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guess。〃
〃How long you been hung？〃
〃Just to…day。 I expect Jack will be down from the rear shortly。
Ought to see something's wrong when he runs against the tail of this
jam of ours。〃
At this moment the lugubrious； round…faced man in the derby hat
stepped aside from the row of steaming utensils he had been
arranging。
〃Grub pile；〃 he remarked in a conversational tone of voice。
The group arose as one man and moved upon the heap of cutlery and of
tin plates and cups。 From the open fifty…pound lard pails and
kettles they helped themselves liberally； then retired to squat in
little groups here and there near the sources of supply。 Mere
conversation yielded to an industrious silence。 Sadly the cook
surveyed the scene； his arms folded across the dirty white apron； an
immense mental reservation accenting the melancholy of his
countenance。 After some moments of contemplation he mixed a
fizzling concoction of vinegar and soda； which he drank。 His
rotundity to the contrary notwithstanding； he was ravaged by a
gnawing dyspepsia； and the sight of six eggs eaten as a side dish to
substantials carried consternation to his interior。
So busily engaged was each after his own fashion that nobody
observed the approach of a solitary figure down the highway of the
river。 The man appeared tiny around the upper bend； momently
growing larger as he approached。 His progress was jerky and on an
uneven zigzag； according as the logs lay； by leaps； short runs；
brief pauses； as a riverman goes。 Finally he stepped ashore just
below the camp； stamped his feet vigorously free of water； and
approached the group around the cooking…fire。
No one saw him save the cook； who vouchsafed him a stately and
lugubrious inclination of the head。
The newcomer was a man somewhere about thirty years of age； squarely
built； big of bone； compact in bulk。 His face was burly； jolly； and
reddened rather than tanned by long exposure。 A pair of twinkling
blue eyes and a humorously quirked mouth redeemed his countenance
from commonplaceness。
He spread his feet apart and surveyed the scene。
〃Well； boys；〃 he remarked at last in a rollicking big voice； 〃I'm
glad to see the situation hasn't spoiled your appetites。〃
At this they looked up with a spontaneous answering grin。 Tom North
laid aside his plate and started to arise。
〃Sit still； Tom；〃 interposed the newcomer。 〃Eat hearty。 I'm going
to feed yet myself。 Then we'll see what's to be done。 I think
first thing you'd better see to having this wind turned off。〃
After the meal was finished； North and his principal sauntered to
the water's edge； where they stood for a minute looking at the logs
and the ruffled expanse of water below。
〃Might as well have sails on them and be done with it；〃 remarked
Jack Orde reflectively。 〃Couldn't hold 'em any tighter。 It's a
pity that old mossback had to put in a mill。 The water was slack
enough before； but now there seems to be no current at all。〃
〃Case of wait for the wind；〃 agreed Tom North。 〃Old Daly will be
red…headed。 He must be about out of logs at the mill。 The flood…
water's going down every minute； and it'll make the riffles above
Redding a holy fright。 And I expect Johnson's drive will be down on
our rear most any time。〃
〃It's there already。 Let's go take a look；〃 suggested Orde。
They picked their way around the edge of the pond to the site of the
new mill。
〃Sluice open all right；〃 commented Orde。 〃Thought she might be
closed。〃
〃I saw to that；〃 rejoined North in an injured tone。
〃'Course；〃 agreed Orde； 〃but he might have dropped her shut on you
between times； when you weren't looking。〃
He walked out on the structure and looked down on the smooth water
rushing through。
〃Ought to make a draw；〃 he reflected。 Then he laughed。 〃Tom； look
here；〃 he called。 〃Climb down and take a squint at this。〃
North clambered to a position below。
〃The son of a gun！〃 he exclaimed。
The sluice； instead of bedding at the natural channel of the river；
had been built a good six feet above that level； so that； even with
the gates wide open； a 〃head〃 of six feet was retained in the slack
water of the pond。
〃No wonder we couldn't get a draw；〃 said Orde。 〃Let's hunt up old
What's…his…name and have a pow…wow。〃
〃His name is plain Reed；〃 explained North。 〃There he comes now。〃
〃Sainted cats！〃 cried Orde； with one of his big； rollicking
chuckles。 〃Where did you catch it？〃
The owner of the dam flapped into view as a lank and lengthy
individual dressed in loose； long clothes and wearing a…top a
battered old 〃plug〃 hat； the nap of which seemed all to have been
rubbed off the wrong way。
As he bore down on the intruders with tremendous； nervous strides；
they perceived him to be an old man； white of hair； cadaverous of
countenance； with thin； straight lips； and burning； fanatic eyes
beneath stiff and bushy brows。
〃Good…morning； Mr。 Reed；〃 shouted Orde above the noise of the water。
〃Good…morning； gentlemen；〃 replied the apparition。
〃Nice dam you got here；〃 went on Orde。
Reed nodded； his fiery eyes fixed unblinking on the riverman。
〃But you haven't been quite square to us；〃 said Orde。 You aren't
giving us much show to get our logs out。〃
〃How so？〃 snapped the owner； his thin lips tightening。
〃Oh； I guess you know； all right；〃 laughed Orde； clambering
leisurely back to the top of the dam。 〃That sluice is a good six
foot too high。〃
〃Is that so！〃 cried the old man； plunging suddenly into a craze of
excitement。 〃Well； let me tell you this； Mr。 Man； I'm giving you
all the law gives you； and that's the natural flow of the river； and
not a thing more will you get！ You that comes to waste and destroy；
to arrogate unto yourselves the kingdoms of the yearth and all the
fruits thereof； let me tell you you can't override Simeon Reed！ I'm
engaged here in a peaceful and fittin' operation； which is to feed
the hungry by means of this grist…mill； not to rampage and bring
destruction to the noble forests God has planted！ I've give you
what the law gives you； and nothin' more！〃
Somewhat astonished at this outbreak； the two rivermen stood for a
moment staring at the old man。 Then a steely glint crept into
Orde's frank blue eye and the corners of his mouth tightened。
〃We want no trouble with you； Mr。 Reed；〃 said he； 〃and I'm no lawyer
to know what the law requires you to do and what it requires you not
to do。 But I do know that this is the only dam on the river with
sluices built up that way； and I do know that we'll never get those
logs out if we don't get more draw on the water。 Good…day。〃
Followed by the reluctant North he walked away； leaving the gaunt
figure of the dam owner gazing after them； his black garments
flapping about him； his hands