"We'd have to pay the railroad fare to Buffalo--although it may be possible to get on a canal boat at Albany, and go through that way. It would take some time, but it would be cheap traveling." "The plan is certainly worth considering, anyway," said Owen; and they talked it over for fully an hour. But they reached the conclusion it would be best to see what could be done along the Penobscot before leaving Maine. A week later found them in Bangor. They had made six stops on the way, to find all the lumber yards and mills well supplied with hands. At an employment agency in Bangor they were told that thirty-four men were on the list ahead of them. "This doesn't look very encouraging," remarked Dale. "I should say it looked very discouraging," answered Owen. They put up at their former boarding-house, and on returning to the place that evening found a letter there for Owen, from his uncle in Michigan. The young lumberman perused the communication with much interest, and then read it aloud to his chum. The letter ran as follows: "DEAR OWEN: I take up my pen to find out how you are getting on these days. I have been reading about the forest fires up the Penobscot, and see by one account that the Paxton tract was burnt over. Does that throw you out of a job, or are you working at one of the mills again? The fellows who set the forest on fire ought to be hung, or made to pay for damages done. We caught one fellow setting the timber afire here, and run him out of the county in a hurry. He owed me ten dollars for the hire of a horse, so I lost on him, as the lumbermen did not give him time to settle up. "If times get too hard, you had better take my advice and come out here. I'll board you at a reasonable figure, and if you can do a full man's work, I'll give you a man's wages. I am short several hands, so now is your chance. But don't come unless you are willing to work, for I have no place for idlers. I am going to start on a new cut of timber the first of next month, and it might be I could make you the boss of a logging gang, if you knew enough to fill the place. "I now own an interest in the Gamoine Lumber Company of Michigan, with offices at Detroit, so if you come on stop at Detroit and they will tell you at the offices just where to find me. I don't have much to do with the office end of the business. I get out the timber, and they sell it. We are doing fairly well, although prices are not what they might be. "We are all well, and your Aunt Maria sends her love to you. She says she would like you to send on some newspapers from her old home if you get the chance. "Write and let me know if you think of coming before I send that next gang out. "Your affectionate uncle, "JOHN W. HOOVER."