Excerpt

I had to hurry. I could see enough through the smoke to spot the big iron ring driven into one of the logs to held the end of the log chain. The trapped men were all crowded up as close to the front end of the platform as they could get to keep away from the fire, but the smoke was getting really bad. The men were coughing and wheezing. After about two breaths I was just as bad off.

Raising the axe up over my head I took a wild swing at the log where the iron ring held the end of the log chain. I cut a fair sized chunk of wood out, exposing the shaft of the ring, but it was still holding steady. Several of the men saw what I was doing and started pulling on the chain. I got myself set and chopped down on the log again as hard as I could.