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.
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