CHAPTER IV.
When the chuckling Tim told his sister the secret as he paused to kissher good-night at the head of the stairs, he did not dream that shewould reveal it to their father; but, before he could exact a promise,she emitted the truth, despite his attempts to place his hand over hermouth. Then she darted off, and, humiliated and chagrined, he went tohis own room.
But the parent was given more to think about. He was pleasant to boththe next morning at breakfast and made no reference to the matter thatwas in the minds of all. Just as the meal was finished, he remarked:
"Tim, the load of stone is ready and we will take it over to Montvaleto-day; wouldn't you like to go with us?"
"Thank you, father; I shall be glad to go."
"All right; as soon as you and Maggie are through with your nonsense,come out to the wharf and join us."
The method of transporting stone from the Brereton quarries toMontvale, on the other side of the river, was simple. The canal randirectly in front of the quarries, and there the boat was loaded withthe heavy freight. It was then drawn by horse through the canalDenville, several miles to the north, where the waterway touched thelevel of the Castaran river. Passing through a lock, the boat waspulled across the stream by means of a rope, and wheel arrangement (aheavy dam furnishing comparatively deep and smooth water), when anotherlock admitted it to the canal on the opposite side.
The boat, which lay against the bank of the canal near the quarries,was loaded so heavily that it was brought as low in the water as wassafe. Then a horse was hitched fast, and with Tim driving, and withWarren and his father and two men on board, the craft began slowlymoving against the sluggish current.
The start was made in the morning, and before the forenoon was halfgone they were at the lower end of Denville, where preparations werequickly made for crossing the river. The horse was taken on board, theboat securely fastened by a strong rope at the bow and stern, so as tohold her broadside against the current, and then the contrivance begandragging her slowly toward the opposite shore.
During the spring months and the period of high water, a great manyrafts of lumber descend the Castaran, though the number is not so greatof late years as formerly. They are sold at various points along theriver, and occasionally two or three rafts float down stream during thesummer months. A long sweeping paddle (sometimes a couple) at eitherend of the raft enable the men to clear the abutments of the bridgesand to shoot the rapids at different points.
The canal boat, with its cargo of stone had no more than fairly leftthe eastern side, when a large raft was observed emerging from betweentwo abutments of the bridge above. The men at the oars began toilingwith them with a view of working the structure toward the rapids,through which the only safe passage can be secured.
Those on the boat having nothing to do had seated themselves here andthere, and were watching their surroundings, as they moved at rightangles to the current. The raft was heading toward a point just aheadof the boat, and was so near that Tim, who was sitting beside hisfather on the cabin, started to his feet and said:
"I believe they are going to strike us."
"Sit down; there is no danger; these people know their business; weshall be well out of their way before they can reach us."
Nevertheless a collision seemed so imminent a moment later, that Mr.Hunter rose to his feet and motioned to those working the rope to givethe boat greater speed. At the same time he shouted to the raftsmen:
"Keep off; don't you see we are in danger?"
"Get out of the way, then!" was the reply; "we must go through there."
Such manifestly was their right, and the gentleman again waved hishands to those on both shores. But they saw the danger, and applyingall the power at their command, the boat began moving so much fasterthat Mr. Hunter resumed his seat.
"It's all right now," he remarked; "but it looked mighty squally aminute ago."
The canal boat was now crossing the rapid current, where a passage-wayhad been left on purpose for rafts. It had not quite reached themiddle, toward which the structure was aiming, but its speed wassufficient to take it well out of the way, provided no accidentoccurred.
And this is just what did occur. The unusual strain on the gearingcaused something to give way, and the forward motion of the craftceased at the very moment it reached the middle of the strong current.Those on the bank who were managing the apparatus saw the trouble atonce, and strove desperately to extricate the boat from its periloussituation, but they were powerless.
"For Heaven's sake, keep off!" shouted Mr. Hunter to the raftsmen; "ifyou don't we shall be ruined!"
As he spoke he caught up a long pole, and pressing one end against thebed of the river exerted himself with might and main to impel the boatforward. He called to the two men to do the same, and under theirunited propulsion the boat advanced, but at a snail's pace.
The lumbermen, seeing the alarming state of affairs, put forth alltheir strength to swing the raft over so that it would pass between theboat and the eastern shore. There was scant room for this, but theywere hardly less anxious than the imperilled boatmen, to whom theconsequences were certain to be more serious than to themselves.
Had the distance been greater they might have succeeded, but under thecircumstances it was impossible. Dipping the broad blades of the longoars, balanced at the ends of the raft, the men almost lay on theirfaces as they held their breath and pushed with every ounce of strengthat their command. Then, when they reached the edge of the raft, theybore down so as to lift the blade from the water, ran back to the otherside, dipped the oar again and shoved as before.
Meanwhile Mr. Hunter and his assistants were panting and red in theface, as they desperately strove to force the boat from the path of theapproaching raft, which came plunging down upon them with increasingspeed.
"No use!" he suddenly exclaimed, flinging the wet pole in the center ofthe boat on top of the stone; "we shall be shivered to atoms! Be readyto jump on the raft as it crushes through us! Leave the horse to takecare of himself! Tim, you know how to swim, but jump on the raft withus--Heavens! what have you done, my son?"
A few seconds before the boy had caught up the sharp hatchet lying nearthe cabin, and intended for use of splitting fuel for the stove. Withtwo quick blows he severed the rope which held the stern. The latteryielded to the strong current dashing against it, and began swingingaround, so that it quickly lay parallel with the river, with the bowpointing up stream, and held securely by the rope fastened at that end.
This was no more than fairly done when the enormous raft swept past, soclose that the nearest log was heard scraping the entire length of theboat. The impact drove it clear, and before any one beside the boyrealized how it was done the entire structure had gone by, no damagewas done and all were safe.
"Jim," said Mr. Hunter, a minute after, when the flurry was over, "whata set of fools we were that we didn't think of that."
"I don't agree with you," replied the other, "because no one would havethought of it except _that_ youngster."
"Tim," added the father, placing his hand affectionately on his head,"I am proud of you."
And the little fellow blushed and replied:
"I'm glad I happened to think of it in time, but it _was_ rather close,wasn't it?"
"It couldn't have been more so, and but for you boat and cargo wouldhave been a dead loss, and more than likely some of us would have lostour lives."
That night at the supper table, Mr. Hunter remarked with a meaningsmile:
"Maggie, the Hunter family contains a fool and a genius, I'm not thegenius and 'Mit' isn't the fool."
"Father, you are not just to yourself," the boy hastened to say; "Ihave done wrong in not appreciating your kindness or indulgence, and Ihave resolved to do my best to please you. I think I have some talentfor composition and invention, but I can use it just as well, withoutneglecting the quarries and stone works, and if you will permit, Ishall give you all the help I can in the
business with the hope thatsome day, which I pray may be far distant, I shall become yoursuccessor."
Tears filled the eyes of all, as the parent, rising from his chair,placed his hand on the head of Tim and said, in a tremulous voice:
"God bless you, my son!"
The Jungle Fugitives: A Tale of Life and Adventure in India Page 43
