30 A RAFT PILOT'S LOG 



mill, where it was to be sawed, or to the market to be 

 sold. 



There was so much objection to any structure that 

 would catch wind and cause more work at the oars, that 

 they were contented with very small tents made of 

 rough boards. If any ambitious members of the crew 

 built higher shanties they were usually told to knock 

 them down, the first windy day. Failure to comply 

 with this suggestion frequently resulted in a fight that 

 was sure to end in defeat for the owner, because the 

 pilot or the rest of the crew would knock it down any- 

 way. 



They generally had a low wide "cook-shanty" in 

 which they sat down to eat; but often the cooking was 

 done with only a cover to keep the rain ofif the stove, 

 and the grub was served out in the open, the men stand- 

 ing to eat. The success of the cook depended more on 

 his ability to lick any man in the crew than on his skill 

 in the culinary art. Even the pilot had to give in to the 

 cook, at least until the end of the trip. Most of the cooks 

 were only known by their nick-names, such as Sailor 

 Jack, Spike Ike, Calfskin Ben, Steubenville Jim, Kelly 

 the Cutter, Hayden the Brute, Slufoot Murphey, 

 Double Headed Bob, and many more just as musically 

 named ; all good cooks and most of them agreeable 

 when sober, but real bad actors when liquored up. 



One day two of them especially noted for their skill 

 as cooks and also for their bibulous habits, met in the 

 Lansing boat store and strange to tell both of them 

 sober. 



After friendly greeting Hayden said to Luker, "I 

 thought you were on the 'Cafifrey'." 



"I was." 



"Why leave her; she furnishes well?" 



