammed at the big bend it was Bill White 
and Peshtigo Sam who worked side by side in cutting it 
loose, where the slightest hesitancy or the least miscalcu- 
lation meant a swift journey into another world, and when 
the jam broke and the men had rushed for shore at the 
first warning sound of snapping timber it was big Bill 
White who seized Peshtigo Sara as he slipped and fell and 
bore him bodily out of harm's way just as the great mass 
of logs rushed forward with the roar of an avalanche, 
crushing and grinding everjlhing in their path. 
Thus did these men of the woods toil together like com- 
panions in arms, risking their lives for one another with- 
out a thought of self; sleeping wherever the nights found 
them and getting tbeir provision s—snch they were— 
from the crew following in their rear. But each day 
brought them nearer the end of their journey, and after 
the big falls were passed the worst of their labors would 
be over. ^ ' 
The longer Peshtigo Sam deferred his confession, the 
more reluctant did fie become to acknowledge his treachery. 
Many a time was he on the verge of disclosing his secret 
to Long Tom ; but the thought of the woman whom they 
both loved and the forlorn hope that success might some 
day attend his own wooing always restrained him. Pos- 
sibly the affair might have terminated as he desired, had 
not the evil genius that had so far acted as his counselor 
suddenly deserted him and brought confusion upon him. 
It happened at the falls. He and his three companions 
with several others of the crew were posted at that point, 
to keep the logs from jamming in the narrow channel 
through which the river rushed with mighty force, boiling 
and foaming in great white-crested waves about the huge 
boulders that strewed the way before it took its final 
plunge into the deep pool 30 feet below. At the mouth 
of the channel the river, now swollen to many times its 
natural size, was hurled back upon itself by the very 
pressure of the waters ahead, thus forming a broad and 
ever deepening whirlpool, and there all the trials and dan- 
gers of the drive seemed to culminate. Strive as they 
would the drivers could not keep some of the logs from 
being catight in this whirlpool, from which they were sud- 
denly shot forth again athwart the current, where they 
ereated endless confusion in the ranks of the army of 
logs rushing by in a continuous procession with the 
speed of race horses. 
Sometimes the logs approached singly or in pairs, and 
then again they charged down upon the narrow opening in 
solid phalanxes. During one of these assaults the in- 
evitable happened. A log of enormous size and girth was 
suddenly caught in the whirlpool and thrown across the 
channel. So great was its length that it reached from 
one steep, rocky bank to the other, and in that position 
became jammed fast, forming a complete barrier across 
the river. _ In an instant the course was blocked; in an 
instant a violent tumult ensued. The logs in front, pressed 
upon by those in the rear, were raised on end and tumbled 
about in every direction in inextricable confusion. Thus 
arrested in their rapid course, the vast army of logs fol- 
lowing in their wake charged upon the barrier, and sooh 
the narrow channel was choken with an ever-increasing 
mass of huge timbers that formed a rough dam behind 
which the river began piling up its waters, striving to 
force its way through the obstruction. .This was the 
jam which the drivers had tried so hard to prevent, and 
high above the crunching and grinding of the logs sounded 
the cursings of Captain Jenkins and his crew. 
But there was no time to be lost. Every moment added 
to the difficulty of breaking the jam. Captain Jenkins 
called for volunteers to cut the big log — the original 
cause of the trouble. This was the "key log" of the jam. 
and when it was cut, if it were done speedily, the pent-up 
mass of timber would be liberated and many days of 
arduous labor saved. However, the. man that undertook 
this task would incur a risk to which none of the crew 
was insensible, and there was therefore a moment's hesi- 
tancy on their part, as they thought of the dangers to be 
encountered. It was but for a moment, and then Bill and 
Long Tom stepped forward, and much to the surprise of 
every one — but of himself more than any one — Peshtigo 
Sam took his place beside them. He had no desire to 
die and could not tell what prompted his action; never- 
theless he took the fatal step, and regretted it the next 
instant when it was too late to withdraw. 
"Two kin do the business," said Long Tom. "I reck'n 
you'd better let me an' Bill 'tend to it, Peshtigo." 
This plan met with the latter's warm approval, but 
he was afraid to appear afraid. He therefore simulated a 
confidence he was far from feeling, and replied : 
"Why not me an' you, or me an' Bill ? I ain't no slouch 
with the axe. Do y' think I'm 'fraid?" 
"You're wastin' valuable time," Captain Jenkins inter- 
posed. "Why don't you draw lots t' see who'll go?" 
"Good idee," Long Tom assented. "You hold the 
straws. Cap. The shortest one stays behind." 
Captain Jenkins lost no time in settling the question. 
He held out the three fatal straws, and each of the three 
men drew one, while the rest of the crew looked on in 
silence. Long Tom drew the shortest straw. 
Peshtigo Sam laughed nervously, and assumed an air 
of reckless indifference. Big Bill White evinced but slight 
interest in the proceeding. With him it was all a part of 
the day's work, and like Pet Marjorie's callous-hearted 
fowl, 
He ''was more than usual calm," 
He "did not give a single daro." 
The two men fastened the Hfe lines about their waists, 
and axe in hand started on their perilous undertaking. 
With difficulty they made their way over the barriers of 
logs until they reached the point of attack. Here they 
paused, and after a careful inspection decided that two 
logs would have to be cut in order to break the jam. 
They set to work with a will, on the alert for the first 
danger signal, and ready to seek safety in flight at the 
first suspicious sound of rending timber. 
Peshtigo Sam had attacked the smaller of the two ob- 
structions, while Bill was cutting an ever-deepening gash 
in the side of the big log which bore the brunt of the 
terrible strain. Suddenly there came a sharp cracking 
sound, and Bill scrambled for shore as the pile of logs 
trembled and began to move. A cry of distress rang 
out above the other sounds, and he paused and looked 
back. Peshtigo Sam was waving his arms frantically in 
the air, and shouting loudly for help. 
"Fer God sake come help me," he cried wildly. "I'm 
caught, an' the logs are movin' down." 
Bill stood irresolute for an instant, and then turned 
and began making his way toward the imprisoned man, 
heedless of the cries of warning from the men on the 
bank. He reached Peshtigo Sam's side, and a single 
glance revealed the cause of his plight. His log had 
parted without warning, although the other one on which 
Bill had been at work still held firm. The breaking of the 
log had relieved the strain on that portion of the jam 
and started a movement of the whole vast pile. Taken 
unawares, Peshtigo Sam had been caught between two of 
the moving logs, where he was now held a fast-bound 
prisoner. The threatening movement and stirring of the 
