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found himself commander over tenscore people。 Likewise； at fifty
cents a head； he foresaw a good thing as long as high water should
last。 He had risen nobly to the occasion； for he had even hoisted
his bunting and brought with him the local brass band。 Orde；
brusque in his desire to hurry through an affair of minor
importance； rubbed the man the wrong way。
〃I reckon I've some rights on this river；〃 Captain Simpson concluded
the argument； 〃and I ain't agoin' to be bulldozed out of them。〃
The excursionists； typical 〃trippers〃 from Redding； Holland；
Monrovia and Muskegon； cheered this sentiment and jeered at Orde。
Orde nodded briefly。
〃Marsh；〃 said he to his captain in a low voice； 〃get a crew and take
them in charge。 Run 'em off。〃
As soon as the tug touched the piling； he was off and away； paying
no further attention to a matter already settled。 Captain Marsh
called a dozen rivermen to him； laid the SPRITE alongside the LUCY
BELLE； and in spite of Simpson's scandalised protests and an
incipient panic among the passengers； thrust aside the regular crew
of the steamship and took charge。 Quite calmly he surveyed the
scene。 From the height of the steamer's bridge he could see abroad
over the country。 A warm June sun flooded the landscape which was
filled with the peace of early summer。 The river seemed to flow
smoothly and quietly enough； in spite of the swiftness of its
current and the swollen volume of its waters。 Only up stream where
the big jam shrugged and groaned did any element jar on the peace of
the scene； and even that； in contrast to the rest of the landscape；
afforded small hint to the inexperienced eye of the imminence of a
mighty destruction。
Captain Marsh paid little attention to all this。 His eye swept
rapidly up and down where the banks used to be until he saw a cross
current deeper than the rest sweeping in athwart the inundated
fields。 He swung over the wheel and rang to the engine…room for
half speed ahead。 Slowly the LUCY BELLE answered。 Quite calmly
Captain Marsh rammed her through the opening and out over the
cornfields。 The LUCY BELLE was a typical river steamboat； built
light in the draught in order to slide over the numerous shifting
bars to be encountered in her customary business。 When Captain
Marsh saw that he had hit the opening； he rang for full speed； and
rammed the poor old LUCY BELLE hard aground in about a foot of water
through which a few mournful dried cornstalks were showing their
heads。 Then； his hands in his pockets； he sauntered out of the
pilot…house to the deck。
〃Now if you want to picnic；〃 he told the astonished and frightened
excursionists； 〃go to it！〃
With entire indifference to the water； he vaulted over the low rail
and splashed away。 The rivermen and the engineer who had
accompanied him lingered only long enough to start up the band。
〃Now you're safe as a cow tied to a brick wall；〃 said the Rough Red；
whose appearance alone had gone far toward overawing the passengers。
〃Be joyful。 Start up the music。 Start her up； I tell you！〃
The band hastily began to squawk； very much out of time； and
somewhat out of tune。
〃That's right；〃 grinned the Rough Red savagely； 〃keep her up。 If
you quit before I get back to work； I'll come back and take you
apart。〃
They waded through the shallow water in the cornfield。 After them
wafted the rather disorganised strains of WHOA； EMMA。 Captain
Simpson was indulging in what resembled heat apoplexy。 After a time
the LUCY BELLE'S crew recovered their scattered wits sufficiently to
transport the passengers in small boats to a point near the county
road； whence all trudged to town。 The LUCY BELLE grew in the
cornfield until several weeks later； when time was found to pull her
off on rollers。
Arrived at the booms Captain Marsh shook the loose water from his
legs。
〃All right； sir；〃 he reported to Orde。 〃I ran 'em ashore yonder。〃
Orde looked up； brushing the hair from his eyes。 He glanced in the
direction of the cornfield； and a quick grin flickered across the
absorbed expression of his face。
〃I should think you did；〃 said he briefly。 〃I guess that'll end the
excursion business。 Now take Number Two up below the swing； and
then run down and see if you can discover Tom。 He went somewhere
after piles about an hour ago。〃
Down river the various mill owners were busy with what men they had
left in stringing defences across the river in case Orde's works
should go out。 When Orde heard this he swore vigourously。
〃Crazy fools；〃 he spat out。 〃They'd be a lot better off helping
here。 If this goes out； their little booms won't amount to a whiff
of wind。〃
He sent word to that effect； but； lacking the enforcement of his
personal presence his messages did not carry conviction； and the
panic…stricken owners continued to labour； each according to his
ideas； on what Orde's clearer vision saw to be a series of almost
comical futilities。 However； Welton answered the summons。 Orde
hailed his coming with a shout。
〃I want a dredge；〃 he yelled； as soon as the lumberman was within
distance。 〃I believe we can relieve the pressure somewhat by a
channel into Steam's bayou。 Get that Government dredge up and
through the bayou as soon as you can。〃
〃All right；〃 said Welton briefly。 〃Can you hold her？〃
〃I've got to hold her；〃 replied Orde between his clenched teeth。
〃Have you seen Newmark？ Where in HELL is Newmark？ I need him for
fifty things； and he's disappeared off the face of the earth！
Purdy！ that second cable！ She's snapped a strand！ Get a
reinforcing line on her！〃 He ran in the direction of the new danger
without another thought of Welton。
By the late afternoon casual spectators from the countryside had
gathered in some number。 The bolder or more curious of these added
a further touch of anxiety to the situation by clambering out over
the jam for a better view。 Orde issued instructions that these
should keep off the logs； but in spite of that； with the impertinent
perseverance of the sight…seer； many persisted from time to time；
when the rivermen were too busily engaged to attend to them； in
venturing out where they were not only in danger but also in the
way。 Tom North would have none of this on his pile…driver。 If a
man was not actually working； he had no business on Number One。
〃But；〃 protested a spectator mildly； 〃I OWN this driver。 I haven't
any objections to your grabbing her in this emergency； even if you
did manhandle my captain； but surely you are not going to keep me
off my own property？〃
〃I don't give a tinker's damn who you are；〃 replied North sturdily。
〃If you're not working； you get off。〃
And get off he did。
The broad deck of the pile…driver scow was a tempting point from
which to survey the work； and th