630 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



Getting the Tow of Logs Ashore 



short, and unless more were quickly 

 brought, the rapid accumulation of 

 logs threatened to break the boom and 

 scatter before the wind the many 

 thousand pieces enclosed. Such was 

 the urgent request, and, it, coupled 

 with the foreboding cry of the loon, 

 determined the Captain to move 

 quickly. 



While the hungry emissary was 

 routing out the fat cook to prepare a 

 hasty breakfast of bacon and eggs, the 

 Captain aroused the sleeping crew, and 

 in a twinkling lanterns were moving 

 about the decks and searchlights play- 

 ing upon the white mists over the water. 

 First of all the present- tow of logs 

 must be taken to the shore and securely 

 fastened. So with much creaking, the 

 port tow line was slipped around its 

 post at the stern, and the great vessel 

 pulling at the new angle slowly swung 

 toward the shore. All was bustle; 

 the boat's crew passed from one to 

 another a long hitch line from the upper 

 deck to a coil in the stern of their 

 bateau, with cries of "snake her up;" 

 the engineer blew steam from his 

 engines, and the fireman furiously 

 stirred the roaring grates. The stern 



of the bateau, being now heavy with 

 rope, and the vessel close to shore, the 

 crew jumped into it and ran along the 

 seats to their oars, and at the call from 

 the bowman to "head boat" churned 

 the water to foam, while the line un- 

 rolled into the still water, as with 

 measured beat they disappeared from 

 view. Quickly a few sturdy trunks 

 were encircled with the rope by the 

 crew, and back again swiftly the 

 bateau glided to catch the steamboat as 

 it swung away on its mission of rescue. 



At the turning-out dam we found the 

 required line of boom sticks resting 

 along the shore like the far famed 

 serpent of the sea, and, as we made fast 

 to its drowsy head and pulled away, 

 the long coil straightened as if alive, 

 and spray hissed from every joint in an 

 angry protest, as we pressed forward 

 with every pound of steam up the lake. 

 The speeding boom in our rear proved 

 to be a stable path for the adventurous 

 crew, who ran out new hitches upon it 

 with great unconcern and jumped 

 through the spray from one log to 

 another. 



While we watched the crew from the 

 rear deck, there was recalled an exciting 



