In presenting this work the author desires once again to thank the many who have interested themselves in his previous books. May they find the reading of this volume even more interesting and profitable. EDWARD STRATEMEYER. _August 1, 1903._ CONTENTS I. A TALK ABOUT EMPLOYMENT II. WHAT HAPPENED AT THE BROOK III. TWO YOUNG LUMBERMEN AT HOME IV. A FRESH START V. SOMETHING ABOUT THE MAINE LUMBER TRADE VI. DEEP IN THE WOODS VII. THE DANGERS OF LOG-ROLLING VIII. CHRISTMAS, AND AN UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL IX. DALE AND OWEN SPEAK THEIR MIND X. WHAT HAPPENED IN THE WOODS XI. SPRINGTIME IN THE CAMP XII. THE LODGE AT PINE TREE LAKE XIII. A LOG JAM ON THE PENOBSCOT XIV. BERTIE AND GERTRUDE XV. TWO LITTLE RUNAWAYS XVI. PURSUED BY THE FOREST FIRE XVII. THE RAGING OF THE ELEMENTS XVIII. BOUND FOR THE GREAT LAKES XIX. A TALK ON THE TRAIN XX. AT JOHN HOOVER'S HOME XXI. AN UNSIGNED CONTRACT XXII. A LUMBER BOAT IN A STORM XXIII. OFF FOR OREGON XXIV. SOMETHING ABOUT THE NORTHWEST LUMBER INDUSTRY XXV. AN INTERVIEW WITH ULMER BALASCO XXVI. IN AN OREGON FOREST XXVII. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LOG TRAIN XXVIII. JEFFERSON WILBUR SEEKS INFORMATION XXIX. MATTERS OF IMPORTANCE XXX. ULMER BALASCO SHOWS HIS HAND XXXI. THE CRISIS XXXII. AN UNEXPECTED APPOINTMENT XXXIII. THE RAILROAD CONTRACT XXXIV. DALE COMES INTO HIS OWN XXXV. END OF THE CONTRACT AND OF THE STORY ILLUSTRATIONS "Want a job, eh?" It leaped forward with lowered antlers directly for the young lumberman. "Jump! Don't wait! Jump!" yelled Owen. "A bear!" cried Dale. Logs rose and fell in front and on each side of them. "Have ye got 'em?" he demanded, in a shrill voice. "Hurrah! it's down!" cried Dale. Ulmer Balasco shook his fist in the young lumberman's face. TWO YOUNG LUMBERMEN CHAPTER I A TALK ABOUT EMPLOYMENT "Do you mean to tell me that Hickley said he wouldn't send over that lot of logs I ordered last week?"