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entire river entered into the spirit of the contest。 The drivers
kept a sharp lookout for 〃H〃 logs； and whenever possible thrust them
aside into eddies and backwaters。 This； of course； merely made work
for the sackers Heinzman had left above the rear。 Soon they were in
charge of a very fair little drive of their own。 Their lot was not
enviable。 Indeed； only the pressure of work prevented some of the
more aggressive of Orde's rearamong whom could be numbered the
Rough Redfrom going back and 〃cleaning out〃 this impertinent band
of hangers…on。 One day two of the latter； conducting the jam of the
miniature drive astern； came within reach of the Rough Red。 The
latter had lingered in hopes of rescuing his peavy； which had gone
overboard。 To lose one's peavy is； among rivermen； the most
mortifying disgrace。 Consequently； the Rough Red was in a fit mood
for trouble。 He attacked the two single…handed。 A desperate battle
ensued； which lasted upward of an hour。 The two rivermen punched；
kicked； and battered the Rough Red in a manner to tear his clothes；
deprive him to some extent of red whiskers； bloody his face； cut his
shoulder； and knock loose two teeth。 The Rough Red； more than the
equal of either man singly； had reciprocated in kind。 Orde； driving
in toward the rear from a detour to avoid a swamp； heard； and
descended from his buckboard。 Tying his horses to trees； he made
his way through the brush to the scene of conflict。 So winded and
wearied were the belligerents by now that he had no difficulty in
separating them。 He surveyed their wrecks with a sardonic half
smile。
〃I call this a draw；〃 said he finally。 His attitude became
threatening as the two up…river men； recovering somewhat； showed
ugly symptoms。 〃Git！〃 he commanded。 〃Scat！ I guess you don't know
me。 I'm Jack Orde。 Jimmy and I together could do a dozen of you。〃
He menaced them until； muttering； they had turned away。
〃Well； Jimmy；〃 said he humorously； 〃you look as if you'd been run
through a thrashing machine。〃
〃Those fellers make me sick！〃 growled the Rough Red。
Orde looked him over again。
〃You look sick；〃 said he。
When the buckboard drew into camp； Orde sent Bourke away to repair
damages while he called the cookee to help unpack several heavy
boxes of hardware。 They proved to contain about thirty small
hatchets； well sharpened； and each with a leather guard。 When the
rear crew had come in that night； Orde distributed the hatchets。
〃Boys；〃 said he； 〃while you're on the work； I want you all to keep a
watch…out for these 〃H〃 logs； and whenever you strike one I want you
to blaze it plainly； so there won't be any mistake about it。〃
〃What for？〃 asked one of the Saginaw men as he received his hatchet。
But the riverman who squatted next nudged him with his elbow。
〃The less questions you ask Jack； the more answers you'll get。 Just
do what you're told to on this river and you'll see fun sure。〃
Three days later the rear crew ran into the head of the pond above
Reed's dam。 To every one's surprise； Orde called a halt on the work
and announced a holiday。
Now； holidays are unknown on drive。 Barely is time allowed for
eating and sleeping。 Nevertheless； all that day the men lay about
in complete idleness； smoking； talking； sleeping in the warm sun。
The river； silenced by the closed sluice…gates； slept also。 The
pond filled with logs。 From above； the current； aided by a fair
wind； was driving down still other logsthe forerunners of the
little drive astern。 At sight of these； some of the men grumbled。
〃We're losin' what we made；〃 said they。 〃We left them logs； and
sorted 'em out once already。〃
Orde sent a couple of axe…men to blaze the newcomers。 A little
before sundown he ordered the sluice…gates of the dam opened。
〃Night work；〃 said the men to one another。 They knew； of course；
that in sluicing logs； the gate must be open a couple of hours
before the sluicing begins in order to fill the river…bed below。
Logs run ahead faster than the water spreads。
Sure enough； after supper Orde suddenly appeared among them； the
well…known devil of mischief dancing in his eyes and broadening his
good…natured face。
〃Get organised； boys；〃 said he briskly。 〃We've got to get this pond
all sluiced before morning； and there's enough of us here to hustle
it right along。〃
The men took their places。 Orde moved here and there； giving his
directions。
〃Sluice through everything but the 〃H〃 logs；〃 he commanded。 〃Work
them off to the left and leave them。〃
Twilight； then dark； fell。 After a few moments the moon； then just
past its full； rose behind the new…budding trees。 The sluicing；
under the impetus of a big crew； went rapidly。
〃I bet there's mighty near a million an hour going through there；〃
speculated Orde； watching the smooth； swift； but burdened waters of
the chute。
And in this work the men distinguished easily the new white blaze…
marks on Heinzman's logs； so they were able without hesitation to
shunt them one side into the smoother water； as Orde had commanded。
About two o'clock the last log shot through。
〃Now； boys；〃 said Orde； 〃tear out the booms。〃
The chute to the dam was approached； as has been earlier explained；
by two rows of booms arranged in a V； or funnel； the apex of which
emptied into the sluice…way； and the wide； projecting arms of which
embraced the width of the stream。 The logs； floating down the pond；
were thus concentrated toward the sluice。 Also； the rivermen；
walking back and forth the length of the booms； were able easily to
keep the drive moving。
Now； however； Orde unchained these boom logs。 The men pushed them
ashore。 There as many as could find room on either side the boom…
poles clamped in their peavies； and； using these implements as
handles； carried the booms some distance back into the woods。 Then
everybody tramped back and forth； round and about； to confuse the
trail。 Orde was like a mischievous boy at a school prank。 When the
last timber had been concealed； he lifted up his deep voice in a
roar of joy； in which the crew joined。
Now let's turn in for a little sleep；〃 said be。
This situation； perhaps a little cloudy in the reader's mind； would
have cleared could he have looked out over the dam pond the
following morning。 The blazed logs belonging to Heinzman； drifting
slowly； had sucked down into the corner toward the power canal
where； caught against the grating； they had jammed。 These logs
would have to be floated singly； and pushed one by one against the
current across the pond and into the influence of the sluice…gate。
Some of them would be hard to come at。
〃I guess that will keep them busy for a day or two；〃 commented Orde；
as he followed the rear down to where it was sacking below the dam。
This； as Orde h