第4章

"Oh！"saidthemanindifferently，turningaway。

Thegoingoutofthejamdrainedthewaterfromthelowerfloorsofthemill；theupphaven’tlostmuch。Nowgetamoveonyouandbailout。You’vegottogetovertheshallowswhilethisheadison。"

"That’sallthethanksyouget，"grumbledCharlietohimselfandtheotherthreeasOrdemovedaway。"Work，slave，getupinthenight，drowndyourself——"

Hehappilydiscoveredthatthepailsundertheforwardthwarthadnotbeencarriedaway，andallstartedintobail。Itwasaback—

breakingjob，andconsumedthegreaterpartoftwohoursedbelowthegunwale。Zekeandhiscompanionpulledspasmodicallyonthesweeps。Charlie，havingregaineerstoriesandthegrainwerestillsafe。

Byeveningthesluice—gatehadbeenroughlyprovidedwithpoleguidesdownwhichtoslidetothebedoftheriver。Thefollowingmorningsawtheworkgoingonasmethodicallyasever。Duringthenightaverygoodheadofwaterhadgatheredbehindtheloweredgate。Therearcrewbroughtdowntheafterguardoflogstothepond。Thesluicerswiththeirlongpike—polesthrustthelogsintothechute。Thejamcrew，scatteredformanymilesalongthelowerstretches，keptthedrivegoing；runningoutoverthesurfaceoftheriverlikewater—bugstothrustapartlogsthreateningtolock；

leaningforhoursontheshaftsoftheirpeavieswatchingcontemplativelytheorderlyranksastheydriftedby，sleepy，onthebosomoftheriver；occasionallygathering，asthefillingoftherivergavewarning，tobreakajam。Bytheendoftheseconddaythepondwasclear，andasCharlie’swaniganwasdriftingtowardthechute，thefirstofJohnson’sdrivefloatedintotheheadofthepond。

V

Charlie’swanigan，incaseyoudonothappentoknowwhatsuchathingmaybe，wasascowabouttwentyfeetlongbytenwide。Itwasverysolidlyconstructedofhewntimbers，squareatbothends，wasinconceivablyclumsy，andweighedanunbelievablenumberofpounds。

Whenloaded，itcarriedallthebed—rolls，tents，provisions，cookingutensils，tools，andachestoftobacco，clothes，andotherminorsupplmisunderstanding，theyworkedagainsteachother。ThenCharlie，ragingfromonetotheotherofhissatellites，frothedandroaredcommandsandvituperations。Hisvoicerosetoashriek。Thecookees，bewilderedbysomuchviolence，losttheirheadscompletely。ThenCharlieabruptlyfelltoanexaggeratedcalm。Hesatdownamidshipsonapileofbags，andgazedwithostentatiousindifferenceoutoverthepond。Finally，inavoicefallenalmosttoawhisper，andwithanelaboratepoliteness，CharlieprofferedarequestthathisassistantsacquirethesenseGodgavearooster。

Newmark，whohadelectedtoaccompanythewaniganonitsvoyage，evidentlyfounditvastlyamusing，forhiseyestwinkledbehindhisglasses。Asthewanigannearedthesluicethroughwhichitmustshoottheflood—water，theexcitementmountedtofeverpitch。Thewaterboiledunderthestrokesofthelongsteeringoars。TheairswirledwiththemultitudeandvigourofCharlie’scommands。Asmanyofthedrivingcrewaswerewithindistancegatheredtowatch。

Itwasasuprememoment。AsNewmarklookedatthesmoothrimofthewatersuckingintothechute，hebegantowonderwhyhehadcome。

However，thenobleshipwaspointedrightatlast，andcaughtthefasterwaterhead—on。EvenCharliemanagedtolookcheerfulforaninstant，andtogrinathispassengerashewipedhisforeheadwithaveryold，redhandkerchief。

"Allrightnow，"heshouted。

Zekeandhismatetookintheoars。Thewaniganshotforwardbelowthegate——

WHACK！BUMP！BANG！andthescowstoppedsosuddenlythatitsfourmenplungedforwardinamiscellaneousheap，whileZekenarrowlyescapedgoingoverboard。Almostimmediatelythewater，backedupbehindthestern，begantooverflowintotheboat。Newmark，clearinghisvisionaswellashecouldforlackofhisglasses，sawthatthescowhadevidentlyrunherbowonanobstruction，andhadbeenbroughttoastandstillsquarebeneaththesluice—gate。Menseemedtoberunningtowardthem。Thewaterwasbeginningtoflowtheentirelengthoftheboat。Variouslighterarticlesshotpasthimanddisappearedovertheside。Charliehadgonecrazyandwasgrabbingatthese，quiteuselessly，forasfastashehadcaughtonethingheletitgoinfavourofanother。Thecookees，retainingsomesmalldegreeofcoolness，werepushinguselesslywithpike—

poles。

Newmarkhadaninspiration。Themoreimportantmatters，suchasthemen’sclothes—bags，therollsofbedding，andtheheaviersuppliesofprovisions，hadnotyetcutloosefromtheirmoorings，althoughtherapidbackingofthewaterthreatenedsoontoconvertthewaniganintoachutefornearlythefullvolumeofthecurrent。Heseizedoneofthelongoars，thrustthebladeundertheedgeofathwartasternlaidtheshaftoftheoaracrossthecargo，andbyrestinghisweightonthehandleattemptedtobringitdowntobinddhisequanimitytogetherwithhisoldbrownderby，whichhecameuponfloatingsoddeninaneddy，marchedupanddownthebroadgunwalewithhispike—pole，thrustingawaysuchlogsasthreatenedinterference。

"Well，"saidheatlast，"webettermakecamp。We’llbedowninthejamprettysoon。"

Thecookeesabandonedthesweepsinfavourofmorepike—poles。Bypushingandpullingonthelogsfloatingaboutthem，theymanagedtoworkthewaniganinclosetthecontentsofthewanigantotheirplaces。Thecookeessawwhathewasabout，andcametohisassistance。Togethertheysucceededinbendingthelonghickorysweepfarenoughtocatchitshandle—endunderanother，forward，thwart。Thesecondoarwasquicklylockedalongsidethefirst，andnotamomenttoosoon。Arushofwaterforcedthemalltoclingfortheirlives。Thepooroldwaniganwasalmostburiedbytheriver。

Butnowhelpwasathand。Twoorthreerivermenappearedattheedgeofthechute。AmomentlateroldmanReedranup，carryingarope。This，aftersomedifficulty，wasmadefasttothebowofthewanigan。Adozenmenranwiththeendofittoapositionofvantagefromwhichtheymightbeabletopullthebowawayfromthesunkenobstruction，butOrde，appearingabove，calledahalt。AfterconsultationwithReed，anotherropewasbroughtandtheendofittosseddowntotheshipwreckedcrew。Ordepointedtothesternoftheboat，revolvinghishandsinpantomimetoshowthatthewaniganwouldbeapttoupsetifallowedtogetside—onwhenfreed。Ashortropeledtothetopofthedamallowedthebowtobeliftedfreeoftheobstruction；acableasternpreventedthecurrentfromthrowingherbroadsidetotherushofwaters；anothercablefromthebowledherinthewaysheshouldgo。Tenminuteslatershewaspulledashoreoutoftheeddybelow，verymuchwater—logged，andmannedbyadrenchedanddisgruntledcrew。

ButOrdeallowedthemlittlechanceforlamentation。

"Hardluck！"hesaidbriefly。"Hopeyou。Evenattheendofthattimethewanigan，thoughdryofloosewater，floatedbutsluggishly。

"’Bouttwotonofwaterinthembed—rollsandturkeys，"grumbledCharlie。"Well，getatit！"

Newmarksoondiscoveredthattheprogressofthewaniganwaslookeduponinthelightofaside—showbytherivermen。Itsappearancewassignalforshoutsofdelightedandironicencouragement；itstribulations——whichatfirst，inthewhite—water，weremany——theoccasionforunsympatheticandunholyjoy。Charlielookedonallspectatorsasenemies。Partofthetimehemerelyglowered。Partofthetimehetriedtoreplyinkind。Tohisintensedisgust，hewastakenseriouslyinneithercase。

Inacoupleofhours’runthewaniganhadovertakenandleftfarbehindtherearofthedrive。Allaboutfloatedthelogs，carominggentlyoneagainsttheother，shiftingandchangingthepatternoftheirbrownagainsttheblueofthewater。Thecurrentflowedstronglyandsmoothly，butwithoutobstruction。Everythingwentwell。Thebanksslippedbysilentlyandmysteriously，liketheunrollingofapanorama——littlestripsofmarshland，stretchesofwoodlandwherethegreattreesleanedoutovertheriver，thicketsofoverflowedswamplandwiththewaterrisinganddrainingamongrootsinastrangeregularityofitsown。Thesunshonewarm。

Therewasnowind。Newmarkwrungouthisoutergarments，andbaskothebank。

Charlie，acoilofropeinhishand，surveyedtheprospects。

"We’llstoprightdowntherebythatlittleknoll，"heannounced。

Heleapedashore，madeaturnaroundatree，andbracedhimselftosnubtheboat，butunfortunatelyhehadnottakenintoconsiderationthe"twoton"ofwatersoakedupbythecargo。Theweightofthecraftrelentlesslydraggedhimforward。Invainhebracedandstruggled。Theendoftheropecametothetree；heclungforamoment，thenletgo，andranaroundthetreetocatchitbeforeitshouldslipintothewater。

Bythistimethewaniganhadcaughtthestrongercurrentatthebendandwasgatheringmomentum。Charlietriedtosnubatasapling，andbrokethesapling；onastub，anduprootedthestub。Downthebanksandthroughthebrushhetoreattheendofhisrope，clingingdesperately，tryingateverysolidtreetostopthecareerofhisrunaway，butineveryinstancebeingforcedbythedangerofjamminghishandstoletgo。Againhelosthisderby。Thelandscapewasablur。Dimlyhemadeoutthehowlsoflaughterastheoutfitpassedagroupofrivermen。Thenabruptlyaravineyawnedbeforehim，andheletgojustintimetosavehimselfafall。Thewanigan，trailingherrope，driftedaway。

Nordidshestopuntilshehadovertakenthejam。There，hermomentumreducedbytheclosercrowdingofthelogs，shesloweddownenoughsothatNewmarkandthecookeesmanagedtoworkhertothebankandmakeherfast。

Thatevening，afterthewanigan’screwhadaccomplishedahardafternoon’sworkpitchingcampanddryingblankets，thefirstofthereardriftedinverylateafteravainsearchforcampfartherupstream。

"ForGod’ssake，Charlie，"growledone，"it’sawonderyouwouldn’trunthroughtoReddingandbedonewithit。"

WhereuponCharlie，whohadbeenpreternaturallycalmalltheafternoon，utteredashriekofrage，andwithacarving—knifechasedthatmanoutintothebrush。NorwouldhebeappeasedtothepointofgettingsupperuntilOrdehimselfhadintervened。

"Well，"saidOrdetoNewmarklater，aroundthecampfire，"howdoesriver—drivingstrikeyou？"

"Itisextremelyinteresting，"repliedNewmark。

"Liketojointhewanigancrewpermanently？"

"No，thanks，"returnedNewmarkdrily。

"Well，staywithusaslongasyou’rehavingagoodtime，"invitedOrdeheartily，butturningawayfromhisratheruncommunicativevisitor。

"Thankyou，"Newmarkacknowledgedthis，"IbelieveIwill。"

"Well，Tommy，"calledOrdeacrossthefiretoNorth，"Ireckonwe’vegottorustlesomemoresupplies。Thatshipwreckofoursto—daymightynearcleanedusoutofsomethings。LuckyCharlieheldhisheadandlockedinthebeddingwiththosesweeps，orwe’dhavebeenstrapped。"

"Ididn’tdoit，"grumbledCharlie。"Itwashim。"

"Oh！"OrdecongratulatedNewmark。"Goodwork！I’mtickledtodeathyoubelongedtothatcrew。"

"ThatoldmossbackReedwasrightondeckwithhisrope，"remarkedJohnnySimms。"Thatwasprettydecentofhim。"

"Oldskunk！"growledNorth。"Helostustwodayswithhisdamnnonsense。Youlethimofftooeasy，Jack。"

"Oh，he’sapoorolddevil，"repliedOrdeeasily。"Hemeanswellenough。That’sthewaytheLordmadehim。Hecan’thelphowhe’smade。"

VI

Duringthethirty—threedaysofthedrive，Newmark，tothesurpriseofeverybody，stayedwiththework。Someofthesedayswereverydisagreeable。Aprilrainsarecoldandpersistent——rdcook。

"Andyouhadfiftyinyourturkey，campingwiththisoutfitofhardcitizens！"hecried。"Yououghttoloseit。"

JohnnyChallanwasexplainingtohiscompanionsexactlyhowthegamewasplayed。

"It’sacaseofkeepyoureyeonthecard，Ishouldthink，"saidbigTimNolan。"Ifyougotaquickenougheyetoseehimflipthecardaround，yououghttobeabletopickher。"

"That’swhatthissportsaid，"agreedChallan。"’Youreyeaginmyhand，’sayshe。"

"Well，I’dliketotakeatryather，"musedTim。

ButatthispointNewmarkbrokeintothediscussion。"Haveyouapackofcards？"heaskedinhisdry，incisivemanner。

Somebodyrummagedinaturkeyandproducedtheremainsofanolddeck。

"Idon’tbelievethisisafulldeck，"saidhe，"andIthinkthey’spartoftwodecksinit。"

"Iotheproverbsastoshowersweremadeforanotherlatitude。Drenchedgarmentsarebadenoughwhenamanismovingaboutandhasdaylight；butwhennightfalls，andtheworkisover，helikesadryplaceandachangewithwhichtocomforthimself。Dryplacestherewerenone。Eventheinteriorofthetentsbecamesoddenbycontinualexitsandentrancesofdrippingmen，whiledrygarmentsspeedilydampenedintheshiftingsofcampwhich，inthebroaderreachesofthelowerriver，tookplacenearlyeveryday。Menworkedinsoakedgarments，sleptindampblankets。Charliecookedonlybyvirtueofpersistence。Therivermenatestandingup，asclosetothesputtering，roaringfiresastheycouldget。Alwaystheworkwentforward。

Buttherewereothertimeswhenagoldensunroseeachmorningalittleearlieronagreenandjoyousworld。Theriverranblue。

Migratorybirdsfledbusilynorthward——robins，flute—voicedblue—

birds，warblersofmanyspecies，sparrowsofdifferentkinds，shorebirdsandducks，thesweet—songedthrushes。Littletepidbreezeswanderedupanddown，warmincontrasttothefaintsnow—chillthatevenyetlingeredintheshadows。Soundscarriedclearly，sothattheshoutsandbanteroftherivermenwereplainlyaudibleupthereachesoftheriver。Ashoremoistandaggressivegreenthingswerepushingupthroughthewateryearthfromwhich，inshade，thelastfrosthadnotyetdeparted。Atcampthefiresroaedinvitingly。

Charlie’sgrubwashotandgrateful。Thefirbedsgavedreamlesssleep。

Newmarkfollowedtheworkofthelog—drivewithgreatinterest。Alldaylonghetrampedbackandforth——onjamoneday，onrearthenext。Heneversaidmuch，butwatchedkeenly，andlistenedtothemen’sbanterbothontheworkandabouttheevening’sfireasthoughheenjoyedit。Graduallythemengotusedtohim，andceasedtotreathimasanoutsider。Histhin，eagerface，hissteel—blue，inquiringeyesbehindtheglasses，hisgrayfelthat，hislank，tensefigureinitsgray，becameafamiliarfeature。Theythrewremarkstohim，towhichherepliedbrieflyanddrily。Whenanythinginterestingwasgoingon，somebodytoldhimaboutit。Thenhehurriedtothespot，nomatterhowdistantitmightbe。Heusedalwaystherivertrail；heneverattemptedtoridethelogs。

Heseemedtodependmostonobservation，forherarelyaskedanyquestions。Whatfewquerieshehadtoproffer，hemadetoOrdehimself，waitingsometimesuntileveningtointerviewthatbusyandgood—naturedindividual。Thenhisquestionsweredirectandtothepoint。Theyrelatedgenerallytotheadvisabilityofsomethinghehadseendone；onlyrarelydidtheyaskforexplanationoftheworkitself。ThatNewmarkseemedcapableofpuzzlingoutforhimself。

Thedrive，ashasbeensaid，wentdownasfarasReddinginthirty—

threedays。Ithaditsshareoftribulation。Themenworkedfourteenandsixteenhoursattimes。Severalbadjamsrelievedthemonotony。Threedamshadtobesluicedthrough。Problemsofmechanicsarosetobesolvedonthespot；problemsthatanoldercivilisationwouldhaveattackeddeliberatelyandwithduerespectfortheseriousnessofthesituationandthedignityofengineering。

Ordesolvedthembyarough—and—readybutveryeffectiveruleofthumb。Hebuiltandabandonedstructureswhichwouldhavefurnishedopportunityforawinter’sdiscussiontosomecommittees；justas，earlierinthework，theloggershadbuiltthrougharoughcountrysomehundredsofmilesofroadbetterthanrailroadgrade，solidinfoundation，andsmoothasaturnpike，thequarterofwhichwouldhaveoccupiedtheaveragecountyboardofsupervisorsforfiveyears。Andwhilehewasatit，Ordekepthismenbusyandsatisfied。Yourwhite—waterbirlerisnotaneasycitizentohandle。Yetneveroncedidthebossappearhurriedorflustered。

Alwayshewanderedabout，hishandsinhispockets，chewingatwig，hisround，wind—reddenedfacepuckeredhumorously，hisblueeyestwinkling，hissquare，burlyformlazilyrelaxed。Heseemedtomeethismenalmostsolelyontheplaneofgood—naturedchaffing。Yettheworkwasdone，anddoneefficiently，andOrdewasthemanresponsible。

ThedriveofwhichOrdehadchargewastobedeliveredattheboomsofMorrisonandDaly，amileorsoabovethecityofRedding。

Reddingwasathrivingplaceofaboutthirtythousandinhabitants，situatedonalongrapidssomefortymilesfromLakeMichigan。Thewater—powerdevelopedfromtherapidsexplainedRedding’sexistence。

Mostofthelogsfloateddowntheriverwerecarriedthroughtothevillageatthelakecoast，where，strunguptheriverforeightortenmiles，stoodadozenorsobigsaw—mills，withconcomitantbooms，yards，andwharves。MorrisonandDaly，however，hadbuiltasawandplaningmillatRedding，wheretheysuppliedmostofthelocaltradeandthatofthesurroundingcountry—side。

Thedrive，then，wasduetobreakupassoonasthelogsshouldbesafelyimpounded。

Thelastcampwasmadesomesixoreightmilesabovethemill。Fromthatpointagoodproportionoftherivermen，eagerforatasteofthetown，trampedawaydowntheroad，toreturnearlyinthemorning，moreorlessdrunk，butfaithfultotheirjob。Oneortwodidnotreturn。

Amongtherevellerswasthecook，Charlie，commonlycalledTheDoctor。Therivermenearlyworkedofftheeffectsoftheirratherwildspree，andturnedupatnoonchipperaslarks。Notsothecook。Hemopedaboutdisconsolatelyallday；andintheevening，afterhisworkhadbeenfinished，helookedsomuchlikeachickenwiththepipthatOrde’sattentionwasattracted。

"Gotthatdark—browntaste，Charlie？"heinquiredwithmocksolicitude。

Thecookmournfullyshookhishead。

"Largehead？Let’sfeelyourpulse。Stickoutyourtongue，sonny。"

"Iain’tbeendrinking，Itellyou！"growledCharlie。

"Drinking！"expostulatedOrde，horrified。"Ofcoursenot！IhopenoneofMYboysevertakeadrink！Butthatlemon—popdidn’tagreewithyourstomach——nowdidit，Charlie？"

"ItellyouIonlyhadtwoglassesofbeer！"criedCharlie，goaded，"andIcanproveitbyJohnnyChallan。"

Ordeturnedtosurveythepink—cheeked，embarrassedyoungboythusdesignated。

"HowmanyglassesdidJohnnyChallanhave？"heinquired。

"Hedidn’tdrinknonetospeakof，"spokeuptheboy。

"Thenwhythisjoylessdemeanour？"beggedOrde。

Charliegrumbled，fiercelyinarticulate；butJohnnyChallaninterposedwithachuckleofenjoyment。

"Hegot’bunked。’"

"Tellus！"criedOrdedelightedly。

"ItwasdownatMcNeill’splace，"explainedJohnnyChallan；

encouragedbytheinterestofhisaudience。"Theywasacoupleofsportstherewhothrowedoutthreecardsonthetableandbetyoucouldn’tpickthejack。Theyshowedyouwherethejackwasbeforetheythrowed，anditsurelylookedlikeapicnic，butitwasn’t。"

"Three—cardmonte，"saidNewmark。

"Howmuch？"askedSimms。

"Aboutfiftydollars，"repliedtheboy。

Ordeturnedonthedisgruntlenlywantthree，"assuredNewmark，reachinghishandforthepack。

Themencrowdedaroundclose，thoseinfrontsquatting，thosebehindlookingovertheirshoulders。

Newmarkclearedacracker—boxofdryingsocksanddrewittohim。

"Thesethreearethecards，"hesaid，speakingrapidly。"Thereisthejackofhearts。Ipassmyhands——so。Pickthejack，oneofyou，"hechallenged，leaningbackfromthecracker—boxonwhichlaythethreecards，backup。"Anyofyou，"heurged。"You，North。"

Thusdirectlysingledout，theforemanleanedforwardandratherhesitatinglylaidabluntforefingerononeofthebitsofpasteboard。

Withoutaword，Newmarkturneditover。Itwasthetenofspades。

"Letmetry，"interposedTimNolan，pressinghisbigshouldersforward。"IbetIknowwhichitwasthattime；andIbetIcanpickhernexttime。"

"Oh，yes，youBET！"shruggedNewmark。"Andthat’swherethecard—

sharpsgetyoufellowseverytime。Well，pickit，"saidhe，againdeftlyflippingthecards。

Nolan，whohadwatchedkeenly，indicatedonewithouthesitation。

Againitprovedtobethetenofspades。

"Anybodyelseambitious？"inquiredNewmark。Everybodywasambitious；andtheyoungman，withinexhaustiblepatience，threwoutthecards，thecornersofhismouthtwitchingsardonicallyateachwrongguess。

Atlengthhecalledahalt。

"BythistimeI’dhavehadallyourmoney，"hepointedout。"Now，I’llpickthejack。"

Forthelasttimehemadehisswiftpassesanddistributedthecards。Thenquitecalmly，withoutdisturbingthethreeonthecracker—box，heheldbeforetheireyesthejackofhearts。

Anexclamationbrokefromtheinterestedgroup。TimNolan，whowasthenearest，leanedforwardandturnedoverthethreeontheboard。

Theyweretheeightofdiamondsandtwotensofspades。

"That’showthethingisworkedninetimesoutoften，"announcedNewmark。"Onceinawhileyou’llrunagainstastraightgame，butnotoften。"

"Butyoushowedusthejackeverytimebeforeyouthrowedthem！"

puzzledJohnnySimms。

"Sleightofhand，"explainedNewmark。"Thesimplestkindofpalming。"

"Well，Charlie，"saidbigTim，"lookstomeasifyouhadjustaboutasmuchchanceasasnowballinhell。"

"Where’dyougetontodoingallthat，Newmark？"inquiredNorth。

"Youain’tatinhornyourself？"

Newmarklaughedbriefly。"NotI，"saidhe。"Ilearnedalotofthosetricksfromatravellingmagicianincollege。"

DuringthisdemonstrationOrdehadsatwellinthebackground，hischinproppedonhishand，watchingintentlyallthatwasgoingon。

Afterthecommentandexclamationsfollowingtheexposureofthemethodhadsubsided，hespoke。

"Boys，"saidhe，"howgameareyoutogetCharlie’smoneyback——andthensome？"

"Tryus，"returnedbigTim。

"Thisgame’satMcNeill’s，andMcNeill’sisatoughhole，"warnedOrde。"Maybeeverythingwillgopeaceful，andmaybenot。Andyouboysthatgowithmehavegottokeepsober。Thereisn’tgoingtobeanyrowunlessIsayso，andI’mnottakinganycontracttohandlealotofdrunkenriver—hogsaswellasgoagainstagame。"

"Allright，"agreedNolan，"I’mwithyou。"

Thethirtyorsomenoftherearcrewthenincampsignifiedtheirintentiontostaybytheprocession。

"Youcan’tmakethosesharpsdisgorge，"counselledNewmark。"Atthefirstlookoftroubletheywilllightout。Theyhaveitallfixed。

Forcewon’tdoyoumuchgood——andmaygetsomeofyoushot。"

"I’mnotgoingtouseforce，"deniedOrde。"I’mjustgoingtoplaytheirgame。ButIbetIcanmakeitgo。OnlyIsortofwantthemoralsupportoftheboys。"

"Itellyou，youCAN’Twin！"criedNewmarkdisgustedly。"It’sabracegamepureandsimple。"

"Idon’tknowaboutit’sbeingpure，"repliedOrdedrolly，"butit’ssimpleenough，ifyouknowhowtomakethewheelsgo’round。Howisit，boys——willyoubackmyplay？"

Andsuchwastheirconfidencethat，infaceofNewmark’sdemonstration，theysaidtheywould。

VII

Afterthemenhadbeenpaidoff，perhapsadozenofthemhungaroundtheyardsawaitingeveningandtherendezvousnamedbyOrde。Therestdriftedawayfullofgoodintentions，butdidnotshowupagain。Ordehimselfwasbusyuptothelastmoment，butfinallystampedoutoftheofficejustastheboarding—housebellrangforsupper。Hesurveyedwhatremainedofhisoldcrewandgrinned。

"Well，boys，readyfortrouble？"hegreetedthem。"Comeon。"

TheysetoutupthelongreachofWaterStreet，theirsteelcaulksbitingdeepintothepittedboard—walks。

Fornearlyamilethestreetwasflankedsolelybylumber—yards，smallmills，andfactories。Thencameastripofunimprovedland，followedimmediatelybythewooden，ramshacklestructuresofHell’sHalf—Mile。

IntheolddayseverytownofanysizehaditsHell’sHalf—Mile，ortheequivalent。SaginawboastedofitsCatacombs；Muskegon，Alpena，PortHuron，Ludington，hadtheir"Pens，""WhiteRows，""RiverStreets，""Kilyubbin，"andsoforth。Theysupportedrowuponrowofsaloons，alikestuffyandsqualid；gamblinghellsofallsorts；