The Riverman

produced a fine current, which sucked the logs down from above. Men were busily engaged in "sacking" them from the sides of the pond toward its centre, lest the lowering water should leave them stra

rior of his mill, and appeared

ce eddy or fortuitous obstruction would bring them to rest. Such eddies and obstructions, however, drew a constant toll from the ranks of the free-moving logs, so that always the volume of timbers floating with the

water according as the stream rose or fell. Ordinarily the logs were flushed over this declivity by opening the gate, behind which a head of water had been accumulated. Now, however, the effic

anks logs grounded, and were rolled over by their own momentum into places so shallow as to discourage any hope of refloating them unless by main

an awful job there," said Orde to the foreman. "I wonder if

chute and the sluice-gate

ht spike a couple of saplings on each side for the gate

acticable. The current rendered footing impossible, so all the work had to be done from above. Wet wood gripped the long saws vice-like, so that a man's utmost strength could scarcely budge them. The water deadened the fo

quality of the bottom, were rolling over and over with their peavies until once more they floated. Some few the rivermen were forced to carry bodily, ten men to a side, the peavies clamped in as handles. When once they were afloat, the task became easier. From the advantage of deadwood, stumps, or other logs the "sackers

a race. Momentary success in getting ahead of the other fellow was occasion for exultant crowing, while a mishap called forth ironic cheers and catcalls from the rival camp. Just as Orde came tramping up the

by a flood of sarcasm and profane inquiry that left no room for even his acknowledged talents of repartee. Cursing and ashamed, he made

heard his name shouted from the bank. Looking up, to his surprise he saw the solemn coo

de, leaping ashore and stamping

cook pessimistically. "It's n

? Who's sto

from the dam with a shotg

ught a moment, his lips puckered as though to whistle; then, as usua

led through the brush across a little flat point, up over a high bluff where the ri

laces by means of sawbuck-like structures at their extremities. To a river-man or a tight-rope

e heard a splash and lamentations. Turning, he perceived Charlie, co

lamentations. "The ---- of a

less, wilted like a wet rag, to clasp the pole trail both by arm and leg. This saved him from falling off altogether, but swung him underneath, where he hung like the sloths in the picture-books.

ted the specta

ou just now, Charlie," he remarked.

going on any more errands for nobody, and getting

inge of brush to utter another ir

coat-tails and loose trousers flapping at his every movement as he paced back and forth with military precision. Over his shoulder he carried a long percussion

er?" inquired Or

eyed him with a

yself, sir," he proclaimed. "I give ye fair warning! I a

have a right to run our logs

in to tear down my dam; and then, when the river begins a-roarin' and a-ragin' through, then you ta

thing further. Immediately Reed

'76," replied Orde. "Don

the waiting row, s

y howlers, what do

but everybody l

ot?" inquired O

arnestly. "That crazy-headed kind

he probably woul

the status of the damage suits, you

uizzical eye in

getting out logs. By the time the law was all adjusted and a head of steam up, the w

al damages?" i

regular expenses--like potatoes. It's lucky it's so," he added. "If anybody paid any att

ou going to do?"

hat and ran his fingers th

nfessed, "but, if necessary,

aps a full minute he remained there motionless, his hat clinging to one s

briefly, "get your pe

st the mill to th

Hold them end on--no, pointing up stream--fix 'em about ten foot apart--that's it! George, drive a couple of stakes each side of them to hold '

e each timber was to be placed. He drew back, eyeing the result

o more logs, on which he once more caused to be loaded at right angles many timbers. An old stub near shore furnished him the basis of a third pier. He sta

ime, and immediately below the mill, but be

, "shove off some shore log

m sure," objecte

we?" mocked Orde. "

ces represented by saw-logs and water-pressure. He knows how to look for the key-log in breaking jams; and by the inverse reasoning, when need arises he can form a jam as expertly as Koosy

f the topmost sunk those beneath to the bed of the stream. This to a certain extent dammed back the water. Immediately the pressure increased. More logs were piled on top. The piers locked the structure. Below the improvi

oys," said Orde

example. Every moment the water rose, and each instant, as m

at pressure," breathe

e tighter she locks," repli

er-power developed by the dam, the old man had caused his structure to be built nearly at a level with the stream. Now the river, backing up, rapidly overflo

minutes the old man descended on the group, somewhat of his marti

matter here?

easily. "Oh, nothing m

flooding

replied Orde, s

don't you

inter

could get a good view of his property. The w

ack. "I've a lot of grain u

ested," re

ly losing cont

ted here!" he shouted. "You misera

placed

red, returned bearing an antiquated pike-pole

d-faced for breath as they saw against the sky-line of the bristling jam the lank, flapping figure with the old plug hat pushing frantically against the immovable statics of a mighty power. The exasperation of delay, the anxiety lest succ

nd the windmills!" Then he added vindictively, "The old fool!

tainty, and vexation had borne most heavily, for the success of the undertaki

ou can't break this jam. Come ashore

him, a wild l

ou're ruining me. I've got

lot of money in our logs too. Yo

tically toward th

o reason you and I shouldn't get along together all right.

shore, and out of ea

f ten minute

shouted cheerfully. "Ge

the work, but soon the river itself turned to their assistance. Timbers creaked and settled, or rose slightly buoyant as the water loosened the tangle. Men trod on the edge of expectation. Constantly the logs shifted, and as constantly the men shifted also, avoiding the upheavals and grindings together, wary eyes estimating the correlation of the forces into whose crushing reac

of the men, observing something not evident to Newmark's unpractised eye, ran forward, used their peavies vigorously for a moment or so, and stood back to watch the result. Only at the very last, w

have," said he to t

iverman. "Didn't see i

k; "getting in off those lo

man indifferent

from the lower floors of the mill; the up

The sluicers with their long pike-poles thrust the logs into the chute. The jam crew, scattered for many miles along the lower stretches, kept the drive going; running out over the surface of the river like water-bugs to thrust apart logs threatening to lock; leaning for hours on the shafts of their peavies watching contemplat