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figure of the dam owner gazing after them； his black garments
flapping about him； his hands clasped behind his back； his ruffled
plug hat thrust from his forehead。
〃Well！〃 burst out North； when they were out of hearing。
〃Well！〃 mimicked Orde with a laugh。
〃Are you going to let that old high…banker walk all over you？〃
〃What are you going to do about it； Tom？ It's his dam。〃
〃I don't know。 But you ain't going to let him bang us up here all
summer〃
〃Sure not。 But the wind's shifting。 Let's see what the weather's
like to…morrow。 To…day's pretty late。〃
II
The next morning dawned clear and breathless。 Before daylight the
pessimistic cook was out； his fire winking bravely against the
darkness。 His only satisfaction of the long day came when he
aroused the men from the heavy sleep into which daily toil plunged
them。 With the first light the entire crew were at the banks of the
river。
As soon as the wind died the logs had begun to drift slowly out into
the open water。 The surface of the pond was covered with the
scattered timbers floating idly。 After a few moments the clank of
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
then have made out a tendency forward on the part of those timbers
floating nearest the centre of the pond。 It was a very sluggish
tendency； however； and the men watching critically shook their
heads。
Four more had by this time joined the two men who had raised the
gate； and all together； armed with long pike poles； walked out on
the funnel…shaped booms that should concentrate the logs into the
chute。 Here they prodded forward the few timbers within reach； and
waited for more。
These were a long time coming。 Members of the driving crew leaped
shouting from one log to another。 Sometimes； when the space across
was too wide to jump； they propelled a log over either by rolling
it； paddling it； or projecting it by the shock of a leap on one end。
In accomplishing these feats of tight…rope balance； they stood
upright and 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 urge the logs forward。 This they accomplished
almost entirely by main strength； for the sluggish current gave them
little aid。 Under the pressure of their feet as they pushed against
their implements； the logs dipped； rolled； and plunged。
Nevertheless； they worked as surely from the decks of these unstable
craft as from the solid earth itself。
In this manner the logs in the centre of the pond were urged forward
until； above the chute； they caught the slightly accelerated current
which should bring them down to the 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 drifted away to right and left into stagnant water；
where they lay absolutely motionless。 The moving of them was
deferred for the 〃sacking crew；〃 which would bring up the rear。
Jack Orde wandered back and forth over the work； his hands clasped
behind his back； a short pipe clenched between his teeth。 To the
edge of the drive 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 apron； after which he
returned to the work。 No cloud obscured the serene good…nature of
his face。 Meeting Tom North's troubled glance； he grinned broadly。
〃Told you we'd have Johnson on our necks；〃 he remarked； jerking his
thumb up river toward a rapidly approaching figure。
This soon defined itself as a tall； sun…reddened； very blond
individual with a choleric blue eye。
〃What in hell's the matter here？〃 he yelled； as soon as he came
within hearing distance。
Orde made no reply； but stood contemplating the newcomer with a
flicker of amusement。
〃What in hell's the matter？〃 repeated the latter violently。
〃Better go there and inquire；〃 rejoined Orde drolly。 〃What ails
you； Johnson？〃
〃We're right at your rear；〃 cried the other； 〃 and you ain't even
made a start gettin' through this dam！ We'll lose the water next！
Why in hell ain't you through and gone？〃
〃Keep your shirt on；〃 advised Orde。 〃We're getting through as fast
as we can。 If you want these logs pushed any faster； come down and
do it yourself。〃
Johnson vouchsafed no reply； but splashed away over the logs；
examining in detail the progress of the work。 After a little he
returned within hailing distance。
〃If you can't get out logs； why do you take the job？〃 he roared；
with a string of oaths。 〃If you hang my drive； damn you； you'll
catch it for damages！ It's gettin' to a purty pass when any old
highbanker from anywheres can get out and play jackstraws holdin' up
every drive in the river！ I tell you our mills need logs； and
what's more they're agoin' to GIT them！〃
He departed in a rumble of vituperation。
Orde laughed humorously at his foreman。
〃Johnson gets so mad sometimes； his skin cracks；〃 he remarked。
〃However；〃 he went on more seriously； 〃there's a heap in what he
means； if there ain't so much in what he says。 I'll go labour with
our old friend below。〃
He regained the bank； stopped to light his pipe； and sauntered； with
every appearance of leisure； down the bank； past the dam； to the
mill structure below。
Here he found the owner occupying a chair tilted back against the
wall of the building。 His ruffled plug hat was thrust； as usual；
well away from his high and narrow forehead； 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 shanks。 He was whittling a pine stick； which he
held pointing down between his spread knees； and conversing
animatedly with a young fellow occupying another chair at his side。
〃And there comes one of 'em now；〃 declaimed the old man
dramatically。
Orde nodded briefly to the stranger； and came at once to business。
〃I want to talk this matter over with you；〃 he began。 〃We aren't
making much progress。 We can't afford to hang 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 do： If you'll let us cut down the new sill；
we'll replace it in good shape when we get all our logs through。〃
〃No； sir！〃 promptly vetoed the old man。
〃Well； we'll give you