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for nothing； even if they'd stay。〃
Other owners among the bystanders said the same thing。 An air of
profound discouragement had fallen on them all。 The strain of the
fight was now telling。 The utmost that human flesh and blood was
capable of had been accomplished； a hard…won victory had been gained
by the narrowest of narrow margins。 In this new struggle the old
odds were still against them； and in addition the strength that had
pushed aside Redding's best effort； augmented by the momentum of a
powerful current。 It was small wonder they gave up。
Already the news was spreading among the workers on the jams。 As
man shouted to man； each shouldered his peavy and came running
ashore； eager question on his lips。 Orde saw the Government driver
below casting loose from her moorings。 A moment later her tug towed
her away to some side bayou of safety out of the expected rush to
the Lake。
〃But we can hold her！〃 cried Orde in desperation。 〃Have a little
nerve with you。 You aren't going to quit like that！〃
He swept them with his eye； then turned away from them with a
gesture of despair。 They watched him gravely and silently。
〃It's no use； boy；〃 said old Carlin； 〃it's sure death。〃
〃Sure death！〃 Orde laughed bitterly。 〃All right； sure death； then。
Isn't there a man in this crowd that will tackle this sort of sure
death with me？〃
〃I'm with you。〃
〃And me；〃 said North and the Rough Red in a breath。
〃Good！〃 cried Orde。 〃You； too； Johnny Sims？ and Purdy？ and Jimmy
Powers？ Bully boys！〃
〃I reckon you'll need the tug；〃 said Marsh。
A dozen more of Orde's personal following volunteered。 At once his
good humour returned； and his easy leisurely confidence in himself。
〃We've got to close that opening； first thing；〃 said he。 〃Marsh；
tow the pile…driver up there。〃
He caused a heavy line to be run from a tree； situated around the
bend down stream； to the stern of the driver。
〃Now if you have to；〃 he told North； who had charge； 〃let go all
holds； and the line will probably swing you around out of danger。
We on the tug will get out as best we can。〃
The opening was to be closed by piles driven in groups of sixteen
bound together by chains。 The clumps were connected one to the
other by a system of boom logs and ropes to interpose a continuous
barrier。 The pile…driver placed the clumps； while the tug attended
to the connecting defences。
〃Now； boys；〃 said Orde as his last word； 〃if she starts to go； save
yourselves the best way you can。 Never mind the driver。 STAY ON
TOP！〃
Slowly the tug and her consort nosed up through the boiling water。
〃She's rising already；〃 said Orde to Marsh； watching the water
around the piles。
〃Yes； and that jam's going out before many minutes；〃 supplemented
the tugboat captain grimly。
Both these statements were only too true。 Although not fifteen
minutes before； the jam had lain locked in perfect safety； now the
slight rise of the waters had lifted and loosened the mass until it
rose fairly on the quiver。
〃Work fast！〃 Orde called to the men on the pile…driver。 〃If we can
close the opening before those Redding logs hit us； we may be able
to turn them into our new channel。〃
He did not add that if the opening were not closed before the jam
broke； as break it would in a very few moments； the probabilities
were that both pile…driver and tug would be destroyed。 Every man
knew that already。
Tom North ordered a pile placed in the carriage； the hammer
descended。 At once； like battering rams logs began to shoot up from
the depths of the river end foremost all about them。 These timbers
were projected with tremendous force； leaping sometimes half their
length above the surface of the water。 If any of them had hit
either the tug or the pile…driver squarely； it would have stove and
sunk the craft。 Fortunately this did not happen； but Marsh hastily
towed the scow back to a better position。 The pile had evidently
been driven into the foot of the jam itself； thus loosening timbers
lying at the bottom of the river。
The work went forward as rapidly as possible。 Four times the jam
shrugged and settled； but four times it paused on the brink of
discharge。 Three of the clumps had been placed and bound； and
fifteen piles of the last clump had been driven。
〃One more pile！〃 breathed Orde； his breath quickening a trifle as he
glanced up stream。
The hammer in the high derrick ran smoothly to the top； paused； and
fell。 A half dozen times more it ripped。 Then without delay the
heavy chains were thrown around the winch； and the steam power began
to draw the clumps together。
〃Done！〃 cried Tom North； straightening his back。
〃And a job in time； too；〃 said Johnny Sims； indicating the creaking
and tottering jam。
North unmoored； and the driver dropped back with the current and
around the bend where she was snubbed by the safety line already
mentioned。
Immediately the tug churned forward to accomplish the last duty；
that of binding the defences together by means of chains and cables。
Two men leaped to the floating booms and moved her fore and aft。
Orde and the Rough Red set about the task。 Methodically they worked
from either end toward the middle。 When they met finally； Orde
directed his assistant to get aboard the tug。
〃I'll tie this one； Jimmy；〃 said he。
Aboard the tug all was tense preparation。 Marsh grasped alertly the
spokes of the wheel。 In the engine…room Harvey； his hand on the
throttle； stood ready to throw her wide open at the signal。 Armed
with sharp axes two men prepared to cut the mooring lines on a sign
from the Rough Red。 They watched his upraised hand。 When it should
descend； their axes must fall。
〃Look out；〃 the Rough Red warned Orde； who was methodically tying
the last cumbersome knot； 〃she's getting ready！〃
Orde folded the knot over without reply。 Up stream the jam creaked；
groaned； settled deliberately forward； cutting a clump of piles like
straw。
〃She's coming！〃 cried the Rough Red。
〃Give me every second you can；〃 said Orde； without looking up。 He
was just making the last turns。
The mass toppled slowly； fell into the swift current； and leaped
with a roar。 The Rough Red watched with cat…like attention。rew worked as though
mad。 Excepting them； no one ventured on the
river； for to be caught in the imminent break meant to die。 Old
spars； refuse timbers of all sortsanything and everything was
requisitioned that might help form an obstruction above or below
water。 Piles were taken where they could be found。 Farmer's trees
were cut down。 Pines belonging to divers and protesting owners were
felled and sharpened。 Some were brought in by rail。 Even the
inviolate Government supply was commandeered。 The Railroad Company
had a fine lot which； w