ly loaded up the best
of the driftwood from the piles gathered by their antagonists. When
their cargo was secured, the skirmishers were called in. All leaped
aboard, and the "Eagle" headed for Alleghany, where the wood was
carefully stored, far beyond the reach of a probable invasion by the
Pittsburghers.

About this time a new enterprise opened for the commander and crew of
the "Gray Eagle." The city commenced to pave the streets with large
round stones called "Pavers," many of which were found in pockets at the
bottom of the river. One day a contractor met Paul on the bank and said:

"Say, son, could not you boys gather a lot of pavers? I will buy them
from you and give you thirty cents per hundred."

The offer was eagerly accepted. Next day the "Eagle" was anchored with a
piece of rail-road iron, over a pocket, and the crew engaged in diving
through the transparent water to the bottom, where they would gather one
or two pavers, return to the top, and drop them into the boat. Paul
had much difficulty in teaching his companions to keep their eyes open
while under water. This occupation was pursued with varying success
during the summer months of '59. The contractor came down every week to
cart the "pavers" away; and many a dispute the boys had with him over
the count. The dispute was generally decided by the carts driving off,
and the contractor paying whatever he pleased. The boys discovered a
rich pocket right near the old Aqueduct bridge. They worked it
enthusiastically and were loath to leave such a find, until they had
overloaded the Eagle. When all the divers climbed aboard, the additional
weight almost swamped her. The strongest swimmers were compelled to go
overboard and resting their hands gently on the gunwale, they propelled
her by swimming toward the shore. They had not proceeded far when the
bottom of the well-worn "Eagle" fell out and the cargo disappeared.
While the boys hung on to the framework of their wrecked craft, their
enemies across the river observed their predicament and sallied forth
in a skiff to chastise them. The Alleghany boys swam for their own shore
as rapidly as possible. On gaining shallow water, they faced about on
their assailants and a battle was fought that was long remembered by the
inhabitants on both sides of the river. In the meantime, the wreck of
the "Gray Eagle" floated gently down to the Ohio, where the powerful
current caught it and hurried it