He studied hard all winter and
advanced rapidly. But he had to cross a bridge going to and coming
from school. He would always stop to gaze into the water he loved so
well, even if had to run to make up for lost time. Spring came on
and the longing increased to enjoy again the piney smell of the newly
arrived rafts, to dive into the clear depths, and revisit his old
friends the "pavers." He took off his shoes and felt the water's
temperature. "In two weeks," he thought with rapture, "In two weeks I
can take a plunge."
In less than two weeks he enjoyed this plunge and finally remembering
that he had to be at home by four o'clock, he scrambled onto a raft and
discovered that his body was covered with some unknown, greasy, tar-like
substance. He could not get it off, and at last asked a raftsman, who
stood by, what it was:
"Why, son," answered the lumberman; "That is petroleum. Don't you know
that they struck oil at the head of the river and great quantities are
pouring into the Alleghany above. It will be a long time before the
river will be as clear as she used to be, and you, my little man, will
have a nice job getting that off your skin."
When Paul reached home, his mother's scrutiny revealed the fact that
something was wrong.
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