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river ran clear in its lower reaches he took his rear crew in to
Carlin's rollways。
This crew was forty in number； and had been picked from the besta
hard…bitten； tough band of veterans； weather beaten； scarred in
numerous fights or by the backwoods scourge of small…pox； compact；
muscular； fearless； loyal； cynically aloof from those not of their
cult； out…spoken and free to criticisein short； men to do great
things under the strong leader； and to mutiny at the end of three
days under the weak。 They piled off the train at Sawyer's； stamped
their feet on the board platform of the station； shouldered their
〃turkeys；〃 and straggled off down the tote…road。 It was an
eighteen…mile walk in。 The ground had loosened its frost。 The
footing was ankle…deep in mud and snow…water。
Next morning； bright and early； the breaking of the rollways began。
During the winter the logs had been hauled down ice roads to the
river； where they were 〃banked〃 in piles twenty； and even thirty；
feet in height。 The bed of the stream itself was filled with them
for a mile； save in a narrow channel left down through the middle to
allow for some flow of water； the banks were piled with them； side
on； ready to roll down at the urging of the men。
First of all； the entire crew set itself； by means of its peavies；
to rolling the lower logs into the current； where they were rapidly
borne away。 As the waters were now at flood； this was a quick and
easy labour。 Occasionally some tiers would be stuck together by
ice； in which case considerable prying and heaving was necessary in
order to crack them apart。 But forty men； all busily at work； soon
had the river full。 Orde detailed some six or eight to drop below
in order that the river might run clear to the next section； where
the next crew would take up the task。 These men； quite simply；
walked to the edges of the rollway； rolled a log apiece into the
water； stepped aboard； leaned against their peavies； and were swept
away by the swift current。 The logs on which they stood whirled in
the eddies； caromed against other timbers； slackened speed； shot
away； never did the riders alter their poses of easy equilibrium。
From time to time one propelled his craft ashore by hooking to and
pushing against other logs。 There he stood on some prominent point；
leaning his chin contemplatively against the thick shaft of his
peavy； watching the endless procession of the logs drifting by。
Apparently he was idle； but in reality his eyes missed no shift of
the ordered ranks。 When a slight hitch or pause； a subtle change in
the pattern of the brown carpet caught his attention； he sprang into
life。 Balancing his peavy across his body； he made his way by short
dashes to the point of threatened congestion。 There； working
vigorously； swept down stream with the mass； he pulled； hauled； and
heaved； forcing the heavy； reluctant timbers from the cohesion that
threatened trouble later。 Oblivious to his surroundings； he
wrenched and pried desperately。 The banks of the river drifted by。
Point succeeded point； as though withdrawn up stream by some
invisible manipulator。 The river appeared stationary； the banks in
motion。 Finally he heard at his elbow the voice of the man
stationed below him； who had run out from his own point。
〃Hullo； Bill；〃 he replied to this man； 〃you old slough hog！ Tie
into this this！〃
〃All the time！〃 agreed Bill cheerfully。
In a few moments the danger was averted； the logs ran free。 The
rivermen thereupon made their uncertain way back to shore； where
they took the river trail up stream again to their respective posts。
At noon they ate lunches they had brought with them in little canvas
bags； snatched before they left the rollways from a supply handy by
the cook。 In the meantime the main crew were squatting in the lea
of the brush； devouring a hot meal which had been carried to them in
wooden boxes strapped to the backs of the chore boys。 Down the
river and up its tributaries other crews； both in the employ of
Newmark and Orde and of others； were also pausing from their cold
and dangerous toil。 The river； refreshed after its long winter；
bent its mighty back to the great annual burden laid upon it。
By the end of the second day the logs actually in the bed of the
stream had been shaken loose； and a large proportion of them had
floated entirely from sight。 It now became necessary to break down
the rollways piled along the tops of the banks。
The evening of this day； however； Orde received a visit from Jim
Denning； the foreman of the next section below； bringing with him
Charlie； the cook of Daly's last year's drive。 Leaving him by the
larger fire； Jim Denning drew his principal one side。
〃This fellow drifted in to…night two days late after a drunk； and he
tells an almighty queer story；〃 said he。 〃He says a crew of bad men
from the Saginaw； sixty strong； have been sent in by Heinzman。 He
says Heinzman hired them to come over not to work； but just to fight
and annoy us。〃
〃That so？〃 said Orde。 〃Well； where are they？〃
s。 Like
Silver Jack of the Muskegon； his exploits had been celebrated in
song。 A big； broad…faced man； with a red beard； they had told him；
with little； flickering eyes； a huge voice that bellowed through the
woods in a torrent of commands and imprecations； strong as a bull；
and savage as a wild beast。 A hint of his quality will suffice from
the many stories circulated about him。 It was said that while
jobbing for Morrison and Daly； in some of that firm's Saginaw Valley
holdings； the Rough Red had discovered that a horse had gone lame。
He called the driver of that team before him； seized an iron
starting bar； and with it broke the man's leg。 〃Try th' lameness
yourself； Barney Mallan；〃 said he。 To appeal to the charity of such
a man would be utterly useless。 Orde saw this point。 He picked up
his reins and spoke to his team。
But before the horses had
〃Don't know。 But he sticks by his story； and tells it pretty
straight。〃
〃Bring him over； and let's hear it；〃 said Orde。
〃Hullo； Charlie！〃 he greeted the cook when the latter stood before
him。 〃What's this yarn Jim's telling me？〃
〃It's straight； Mr。 Orde；〃 said the cook。 〃There's a big crew
brought in from the Saginaw Waters to do you up。 They're supposed
to be over here to run his drive； but really they're goin' to fight
and raise hell。 For why would he want sixty men to break out them
little rollways of his'n up at the headwaters？〃
〃Is that where they've gone？〃 asked Orde like a flash。
〃Yes； sir。 And he only owns a 'forty' up there； and it ain't more'n
half cut； anyway。〃
〃I didn't know he owned any。〃
〃Yes； sir。 He bought that little Johnson piece last winter。 I been
workin' up there with a little two…horse crew since January。 We
didn't put up m