196 A RAFT PILOT'S LOG 



and was allowed one hundred and twenty-five pounds 

 steam pressure. 



The "LeClaire," like many a large boat, was not 

 completely equipped when she started out. She had a 

 big whistle but no engine bells to signal the engineer. 

 So Mr. Doughty and George Tromley the pilot ar- 

 ranged to use the big whistle which could be heard 

 everywhere : 



One blast meant "ahead"; 



Two blasts meant "back"; 



and when in reverse or forward motion, 



One blast meant "stop." 



Mr. Tromley said they got along very well on this 

 arrangement for two or three days. The water was high 

 and when he saw a boat coming he would keep clear of 

 her by hugging the other shore without blowing the 

 usual signal. 



But on the third night out he met a large packet com- 

 ing down in Coon Slough, a narrow and crooked part 

 of the river; when to avoid a collision, Mr. Tromley 

 blew one whistle, and Mr. Doughty stopped the en- 

 gines. The pilot on the descending boat preferred the 

 other side and blew two whistles and Pilot Tromley 

 responded. Then Doughty set the "LeClaire" to back- 

 ing and Pilot Tromley blew one whistle to stop him. 

 The big boat was close down on the little one then. Her 

 pilot rang to stop her engines, and called out, "What in 

 h--l are you trying to do with that little boat anyway?" 

 "My friend, I want to get by you and go on up the river 

 if I can." "Well, go ahead, take either side and go on, 

 I thought you were trying to go both sides of us." 



When they got to LaCrosse, Tromley landed her; 

 went back to Mr. Doughty and in his Canadian manner 

 and voice said to him, "I say my friend, don't you tink 



