Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-03-08
There appeared short. square man,
eyes blue as the sky.
up In two minutes" he answered.


Harvey. fire her up"
Captain Marsh guided his energetic
charge among the logs floating In the
stream with the marvellous second in.
stinct Of the expert tugboat man. Orde
noted with satisfaction that many OF
the logs had found lodgment among
the reeds and In the bayous and inlets.
One at time. and painfully. these
would have to be salvaged.
Shortly Orde. standing by the wheel
IN the pilOthouse, could see down the
stretches Of the river q crowd Of men
working, antlike.
They've got EN- stopped" comment.
ed Orde "Look at that gang working
from boats!'
What do you want me to do?''
asked Captain Marsh.
'This is navigable river. isn't IT."
replied Orde. run through
The tug headed straight for the
slender line OF booms stretching quite
across the river.
Orde looked at his watch.
"We'll be late for the mail unless
we hurry" said he.
Marsh rang the engine room bell.
The water churned white behind.
"vat you do? Stopw cried Heinznian
from boat.
you're obstructing navigation!'
yelled Orde. --"I'ye got to 60 to town
to buy a postage stamp"
The Prov Of the tug, accurately
aimed by Marsh, hit square in the
junction Of two Of the booms. There
ensued a moment of strain; then the
links snapped. and the Sprite plunged
joyously through the opening. The
booms, swept aside by the current,
floated to either shore. The river was
open.
"Slow down, Marsh," said Orde.
Lets see the show"
Up river all the small boats gathered
in a line, connected one to the other
by a rope. The tug passed over to
them the cable attached to the boom.
Evidently the combined efforts Of the
rowboats were counted on to hold the
half boom across the current while the
tug brought out the other half. When
the tug dropped the cable Orde laughed.
Nobody but q Dutchman would
have thought of thatw he cried. Nov
for the funp'
Immediately the weight fell on the
small boats they were dragged IRE,
sistibly backward. Marsh lowered his
telescope. the tears Of laughter stream
ing down his face.
They'll have to have two tugs be-
fore they can close the break that
way" commented Orde.
"Sure thing" replied Captain Marsh.
But at that moment black smoke
rolled up over the marshes, and shortly
around the bend from above came the
Lucy Belle.
The Lucy Belle was the main excuse
for calling the river navigable. In ap
pearance she was two storied, with
twin smokestacks, an iron Indian on
her top and "splutter behind" paddle
wheel.
There comes his help" said Orde.
Sure enough, the Lucy Belle stopped
After short conference she steamed
clumsily over to get hold Of one end
of the booms. The tug took the other
In time and by dint Of much FLASHING
some collisions and several attempts
the ends Of the booms were united.
BY this time, however, nearly all the
logs had escaped. The tug, towing a
string of rowboats, set out In pursuit
The Lucy Belle turned in toward the
tug.
"she's going to speak u.s." marveled
Orde.
"Tug ahoyw beloved red faced In
dividual from the upper deck. He was
dressed in blue and brass buttons and
was literally festooned with gold braid
and embroidered anchors.
Hello there, commodore! What Is
it," replied Marsh.
"They want tug up there at Heinz
mans. Can you got"
"Surew cried Marsh, choking.
The Lucy Belle sheered of magnifi
Gently.
"What do you. think of that" Marsl
asked Orde.
Head upstream again"
Heiuzman saw the Sprite coming
and rowed out frantically. splashin2
at every stroke and yelling with ever!
breath.
Don't you 60 through there! Val
a minute! Stop, | tell you!
Hold upw said Orde to Marsh.
HeinZman rowed alongside.
..Int ypn lpS'