The Riverman

ravely against the darkness. His only satisfaction of the long day came when he aroused the men from the heavy

the bars and ratchet was heard as two of the men raised the heavy sluice-gate on the dam. A roar of water, momently increasing, marked the slow rise of the barrier. A very imaginative man might th

d with long pike poles, walked out on the funnel-shaped booms that should concentrate the log

graceful, quite unconscious of themselves, their bodies accustomed by long habit to nice and instant obedience to the almost unconscious impulses of the brain. Only their eyes, intent, preoccupied, blazed out by sheer will-power the unstable path their owners should follow. Once at the forefront of the drive, the men began vigorously to ur

pike-pole men at the dam. Immediately, when this stronger influence was felt, the drivers zigzagged back up stream to start a fresh batch. In the meantime a great many logs d

he rode the logs, then took to the bank and strolled down to the dam. There he stood for a moment gazing aimlessly at the water making over the apro

s," he remarked, jerking his thumb up r

ll, sun-reddened, very blond ind

re?" he yelled, as soon as he

d contemplating the newcomer

matter?" repeated

re," rejoined Orde drolly.

't even made a start gettin' through this dam! We'll lose

through as fast as we can. If you want these logs

he logs, examining in detail the progress of the work

you'll catch it for damages! It's gettin' to a purty pass when any old highbanker from anywheres can get out and play ja

n a rumble of

humorously at

" he went on more seriously, "there's a heap in what he means, if there

d sauntered, with every appearance of leisure, down

d; the long broadcloth coat fell back to reveal an unbuttoned waistcoat the flapping black trousers were hitched up far enough to display woollen socks wrinkled about bony s

'em now," declaimed th

the stranger, and cam

g up the drive, and the water is going down every day. We've got to have more water. I'll tell you what we'll

omptly vetoed

thing for the privilege. W

and not a cent more," replied the old man,

our name?"

e is Re

think. In a little while the water will be so low in the river that it will be imposs

the pesky business, and I

means the mills must close. Thousands of men will be thrown out of their jobs, and a good many of them will go hungry. And with the stream full of the old cutting, that means less to do next winter in the woods--more

?" demanded

repli

nife with a snap and thrust it in his pocket. He brought to earth the front leg

rd of the prophet who says, 'So will I send upon you famine and evil beasts, and they shall bereave thee, and p

last word?" i

ake of God's smilin' land waste places and a

whirling on his heel wi

was a very slender young man, taut-muscled, taut-nerved, but impassive in demeanour. He possessed a shrewd, thin face, steel-gray, inscrutable eyes behind glass

party," volunteered

agreed the yo

marked Orde, striking his steel caulks into the first log and p

ing around a little to watch the work? My name is Newmark--Joseph Newmark.

zzled. "Look all you wan

? Can I get a chance to sta

only river-boss. You'll have to fix it up with the doctor--the cook, I mean," he explained, as Newmark look puzzled.

the bobbing timbers, leav

the subsidence of the first rush of water after the sluice-gate was opened. Tom North, lea

nquired, "is it to

plied Ord