The boat, which lay against the bank of the canal near the quarries, was loaded so heavily that it was brought as low in the water as was safe.  Then a horse was hitched fast, and with Tim driving, and with Warren and his father and two men on board, the craft began slowly moving against the sluggish current.

The start was made in the morning, and before the forenoon was half gone they were at the lower end of Denville, where preparations were quickly made for crossing the river.  The horse was taken on board, the boat securely fastened by a strong rope at the bow and stern, so as to hold her broadside against the current, and then the contrivance began dragging her slowly toward the opposite shore.

During the spring months and the period of high water, a great many rafts of lumber descend the Castaran, though the number is not so great of late years as formerly.  They are sold at various points along the river, and occasionally two or three rafts float down stream during the summer months.  A long sweeping paddle (sometimes a couple) at either end of the raft enable the men to clear the abutments of the bridges and to shoot the rapids at different points.

The canal boat, with its cargo of stone had no more than fairly left the eastern side, when a large raft was observed emerging from between two abutments of the bridge above.  The men at the oars began toiling with them with a view of working the structure toward the rapids, through which the only safe passage can be secured.

Those on the boat having nothing to do had seated themselves here and there, and were watching their surroundings, as they moved at right angles to the current.  The raft was heading toward a point just ahead of the boat, and was so near that Tim, who was sitting beside his father on the cabin, started to his feet and said: 

“I believe they are going to strike us.”

“Sit down; there is no danger; these people know their business; we shall be well out of their way before they can reach us.”

Nevertheless a collision seemed so imminent a moment later, that Mr. Hunter rose to his feet and motioned to those working the rope to give the boat greater speed.  At the same time he shouted to the raftsmen: 

“Keep off; don’t you see we are in danger?”

“Get out of the way, then!” was the reply; “we must go through there.”

Such manifestly was their right, and the gentleman again waved his hands to those on both shores.  But they saw the danger, and applying all the power at their command, the boat began moving so much faster that Mr. Hunter resumed his seat.

“It’s all right now,” he remarked; “but it looked mighty squally a minute ago.”

The canal boat was now crossing the rapid current, where a passage-way had been left on purpose for rafts.  It had not quite reached the middle, toward which the structure was aiming, but its speed was sufficient to take it well out of the way, provided no accident occurred.