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. As soon as Mr. Golden saw that the jam was really broken and that there was little danger of another being formed, he called to Jean. “You’d better get down to the island as soon as you can with your men. The boom there was all right when I came by yesterday, but, as you know, there’s a certain man who will do almost anything to hold back those logs. He said he’d be up here along about noon with a crew and get them started out of the jam and goodness knows what he may have done to that boom at the island.” “Oui, we go ver’ queek, an’ eef heem break that boom heem bet’ look out,” and the Frenchman’s face, for the moment lost its cheerful smile. “I don’t want you to have any trouble with any of his men if it can be prevented,” Mr. Golden cautioned him. “Trust Jean for that,” Bob laughed, “But,” he added, “if trouble is thrust upon him, look out for fireworks.” “I guess we might as well go along with him,” Jack proposed. “Now, boys, I want you to be careful and avoid trouble,” Mr. Golden said soberly. “I’ve got to go back home at once and have just time to drive to Solon and get the afternoon train. I wish I could stay and see those logs through, but there’s an important meeting of the bank directors tomorrow morning and I have to be there, so I’ll have to leave it to you.” Then, turning to Rex, he asked, “How long can you stay with the boys?” “Why, I suppose I ought to go home right away, but you see, sir, this is all new to me and it’s so interesting that I’m going to stay a day or two longer, that is, if they want me to,” Rex replied with a sly glance at the two boys. “If you stay as long as we want you to you’ll stay till we go back to college,” Bob laughed as he shook hands with his father. “Well, stay as long as you can, Rex,” Mr. Golden said as he bade them goodbye. “How are we going to get down to that island?” Rex asked after Mr. Golden had left.