, and the forward motion of the craft
ceased at the very moment it reached the middle of the strong current.
Those on the bank who were managing the apparatus saw the trouble at
once, and strove desperately to extricate the boat from its perilous
situation, but they were powerless.

"For Heaven's sake, keep off!" shouted Mr. Hunter to the raftsmen; "if
you don't we shall be ruined!"

As he spoke he caught up a long pole, and pressing one end against the
bed of the river exerted himself with might and main to impel the boat
forward. He called to the two men to do the same, and under their
united propulsion the boat advanced, but at a snail's pace.

The lumbermen, seeing the alarming state of affairs, put forth all
their strength to swing the raft over so that it would pass between the
boat and the eastern shore. There was scant room for this, but they
were hardly less anxious than the imperilled boatmen, to whom the
consequences were certain to be more serious than to themselves.

Had the distance been greater they might have succeeded, but under the
circumstances it was impossible. Dipping the broad blades of the long
oars, balanced at the ends of the raft, the men almost lay on their
faces as they held their breath and pushed with every ounce of strength
at their command. Then, when they reached the edge of the raft, they
bore down so as to lift the blade from the water, ran back to the other
side, dipped the oar again and shoved as before.

Meanwhile Mr. Hunter and his assistants were panting and red in the
face, as they desperately strove to force the boat from the path of the
approaching raft, which came plunging down upon them with increasing
speed.

"No use!" he suddenly exclaimed, flinging the wet pole in the center of
the boat on top of the stone; "we shall be shivered to atoms! Be ready
to jump on the raft as it crushes through us! Leave the horse to take
care of himself! Tim, you know how to swim, but jump on the raft with
us--Heavens! what have you done, my son?"

A few seconds before the boy had caught up the sharp hatchet lying near
the cabin, and intended for use of splitting fuel for the stove. With
two quick blows he severed the rope which held the stern. The latter
yielded to the strong current dashing against it, and began swinging
around, so that it quickly lay parallel with the river, with the bow
pointing up stream, and held securely by the rope fastened at that end.

This was no m