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falls。 They did these things swiftly and well； because they were
part of the practised day's work； but they shook their heads at the
falls。
After the trees had been cut in sufficient numberthere were
seventy…five of them； each twenty…six feet longOrde led the way
back up stream a half mile to a shallows； where he commanded the
construction of a number of exaggerated sawhorses with very
widespread slanting legs。 In the meantime the cook…wagon and the
bed…wagon had evidently been making many trips to Sand Creek；
fifteen miles away； as was attested by a large pile of heavy planks。
When the sawhorses were completed； Orde directed the picks and
shovels to be brought up。
At this point the river； as has been hinted； widened over shoals。
The banks at either hand； too； were flat and comparatively low。 As
is often the case in bends of rivers subject to annual floods； the
banks sloped back for some distance into a lower black…ash swamp
territory。
Orde set his men to digging a channel through this bank。 It was no
slight job； from one point of view； as the slope down into the swamp
began only at a point forty or fifty feet inland； but on the other
hand the earth was soft and free from rocks。 When completed the
channel gave passage to a rather feeble streamlet from the outer
fringe of the river。 The men were puzzled； but Orde； by the strange
freak of his otherwise frank and open nature； as usual told nothing
of his plans； even to Tom North。
〃He can't expect to turn that river；〃 said Tim Nolan； who was once
more with the crew。 〃He'd have to dig a long ways below that level
to catch the main currentand then some。〃
〃Let him alone；〃 advised North； puffing at his short pipe。 〃He's
wiser than a tree full of owls。〃
Next Orde assigned two men to each of the queer…shaped sawhorses；
and instructed them to place the horses in a row across the
shallowest part of the river； and broadside to the stream。 This was
done。 The men； half…way to their knees in the swift water； bore
down heavily to keep their charges in place。 Other men immediately
began to lay the heavy planks side by side； perpendicular to and on
the up…stream side of the horses。 The weight of the water clamped
them in place； big rocks and gravel shovelled on in quantity
prevented the lower ends from rising； the wide slant of the legs
directed the pressure so far downward that the horses were prevented
from floating away。 And slowly the bulk of the water； thus raised a
good three feet above its former level； turned aside into the new
channel and poured out to inundate the black…ash swamp beyond。
A good volume still poured over the top of the temporary dam and
down to the fall； but it was by this expedient so far reduced that
work became possible。
〃Now； boys！〃 cried Orde。 〃Lively； while we've got the chance！〃
By means of blocks and tackles and the team horses the twenty…six…
foot logs were placed side by side； slanting from a point two feet
below the rim of the fall to the ledge below。 They were bolted
together top and bottom through the four holes bored for that
purpose。 This was a confusing and wet business。 Sufficient water
still flowed in the natural channel of the river to dash in spray
over the entire work。 Men toiled； wet to the skin； their garments
clinging to them； their eyes full of water； barely able to breathe；
yet groping doggedly at it； and arriving at last。 The weather was
warm with the midsummer。 They made a joke of the difficulty； and
found inexhaustible humour in the fact that one of their number was
an Immersion Baptist。 When the task was finished； they pried the
flash…boards from the improvised dam； piled them neatly beyond reach
of high water； rescued the sy they took up their long； painstaking journey back
down the river。
Travel down the river was at times very pleasant； and at times very
disagreeable。 The ground had now hardened so that a wanigan boat
was unnecessary。 Instead； the camp outfit was transported in
waggons； which often had to journey far inland； to make
extraordinary detours； but which always arrived somehow at the
various camping places。 Orde and his men； of course； took the river
trail。
The river trail ran almost unbroken for over a hundred miles of
meandering way。 It climbed up the high banks at the points； it
crossed the bluffs along their sheer edges； it descended to the
thickets in the flats； it crossed the swamps on pole…trails； it
skirted the great； solemn woods。 Sometimes； in the lower reaches；
its continuity was broken by a town； but always after it recovered
from its confusion it led on with purpose unvarying。 Never did it
desert for long the river。 The cool； green still reaches； or the
tumbling of the white…water； were always within its sight； sometimes
beneath its very tread。 When occasionally it cut in across a very
long bend； it always sent from itself a little tributary trail which
traced all the curves； and returned at last to its parent；
undoubtedly with a full report of its task。 And the trail was
beaten hard by the feet of countless men； who； like Orde and his
crew； had taken grave； interested charge of the river from her birth
to her final rest in the great expanses of the Lake。 It is there
to…day； although the life that brought it into being has been gone
from it these many years。
In midsummer Orde found the river trail most unfamiliar in
appearance。 Hardly did he recognise it in some places。 It
possessed a wide； leisurely expansiveness； an indolent luxury； a
lazy invitation born of broad green leaves； deep and mysterious
shadows； the growth of ferns； docks； and the like cool in the shade
of the forest； the shimmer of aspens and poplars through the heat；
the green of tangling vines； the drone of insects； the low…voiced
call of birds； the opulent splashing of sun…gold through the woods；
quite lacking to the hard； tight season in which his river work was
usually performed。 What； in the early year； had been merely a whip
of brush； now had become a screen through whose waving； shifting
interstices he caught glimpses of the river flowing green and cool。
What had been bare timber amongst whose twigs and branches the full
daylight had shone unobstructed； now had clothed itself in foliage
and leaned over to make black and mysterious the water that flowed
beneath。 Countless insects hovered over the polished surface of
that water。 Dragon…flies cruised about。 Little birds swooped
silently down and fluttered back； intent on their tiny prey。 Water…
bugs skated hither and thither in apparently purposeless diagonals。
Once in a great while the black depths were stirred。 A bass rolled
lazily over； carrying with him his captured insect； leaving on the
surface of the water concentric rings which widened and died away。
The trail led the crew through man