But, even as he spoke, they saw Jean leap to a log which seemed to be standing nearly on end, and, catching it with his peavey, give it a sudden twist.
“Good boy, Jean,” Jack shouted.
“He did the trick all right,” Bob added.
“Yes, they’re going again,” Mr. Golden declared, as the mass began once more to move.
A few minutes later and he heaved a sigh of relief as he saw the last of the head tumble down.
“There, I think the danger is passed,” he declared in a relieved tone.
CHAPTER XI
THE BROKEN BOOM
Along the Kennebec River the camps of the river drivers are located at intervals of from ten to twelve miles. Each of these camps supports a crew numbering from twenty to forty men according to the condition of the river. It is the duty of each crew to see that all logs get safely by their allotted territory.
The first of the Golden logs had been started down the river before the camps were filled, as Mr. Golden was anxious to get the first lot down as soon as possible to avoid all danger of forfeiting his contract with the paper company. He had figured that the drivers would be on the job before they got very far on their way, and he had ordered Jean Lamont and his small crew to go straight through with the logs to Waterville. It was time now for the different crews to be in the cabins, and he fully expected that, from now on, he would have all the help needed.
About two and a half miles down the river from The Forks, is an island lying nearly in the middle of the stream. It is a bad place for a jam to form, as the island, occupying a good part of the river, forms a natural barrier. Still there is little danger of a jam forming, provided the safety boom is in good shape and does not give way. This boom is made in the shape of a V, the apex pointing up the river and fastened securely to a log driven into the river bed. The sides of the V inclose the island and are firmly secured to rocks or logs sunk into the river bottom. So long as this boom is in proper shape, the logs, as they reach the point of the V are shunted to the channels, on either side of the island. But once let the boom give way and a jam is inevitable.