“There she goes!”

A great shout went up from the shore.

“He’s a goner!”

The jam had broken with startling suddenness, amazing everyone, unless it was Frank Merriwell. At first it seemed that Merry had been overwhelmed by the rush of logs, which suddenly came tumbling over each other, some great trees turning end over end.

And then——

“There he is!” screamed Diamond, unable to keep cool any longer.

In the midst of the rushing swirl of timbers, a form was seen leaping from log to log and making for the shore.

“He’ll never get ashore!”

It looked as if Frank was doomed, for the whole mass of logs had seemed to start at the same instant. The sound of the timbers grinding and crashing together was frightful.

Once a great tree whirled in the air and seemed to strike straight at Merriwell with its huge butt end such a blow as must have blotted him out of existence in a moment had he been hit.

But Frank leaped just in time, and he was not touched.

Two or three of the drivers started to cheer, but the[214] shout died on their lips, for the peril of the daring lad was so great that it took away their breath.

For a moment the water seemed to break a channel through the logs between Frank and the shore.

“He’s cut off!” gasped Forest, in horror.

Then the great mass closed in again, and where the channel had been a second before Frank Merriwell was seen running over the timbers.

This sight brought a genuine cheer from the river men, who admired courage and nerve.

Mike Sullivan and Levi Pombere did not cheer. The Canadian muttered something in French, and the foreman swore under his breath.

“He be keeled yet!” hissed Pombere, getting close to Sullivan.

“He will unless the devil helps him!” grated Sullivan. “It’s ther derndest luck that he’s kept up so fur!”

Those two men longed to see the brave lad go down amid the swirling timbers.

Still Merry came on, not even seeming to be in the least bewildered by the peril of his situation.

“He’ll make it!”

“Good boy!”

“Well done!”

“Hurrah! hurrah!”

The men began to shout encouragement now, for Frank was getting near the shore. They ran down the bank, for the moving jam had carried Merriwell with the current.

Bart Hodge was in advance. He ran to the very edge[215] of the jam, and, as Frank bounded forward, caught hold of him and drew him ashore. Then Hodge grasped Merry’s hand and wrung it in a manner that told how overjoyed and thankful he was, although his lips were unable to utter a word.

Diamond was next, and, in his impetuous manner, he actually embraced Merriwell.

“We thought you were gone!” said the Virginian, his voice shaking.

“Yaw,” spluttered Hans, wildly, “you thought I vos gone dot time, didn’t id?”

“Merriwell,” said Forest, his voice also showing deep emotion, “that was a wonderful trick, but I wouldn’t let you try it again for ten thousand dollars right in hand! My God! I thought you could not escape!”

The refined Harvard man was not in the habit of using such vehement language, but it was pardonable under the circumstances.

Following Merriwell’s friends, the river drivers came up to shake hands with the lad who had cracked the jam. They praised him and declared it was a great feat. One veteran of the river told Frank he was a natural river driver.

Of the entire crew, Sullivan and Pombere were the only men to hold aloof. They stood at one side, seeming busy talking together in low tones.

Sullivan was gray with anger and chagrin, but he dared not show it, and was urging the Canadian to keep quiet.

[216]

“Wait,” said the villainous foreman, “he beat me on the bet, but he’ll never live to collect his winnin’s!”

“What you do?” hissed Pombere. “You put ze knife een heem?”

“No, you fool! I’m not going to take such a chance of spending the rest of my days in Thomaston prison. But I’ll find er way ter fix ther critter!”

“How?”

“I don’t know yit. Wait.”

“I like to steek him wiz ze knife!” softly snarled the vicious Canadian.

“If ye do, you’ll git life fer it. Don’t be a chump!”

Then Sullivan turned and came toward Frank, saying sourly:

“Well, you beat me, though it was a big streak of luck fer you. You ............