“You save my life one more time, oui,” the Frenchman said soberly, as they made their way to the shore. “I, Jean Larue, never forgeet heem. Sometime I pay you back, oui.” CHAPTER V BOB AND JACK RECEIVE SOME NEWS In spite of the protests of both Bob and Jack that he wait until they could get some new cells, Jean got another fuse from the scow and soon he was again speeding for the shore, leaving the sputtering fuse behind him. This time he reached the bank in safety, and a moment later the explosion came, with a roar which shook the earth beneath their feet. It seemed to the boys as though a mighty hand was tearing the huge logs apart. Breathlessly they waited to see what the result of the blast would be. “Hurrah, she’s moving,” Jack shouted a moment later. “If only they don’t get caught again.” The blast, however, had been placed at the right point, and soon the entire drive was again in motion. About three miles farther down the river was the first of their camps, where they were to spend the night. These camps are large, low structures, built of unpeeled logs and fitted with many bunks and equipment for preparing meals. They are situated at intervals of eight or ten miles and are owned and used by all the different companies which are engaged in the logging industry along the Kennebec and its tributaries. From this point the logs are left much to themselves to make their way down the river. The drivers follow after and keep a close watch along the banks for stray logs which have caught and been left behind. Except in case of a jam the main drive is always ahead of the men. It was nearly dark when they reached the camp, and they were all tired from the strenuous work of the day. A roaring fire was soon sending its grateful heat through the room and in less than an hour the cook gave the welcome signal that supper was ready. If any of my readers want to see men really consume food, let him visit the camp of a crew of river drivers. “Gee, it looks as though Sam had been getting supper for eighty men instead of eight,” Jack declared, as he drew his chair up to the table. “But I’ll bet you there won’t be much left just the same,” Bob laughed. And he was right, for at the end of the meal the cook declared that there wasn’t enough left to feed a cat. Breakfast was a thing of the past by the time the sun was up the next morning, and by six o’clock they were off down the river. The boys were in the boat, together with the cook and a couple of the other men. The rest of the crew, two on each side of the river, made their way on foot over the frozen snow, stopping now and then to start a tardy log afresh on its journey. A little before noon, just as the boat rounded a bend in the river, they saw, to their surprise, that the logs were again at a standstill. “Jammed again,” Bob said in a disgusted tone. “Now what do you know about that?”