Charlie, the Lonesome Cougar Page #4

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Never mind the questions, just help me

get this river shack under control.

Upstream, Charlie kept

right on logging travel time

and he was fast closing the gap.

Meanwhile, Jess was explaining

to the drive boss

how come his kitchen was minus a cook.

I'm sorry, Mac, but I had no choice.

The Wonigan was headed downriver

and the cook was hightailing up the bank.

Do you realize I have 40 men here to feed?

Mac, can we worry about the cook later?

I've gotta get Charlie.

Charlie?

He's marooned on a center jam

about 10 miles upriver. I need a boat.

Looks like a short 10 miles to me.

Hey, here he is!

Hey, hold on!

Hang on, Charlie!

Don't go away!

Charlie!

- Give me a boat. Come on, Mac.

- Uh-uh.

What do you mean? I gotta get Charlie.

I will be reasonable, though.

You get our supper, we'll get your cougar.

- Look, I'm no cook.

- No cook, no cougar.

- I'm a cook. Let's go get Charlie.

- We'll get Charlie.

You start peeling spuds.

- How about a little of that salad?

- You bet.

Mac, you drive a hard bargain.

Here you are, Ray.

You're doing all right, Jess.

Clean it up, Charlie.

Only one to a customer.

Say, we're gonna

have to hang on to this fella.

Good cook.

I think we should be able

to figure out a way.

- Coffee, Joe?

- Oh, no thanks, Jess. I've had plenty.

- Everything else OK, gentlemen?

- No complaints.

- Fine.

- Just like uptown.

OK, let's get me back upriver

and bring back your cook.

Not so fast, Jess.

I've been... I've been concerned about you.

Yeah?

You've been looking a little peaked lately.

We figure you need a little break

from your regular job.

Little change in scenery.

Something like...

a river cruise downstream.

No, sir. Uh-uh.

Now look, I've got a job

and you've got a cook.

And they're both waiting upstream,

so let's go.

But we're working downstream,

and about 40, 50 miles, when we hit

the road, our cook will be there.

And meantime?

Well, in the meantime,

you cook real well, just keep it up.

Come on, boys.

- You guys. Come on, fellas...

- Good night, Jess.

- Hey! Now, Mac, look...

- Breakfast at five o'clock.

Five o'cl...

Oh, boy!

In a river drive, the main body of logs

floats right on down to the mill.

But all kinds of drifters

get hung up and stranded.

Every last log has to be pried loose

and prodded along.

The very first day, Charlie moved in

and made out

like he was a born and bred river cat.

Whenever the jet boats ferried a crew

from one trouble spot to another,

Charlie was right on top of the action.

In no time at all, Charlie figured he was

the ramrod of this whole operation.

And anybody who seemed to be easing

up was likely to get a dressing down.

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