“Here he comes,” Jack shouted as he caught sight of Baptiste, followed by nearly all of the crew, making his way rapidly down the bank.
“You peek out your log,” Jean ordered as soon as Baptiste had joined them.
It was some time before a log was found which suited both of them, but finally they agreed on a spruce about thirty feet long and perhaps twenty inches in diameter. The log tapered but little but still there was a slight difference in the size of the two ends.
Jack Skeets drew a coin from his pocket and tossed it in the air, catching it as it fell.
“Odd or even, Baptiste?” he asked.
“Even,” the Frenchman called.
“1906. You win,” Skeets declared as he glanced at the date.
This meant that Baptiste was entitled to the larger end of the log, giving him a slight advantage.
Quickly the log was pried out from its position by a number of the men and dragged to the clear water. After measuring its length Jean, with an axe, cut a wide gash exactly in the middle. Neither man must cross that mark although they were allowed to come as near it as they might wish.
Baptiste jumped to his end and, giving the log a slight push, Skeets followed. Slowly the log floated out in the water until it was some fifteen or twenty feet from the jam.