The logs were brought near the end of the long incline up which they were first hauled by this chain. On the end of the chain was a great hook. This hook would either be driven into the log by one of the men pounding it with his axe, or the chain would be wrapped about the log and the hook caught in the chain.
“Pull away!” the lumberman would call to the engineer. The engineer would then shove over a handle, the chain would begin to wind itself up around the drum and the log would be hauled up to the saw carriage.
Other men would take off the chain and roll the log in place, fastening it on the carriage so it would not slip.
“All ready!” they would call, and the engineer would pull another handle which would start the carriage, carrying the log, end on, toward the big buzz saw.
At certain times, when she could be with them, the Curlytops and Trouble were taken by their mother to the sawmill. And when there was a long log on the carriage, just starting to be cut up, she would let them sit down on the far end of the traveling frame and “ride.” This was the greatest fun of all.
It was almost as good as being an engineer of the mill, Ted used to think. As for Janet, she pretended the slow-moving log and the carriage on which it rested was a chariot drawn by big elephants going through the jungle.
As for Trouble, he liked to pretend that the sawmill carriage and log was his “horsie,” and he sat astride the log and cried:
“Gid-dap! Gid-dap!”
Now, without anyone knowing it, Trouble had watched the engineer of the mill pull the handles that started the machinery until the little fellow, who was very smart, felt sure he could do it himself. He only wanted the chance, and he knew he must be alone, for he felt sure his mother would not let him go there if she saw him.
So, watching his opportunity, Trouble one day stole away to the sawmill. As it happened, the machinery was not running, though the power needed but to be turned on, and none of the men was in the place. It was Trouble’s chance. He had the whole mill to himself.