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Updated: May 22, 2025
"All right," snorted Marshall, "take that ax and split some dry wood that you'll find behind the house." "I'm very much obliged to you," began Thorpe to the walking-boss, "and " "That's all right," interrupted the latter, "some day you can give me a job." For five days Thorpe cut wood, made fires, drew water, swept floors, and ran errands.
"I'm busted," he said at last frankly. "Oh, that's all right," replied the walking-boss. "Marshall, come here!" The peg-legged boarding-house keeper stumped in. "What is it?" he trumpeted snufflingly. "This boy wants a job till Friday. Then he's going up to Radway's with the supply team. Now quit your hollerin' for a chore-boy for a few days."
The first move of the M. & D. Company had been one of conciliation. Thorpe was approached by the walking-boss of the camps up-river. The man made no reference to or excuse for what had occurred, nor did he pretend to any hypocritical friendship for the younger firm. His proposition was entirely one of mutual advantage.
The cold weather came early and continued late. Freezing preceded the snow, which was deep enough for good travoying and to assure abundant freshet water in the spring, but not too deep to interfere with the work. Orde increased his woods force; and, contrary to his custom, he drove them mercilessly. He was that winter his own walking-boss, and lived constantly in the woods.
Thorpe shrewdly guessed his companion to be a man of weight, and did not hesitate to ascribe his immunity from annoyance to the other's presence. "It's a bad thing," said the walking-boss, "I used to be at it myself, and I know. When I wanted whisky, I needed it worse than a scalded pup does a snow bank. The first year I had a hundred and fifty dollars, and I blew her all in six days.
I'd have given fifty dollars to be hidden close by when he came out of it next morning." "Poor old duffer! But suppose Hooker and Jo or some of that bunch should stumble onto him, Al! Was he making this way?" "Yes; but he was fifty miles up the lines. There were two or three women about Comstock's commissary tent two of Comstock's daughters and the wife of his walking-boss.
Baker, the walking-boss, tried to get him to sign a contract to that effect. Thorpe refused. "Leave your dock where it is and use it when you want to," said he. "I'll agree not to interfere as long as you people behave yourselves." The actual logging was opening up well. Both Shearer and Thorpe agreed that it would not do to be too ambitious the first year.
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