The Foot Log Incident Author:Jim Horton Two friends, Joe and Brian, get new coats for Christmas. They are excited about their gifts and go for a walk in the woods. They are warned to stay away from a stream that is overflowing due to the melting snow. They of course ignore this advice and venture to the stream. Joe decides to cross the stream on a foot log, which is just at water leve... more »l. Brian begs him not to cross, but Joe is determined to cross. A huge log being washed downstream is heading for the foot log, and Brian warns Joe to get off. Before Joe can retreat, he slips and hangs onto the hand rail. When the log rams the foot log, Joe loses his grip and is washed downstream. Brian runs along the stream bank yelling to Joe. He instructs Joe to grab a tree branch hanging out over the stream. After several unsuccessful tries by Joe, Brian pushes a small tree over into Joe’s path. Joe catches the tree branch and, with Brian’s help, is pulled safely to the bank. Both boys’ coats are ruined. Later, they apologize to Joe’s mother for disobeying her warning about the stream.« less