There was a special “gang” of men to operate the sawmill, and this was the place Ted best liked to linger near. He was much interested in machinery. Trouble was, too, and went with his brother each time Ted started for the mill.
As Mr. Martin had said, some of the lumber workers brought their families to the woods with them, and these men, women and children were given homes in small cabins that were specially built for them.
In about a week after the Curlytops had arrived at the bungalow in the woods, Mount Major was a very lively place. The store was opened and doing business. Mr. Martin acted as manager of the store for a time, and he had several clerks to wait on the customers.
“It’s funny to see a store in the woods like this,” said Janet to her mother.
“Yes, but when men work they must eat, and to eat they have to buy things,” answered Mrs. Martin with a smile. “Besides, your father makes money by coming up here to start the store. And if we had no money we could not have things to eat and things to wear.”
“I see,” said Janet, with a smile.
Most of that first week was spent in getting things to rights about the camp and in setting up the store. Then, too, the sawmill had to be made ready, so at first no trees were cut.
But at last the day came when lumbering was really started, and as a special treat the Curlytops and Trouble were taken by their mother to watch one of the big trees being felled.
“Shall we be safe here?” she asked one of the choppers.
“Oh, yes,” he answered. “The tree will fall over that way,” and he waved his hand toward an open place in the woods.