第13章

"Wemustpackup，sweetheart，"saidOrde。

"It’sonlyyesterdaythatwecame，"shecriedregretfully。

TheytookthetrainforRedding，wereinstalledinthegableroom，exploredtogetherforthreedaysthedelightsoftheold—fashionedhouse，thespicyjoysofGrandmaOrde’sandAmanda’scookery，thealmostadoringadulationoftheoldfolks。ThenOrdepackedhis"turkey，"assumedhiswoodsclothes，andmarchedoffdownthestreetcarryinghisbagonhisback。

"Helookslikeanoldtrampinthatrig，"saidGrandmaOrde，closingthestormdoor。

"Helookslikeaconquerorofwildernesses！"criedCarroll，straininghereyesafterhisvanishingfigure。Suddenlyshedartedafterhim，callinginherhigh，bird—liketones。Heturnedandcamebacktoher。Sheclaspedhimbytheshoulders，reluctanttolethimgo。

"Good—bye，"shesaidatlast。"You’lltakebettercareofmysweetheartthanyoueverdidofJackOrde，won’tyou，dear？"

XXII

Ordehadreconnoitredtheriverasageneralreconnoitreshisantagonist，andhadmadehisdispositionsasthegeneraldisposesofhisarmy，hiscommissary，hisreserves。Atthispointfivemencouldkeeptheriverclear；atthatrapiditwouldrequiretwenty；

thereadozenwouldsufficeforordinarycontingencies，andyetanemergencymightcallforthirty——thosethirtymustnotbebeyondreach。Inhismind’seyeheapportionedthesectionsoftheupperriver。Amongtheremoterwildernesseseverysectionmusthaveitsdrivingcamp。Thecrewsofeach，whetherfewormany，wouldbeexpectedtokeepclearandrunningtheirown"beats"ontheriver。

Asfarastherearcrewshouldovertakethesedivisions，eitheritwouldabsorbthemorthemembersofthemwouldbethrownforwardbeyondthelowermostbeat，totakechargeofanewdivisiondownstream。Whenthesettledfarmcountryorthelittletownswerereached，manyofthedrivingcampswouldbecomeunnecessary；themencouldbeboardedoutatfarmslyingintheirbeats。AcontinualadvancewouldprogresstowardtheLake，thedrivecrewspassingandrepassingeachotherlikepigeonsinthesownfields。Eachofthesesectionswouldbeinchargeofaforeman，whoseresponsibilityceasedwiththedeliveryofthelogstothemennextbelow。A

walkingbosswouldtrudgecontinuallytherivertrail，orridethelogsdownstream，holdingthecorrelationofthesemanyunits。Ordehimselfwoulddriveupanddowntheriver，overseeingthewholeplanofcampaign，throwingthecampsforward，concentratinghisforceshere，spreadingthemelsewhere，keepingaccuratelyinmindtheentiresituationsothathecouldsaywithfullconfidence："OpenDamNumberOneforthreehoursatnineo’clock；DamNumberTwofortwohoursandahalfattenthirty，"andsoondowntheline；surethatthefloodwatersthusreleasedwouldarriveattherightmoment，wouldsupplementeachother，andwouldsospacethemselvesastoaccomplishthemostworkwiththeleastwaste。Inthatonepointmorethaninanyothershowedtheexpert。Thewaterwashisammunition，adefiniteandlimitedquantityofit。To"getthelogsoutwiththewater"wasthelastwordofpraisetobesaidfortheriverdriver。Themorelogs，thegreatertheglory。

Thusitcanreadilybeseen，thismatterwasratheracampaignthanamerelabour，requiringthemen，themunitions，theorganisation，thetacticalability，thestrategy，theresourcefulness，theboldness，andtheexecutivegeniusofamilitarycommander。

Toallthesethings，andtothedistributionofsuppliesandimplementsamongthevariouscamps，Ordehadattended。Thewaniganfortherearcrewwasbuilt。Theforemenandwalkingbosshadbeenpickedout。Everythingwasinreadiness。Ordewassatisfiedwiththesituationexceptthathefoundhimselfrathershort—handed。Hehadcountedonthreehundredmenforhiscrews，butscrapeandscratchashewould，hewasunabletogatherovertwohundredandfifty。Thismatterwasnotsoserious，however，aslater，whenthewoodscampsshouldbreakup，hewouldbeabletopickupmoreworkmen。

"Theywon’tberivermenlikemyoldcrew，though，"saidOrderegretfullytoTomNorth，thewalkingboss。"I’dliketostealafewfromsomeofthoseMuskegonoutfits。"

Untilthelogsshouldbewelladrift，Ordehadresolvedtobosstherearcrewhimself。

Astherearwasnaturallythefarthestupstream，OrdehadtakenalsothecontracttobreaktherollwaysbelongingtoCarlin，whichintheseason’sworkwouldbepileduponthebank。Thushecouldgettoworkimmediatelyatthebreak—up，andwithoutwaitingforsomeoneelse。ThesevenoreightmillionfeetoflumbercomprisedinCarlin’sdrivewouldkeepthemenbelowbusyuntiltheotherowners，fartherdownandupthetributaries，shouldalsohaveputtheirseason’scutafloat。

Theicewentoutearly，toOrde’ssatisfaction。AssoonastheriverranclearinitslowerreacheshetookhisrearcrewintoCarlin’srollways。

Thiscrewwasfortyinnumber，andhadbeenpickedfromthebest——ahard—bitten，toughbandofveterans，weatherbeaten，scarredinnumerousfightsorbythebackwoodsscourgeofsmall—pox，compact，muscular，fearless，loyal，cynicallyalooffromthosenotoftheircult，out—spokenandfreetocriticise——inshort，mentodogreatthingsunderthestrongleader，andtomutinyattheendofthreedaysundertheweak。TheypiledoffthetrainatSawyer’s，stampedtheirfeetontheboardplatformofthestation，shoulderedtheir"turkeys，"andstraggledoffdownthetote—road。Itwasaneighteen—milewalkin。Thegroundhadlooseneditsfrost。Thefootingwasankle—deepinmudandsnow—water。

Nextmorning，brightandearly，thebreakingoftherollwaysbegan。

Duringthewinterthelogshadbeenhauleddowniceroadstotheriver，wheretheywere"banked"inpilestwenty，andeventhirty，feetinheight。Thebedofthestreamitselfwasfilledwiththemforamile，saveinanarrowchannelleftdownthroughthemiddletoallowforsomeflowofwater；thebankswerepiledwiththem，sideon，readytorolldownattheurgingofthemen。

Firstofall，theentirecrewsetitself，bymeansofitspeavies，torollingthelowerlogsintothecurrent，wheretheywererapidlyborneaway。Asthewaterswerenowatflood，thiswasaquickandeasylabour。Occasionallysometierswouldbestucktogetherbyice，inwhichcaseconsiderablepryingandheavingwasnecessaryinordertocrackthemapart。Butfortymen，allbusilyatwork，soonhadtheriverfull。Ordedetailedsomesixoreighttodropbelowinorderthattherivermightruncleartothenextsection，wherethenextcrewwouldtakeupthetask。Thesemen，quitesimply，walkedtotheedgesoftherollway，rolledalogapieceintothewater，steppedaboard，leanedagainsttheirpeavies，andweresweptawaybytheswiftcurrent。Thelogsonwhichtheystoodwhirledintheeddies，caromedagainstothertimbers，slackenedspeed，shotaway；neverdidtheridersaltertheirposesofeasyequilibrium。

Fromtimetotimeonepropelledhiscraftashorebyhookingtoandpushingagainstotherlogs。Therehestoodonsomeprominentpoint，leaninghischincontemplativelyagainstthethickshaftofhispeavy，watchingtheendlessprocessionofthelogsdriftingby。

Apparentlyhewasidle，butinrealityhiseyesmissednoshiftoftheorderedranks。Whenaslighthitchorpause，asubtlechangeinthepatternofthebrowncarpetcaughthisattention，hesprangintolife。Balancinghispeavyacrosshisbody，hemadehiswaybyshortdashestothepointofthreatenedcongestion。There，workingvigorously，sweptdownstreamwiththemass，hepulled，hauled，andheaved，forcingtheheavy，reluctanttimbersfromthecohesionthatthreatenedtroublelater。Oblivioustohissurroundings，hewrenchedandprieddesperately。Thebanksoftheriverdriftedby。

Pointsucceededpoint，asthoughwithdrawnupstreambysomeinvisiblemanipulator。Theriverappearedstationary，thebanksinmotion。Finallyheheardathiselbowthevoiceofthemanstationedbelowhim，whohadrunoutfromhisownpoint。

"Hullo，Bill，"herepliedtothisman，"youoldsloughhog！Tieintothisthis！"

"Allthetime！"agreedBillcheerfully。

Inafewmomentsthedangerwasaverted，thelogsranfree。Therivermenthereuponmadetheiruncertainwaybacktoshore，wheretheytooktherivertrailupstreamagaintotheirrespectiveposts。

Atnoontheyatelunchestheyhadbroughtwiththeminlittlecanvasbags，snatchedbeforetheylefttherollwaysfromasupplyhandybythecook。Inthemeantimethemaincrewweresquattingintheleaofthebrush，devouringahotmealwhichhadbeencarriedtotheminwoodenboxesstrappedtothebacksofthechoreboys。Downtheriverandupitstributariesothercrews，bothintheemployofNewmarkandOrdeandofothers，werealsopausingfromtheircoldanddangeroustoil。Theriver，refreshedafteritslongwinter，bentitsmightybacktothegreatannualburdenlaiduponit。

Bytheendoftheseconddaythelogsactuallyinthebedofthestreamhadbeenshakenloose，andalargeproportionofthemhadfloatedentirelyfromsight。Itnowbecamenecessarytobreakdowntherollwayspiledalongthetopsofthebanks。

Theeveningofthisday，however，OrdereceivedavisitfromJimDenning，theforemanofthenextsectionbelow，bringingwithhimCharlie，thecookofDaly’slastyear’sdrive。Leavinghimbythelargerfire，JimDenningdrewhisprincipaloneside。

"Thisfellowdriftedinto—nighttwodayslateafteradrunk，andhetellsanalmightyqueerstory，"saidhe。"HesaysacrewofbadmenfromtheSaginaw，sixtystrong，havebeensentinbyHeinzman。HesaysHeinzmanhiredthemtocomeovernottowork，butjusttofightandannoyus。"

"Thatso？"saidOrde。"Well，wherearethey？"

s。LikeSilverJackoftheMuskegon，hisexploitshadbeencelebratedinsong。Abig，broad—facedman，witharedbeard，theyhadtoldhim，withlittle，flickeringeyes，ahugevoicethatbellowedthroughthewoodsinatorrentofcommandsandimprecations，strongasabull，andsavageasawildbeast。Ahintofhisqualitywillsufficefromthemanystoriescirculatedabouthim。ItwassaidthatwhilejobbingforMorrisonandDaly，insomeofthatfirm’sSaginawValleyholdings，theRoughRedhaddiscoveredthatahorsehadgonelame。

Hecalledthedriverofthatteambeforehim，seizedanironstartingbar，andwithitbroketheman’sleg。"Tryth’lamenessyourself，BarneyMallan，"saidhe。Toappealtothecharityofsuchamanwouldbeutterlyuseless。Ordesawthispoint。Hepickeduphisreinsandspoketohisteam。

Butbeforethehorseshad"Don’tknow。Buthesticksbyhisstory，andtellsitprettystraight。"

"Bringhimover，andlet’shearit，"saidOrde。

"Hullo，Charlie！"hegreetedthecookwhenthelatterstoodbeforehim。"What’sthisyarnJim’stellingme？"

"It’sstraight，Mr。Orde，"saidthecook。"There’sabigcrewbroughtinfromtheSaginawWaterstodoyouup。They’resupposedtobeoverheretorunhisdrive，butreallythey’regoin’tofightandraisehell。Forwhywouldhewantsixtymentobreakoutthemlittlerollwaysofhis’nupattheheadwaters？"

"Isthatwherethey’vegone？"askedOrdelikeaflash。

"Yes，sir。Andheonlyownsa’forty’upthere，anditain’tmore’nhalfcut，anyway。"

"Ididn’tknowheownedany。"

"Yes，sir。HeboughtthatlittleJohnsonpiecelastwinter。Ibeenworkin’uptherewithalittletwo—horsecrewsinceJanuary。Wedidn’tputupmore’nacouplehundredthousand。"

"Ishebreakingouthisrollwaysbelow？"OrdeaskedDenning。

"No，sir，"struckinCharlie，"heain’t。"

"Howdoyouhappentobesowise？"inquiredOrde，"SeemstomeyouknowaboutasmuchasoldmanSolomon。"

"Well，"explainedCharlie，"youseeit’slikethis。WhenIgotbackfromthewoodslastweek，IjustsortofhappenedintoMcNeill’splace。Iwasn’tdrinkin’adrop！"hecriedvirtuously，inanswertoOrde’ssmile。

"Ofcoursenot，"saidOrde。"Iwasjustthinkingofthelasttimewewereintheretogether。"

"That’sjustit！"criedCharlie。"Theywasalwayssoreatyouaboutthat。Well，Iwaslyin’ononeofthosetherebenchesbackofthe’Mericanflagsinthedancehall’causeIwasverysleepy，wheninblewoldmanHeinzmanandMcNeillhimself。Ijustlaylowforblackducksandheardtheirtalk。Theytookalookaround，butdidn’tseenoone，sotheyopenedherupwide。"

"Whatdidyouhear？"askedOrde。

Well，McNeillheagreedtogetagangofbadonesfromtheSaginawtoruninontheriver，andIheardHeinzmantellhimtosend’emintoheadwaters。AndMcNeillsaid，’That’sallrightaboutthecash，Mr。Heinzman，butIbeenfiggerin’ongettin’evenwithOrdeforsomemyself。’"

"Isthatall？"inquiredOrde。

"That’saboutall，"confessedCharlie。

"Howdoyouknowhedidn’thirethemtocarrydownhisdriveforhim？He’dneedsixtymenforhislowerrollways，andmaybetheyweren’talltogotoheadwaters？"askedOrdebywayoftestingCharlie’sbeliefs。

"He’spayin’themfourdollarsaday，"repliedCharliesimply。

"Now，who’dpaythatferjustriverwork？"

OrdenoddedatJimDenning。

"Holdon，Charlie，"saidhe。"WhyareyougivingallthisawayifyouwereworkingforHeinzman？"

"I’mworkingforyounow，"repliedCharliewithdignity。"And，besides，youhelpedmeoutonceyourself。"

Iguessit’sastraighttipallright，"saidOrdetoDenning，whenthecookhadresumedhisplacebythefire。

"Thattakenthreesteps，ahugerivermanhadplantedhimselfsquarelyintheway。Theothersrising，slowlysurroundedtherig。

"Idon’tknowwhatyou’reupherefor，"growledtheman’swhatIthought。That’swhyIbroughthimup。"

"Ifthatcrew’sbeensentinthere，itmeansonlyonethingatthatendoftheline，"saidOrde。

"Sure。They’resentuptowasteoutthewaterinthereservoirandhangthisendofthedrive，"repliedDenning。

"Correct，"saidOrde。"Theoldskunkknowshisownrollwaysaresofardownstreamthathe’ssafe，floodwaterornofloodwater。"

Apauseensued，duringwhichthetwosmokedvigorously。

"Whatareyougoingtodoaboutit？"askedDenningatlast。

"Whatwouldyoudo？"counteredOrde。

"Well，"saidDenningslowly，andwithacertaingrimjoy，"Idon’tbetthoseSaginawriver—pigsareanymoretwo—fistedthantheboysonthisriver。I’dgoupandclean’emout。"

"Won’tdo，"negativedOrdebriefly。"Inthefirstplace，asyouknowverywell，we’reshort—handednow，andwecan’tsparethemenfromthework。Inthesecondplace，we’dhangupsure，then；togoupinthatwilderness，fiftymilesfromcivilisation，wouldmeanafirst—classrowoftoobigasizetohandle。Won’tdo！"

"Supposeyougetalawyer，"suggestedDenningsarcastically。

Ordelaughedwithgreatgood—humour"Where’dourwaterbebythetimehegotaninjunctionforus？"

Hefellintoabrownstudy，duringwhichhispipewentout。

"Jim，"hesaidfinally，"itisn’tafairgame。Idon’tknowwhattodo。Delaywillhangus；takingmenofftheworkwillhangus。I’vejustgottogotiptheremyselfandseewhatcanbedonebytalkingtothem。"

"Talkingtothem！"Denningsnorted。"Youmightaswellwhistledownthedraught—pipeofhell！Ifthey’rejustupthereforarow，there’llbewhiskyincamp；andyoucanbetMcNeill’sgotsomeof’eminstructedonYOURaccount。They’llkillyou，sure！"

"Iagreewithyouit’srisky，"repliedOrde。"I’mscared；I’mwillingtoadmitit。ButIdon’tseewhatelsetodo。Ofcoursehe’sgotnorights，butwhatthehellgooddoesthatdousafterourwaterisgone？AndJim，myson，ifwehangthisdrive，I’llbeburiedsodeepIneverwilldigout。No；I’vegottogo。YoucanstayuphereinchargeoftherearuntilIgetback。SendwordbyCharliewho’stobossyourdivisionwhileyou’regone。"

XXIII

OrdetrampedbacktoSawyer’searlynextmorning，hitchedintothelightbuckboardtheexcellentteamwithwhichlater，whenthedriveshouldspreadout，hewouldmakehislongestjumps，anddrovetohead—waters。Hearrivedinsightofthedamaboutthreeo’clock。

Attheedgeoftheclearinghepulleduptosurveythescene。

Agroupofthreesmalllog—cabinsmarkedtheJohnson，andlatertheHeinzman，camp。Fromthechimneysasmokearose。Twentyorthirtyrivermenloungedaboutthesunnysideofthelargeststructure。

Theyhadevidentlyjustarrived，forsomeoftheir"turkeys"werestillpiledoutsidethedoor。Ordecluckedtohishorses，andthespiderywheelsofthebuckboardswunglightlyoverthewethummocksoftheclearing，tocometoastopoppositethemen。Ordeleanedforwardagainsthisknees。

"Hullo，boys！"saidhecheerfully。

Noonereplied，thoughtwoorthreenoddedsurlily。Ordelookedthemoverwithsomeinterest。

Theywereadirty，unkempt，unshaven，hard—lookinglot，withbloodshoteyes，aflickerofthedare—devilinexpression，beyondthefirstyouth，hardenedintoanenduringtoughnessoffibre——badmenfromtheSaginaw，intruth，and，unlessOrdewasmistaken，menjustoffadrunk，andthereforeespeciallydangerous；meneagertofightatthedropofthehat，orsooner，tobeaccommodating，andreadytoemployintheirassaultsalltheformidableandterrifyingweaponsoftherough—and—tumble；reckless，hard，irreverrent，blasphemous，tobegainedoverbynowords，fairorfoul；absolutelyscornfulofanyandallinstitutionsimposedonthembyanyotherbutthefewmenwhomtheyacknowledgedastheirleaders。Andtomasterthesemen’srespectthereneededeithersuperlativestrength，superlativerecklessness，orsuperlativeskill。

"Who’syourboss？"askedOrde。

"TheRoughRed，"growledoneofthemenwithoutmoving。

Ordehadheardofthisman，ofhispersonalityandhisdeedatthehorses’heads，"butyouwantedtoseetheboss，andIguessyou’dbetterseehim。"

"Iintendtoseehim，"saidOrdesharply。"Getoutofthewayandletmehitchmyteam。"

Hedrovedeliberatelyahead，forcingthemantostepaside，andstoppedhishorsesbyastub。Hetiedthemthereanddescended，toleanhisbackalsoagainstthelogwallsofthelittlehouse。

Afterafewmomentsahugeformappearedabovetheriverbankatsomefortyrods’distance。

"Yonderhecomesnow，"vouchsafedthemannearestOrde。

Ordemadeoutthegreatsquarefigureoftheboss，hissofthat，hisflamingredbeard，hisdingymackinawcoat，hisdingyblack—and—

whitecheckedflannelshirt，hisdingybluetrouserstuckedintohighsocks，and，insteadofdrivingboots，hisordinarylumberman’srubbers。Asaspotofcolour，heworeaflamingredknitsash，withtassels。Beforehehadapproachednearenoughtobeplainlydistinguishable，hebegantobellowatthemen，commandingthem，withamightyarrayofoaths，towakeupandgetthesluice—gateopen。Inamomentorsohehaddisappearedbehindsomebushesthatintervenedinhisapproachtothehouse。Hiscoursethroughthemcouldbetracedbythetopofhiscap，whichjustshowedabovethem。

InamomenthethrustthroughthebrushandstoodbeforeOrde。

Foramomenthestaredattheyoungman，andthen，withawildIrishyell，leapeduponhim。Orde，caughtunawaresandinanawkwardposition，washardlyableeventostruggleagainstthegiganticriverman。Indeed，beforehehadrecoveredhisfacultiestothepointofofferingdeterminedresistance，hewaspinnedbackagainstthewallbyhisshoulders，andtheRoughRed’sfacewaswithintwofeetofhisown。

"Andhowareye，yeoulddarlint？"shoutedthelatter，witharollofoaths。

"Why，JimmyBourke！"criedOrde，andburstintoalaugh。

TheRoughRedjerkedhimtohisfeet，deliveredabearhugthatnearlycrushedhisribs，andpoundedhimmightilyontheback。

"Yououldsnoozer！"hebellowed。"Wheretheblanketyblankinblankdidyoucomefrom？Byes，"heshoutedtothemen，"it’smeouldbossonth’AuSablesixyearback——thattime，yemind，whinwehadth’

icejam！Glorybe！butI’mgladtoseeye！"

Ordewasstilllaughing。

"Ididn’tknowyou’dturnedintotheRoughRed，Jimmy，"saidhe。"I

don’tbelievewewereeitherofusoldenoughforwhiskersthen，werewe？"

TheRoughRedgrinned。

"Thrueforye！"saidhe。"Andwhathaveyebeendoingalltheseyears？"

"That’sjustit，Jimmy，"saidOrde，drawingthegiantoneside，outofear—shot。"Allmyeggsareinonebasket，andit’sameantrickofyoutohireoutforfilthylucretokickthatbasket。"

"Whatdoyemane？"askedtheRoughRed，fixinghistwinklinglittleeyesonOrde。

"Youdon’tmeantotellme，"counteredOrde，glancingdownattheother’srubber—shodfeet，"thatthiscrewhasbeensentupherejusttobreakoutthosemeaslylittlerollways？"

"Thim？"saidtheRoughRed。"Thim？Hell，NO！Thim’smybodyguard。

Theycanlicktheirweightinwildcats，andI’dloikewelltoseethegangofhighbankersthatinfiststhisriverthrytoprythimout。Weweren’tsintheretowurrk；weweresintheretofoight。"

"Fight？Why？"askedOrde。

"Oh，Idunno，"repliedtheRoughRedeasily。"Mebossandtheblankofablankblankedblankthat’sattimptin’todroivethisriverhassomesortofarow。"

"Jimmy，"saidOrde，"didn’tyouknowthatIamthegentlemanlastmentioned？"

"What！"

"I’mdrivingthisriver，andthat’smydam—keeperyou’vegothidawaysomewherehere，andthat’smywateryou’replanningtowaste！"

"What？"repeatedtheRoughRed，butinadifferenttoneofvoice。

"That’sright，"saidOrde。

Inatoneofvastastonishment，theRoughRedmentionedhisprobabledesertsinthefuturelife。

"Lukhere，Jack，"saidheafteramoment，"here’sacrewofwhite—

waterbirlersthatyecan’tbeatnowheres。Whatdoyouwantustodo？We’renowgettin’fourdollarsadayAN’boardfromthatmurderin’ouldvillain，Heinzman，SOWECANAFFORDTOWURRKFORYOU

CHEAP。"

Ordehesitated。

"Oh，pleasedonow，darlint！"wheedledtheRoughRed，hislittleeyesagleamwithmischief。"Sindussomeoakumandpitchandwe’llcaulkyurewaniganforye。Ormaybesomemorepeavies，andwe’llhilpyeonyurerollways。Andtillus，aforeyego，howyewantthisdam，andthat’sthewayshe’llbe。Come，now，dear！andain’tyeshort—handednow？"

Ordeslappedhiskneeandlaughed。

"Thisissureonehellofajoke！"hecried。

"Andain’titnow？"saidtheRoughRed，smilingwithasmuchingratiationashewasable。

"I’lltakeyouboyson，"saidOrdeatlast，"attheusualwages——

dollarandahalfforthejam，threefortherear。Idoubtifyou’llseemuchofHeinzman’smoneywhenthisleaksout。"

XXIV

ThusOrde，bythesheergoodluckthatsometimesfavoursmenengagedinlargeenterprises，notonlyfrustratedaplanlikelytobringfailuretohisinterests，butfilleduphiscrews。Itmayberemarkedhere，aswellaslater，thatthe"terrorsoftheSaginaw"

stayedwiththedrivetoitsfinish，andprovedreliableandtractableineveryparticular。Ordescatteredthemjudiciously，sotherewasnofrictionwiththelocalmen。TheRoughRedheretainedontherear。

Herethebreakingoftherollwayshadreachedastagemoreexcitingbothtoonlookerandparticipantthanthemereopeningoftheriverchannel。Hugestacksoflogspiledsidewisetothebanklinedthestreamformiles。Whenthelowermostlogontheriversidewasteasedandpriedout，theuppertierswereapttocascadedownwitharoar，acrash，andasplash。Themanwhohaddonethepryinghadtobeveryquick—eyed，verycool，andveryagiletoavoidbeingburiedunderthetonsoftimberthatrusheddownonhim。Onlythemostreliablemenwerepermittedatthisinitialbreakingdown。

Afterwardsthecrewrolledinwhatlogsremained。

TheRoughRed’senormousstrength，dare—devilspirit，andnimblenessofbodymadehiminvaluableatthisdangerouswork。Orde，too，oftentookahandinsomeofthemoreticklishsituations。Inolddays，beforehehadattainedthepositionofresponsibilitythatraisedthevalueofhistimebeyondmanualwork，hehadbeenoneofthebestmenontheriveratbreakingbankrollways。Aslim，graceful，handsomeboyoftwenty，knownas"RollwayCharlie，"alsodistinguishedhimselfbythequicknessandcertaintyofhiswork。

Oftenthemenstandingnearlostsightofhimentirelyinthespray，theconfusion，theblurofthebreakingrollways，untilitseemedcertainhemusthaveperished。Nevertheless，alwaysheappearedatrightorleft，sometimesevenonalogastream，nonchalant，smiling，escapedeasilyfromthedestructivepowerhehadloosed。Onceinthestreamthelogsrantheirappointedcourse，watchedbythemenwhoherdedthemontheirway。Andbelow，fromthetributaries，fromtheotherrollwaysanever—endingprocessionofrecruitsjoinedthisgreatbrownarmyonitswaytothelake，untilformilesandmilestheriverwasalmostasolidmassoflogs。

Thecrewsonthevariousbeatsnowhadtheirhandsfulltokeepthelogsrunning。Theslightestcheckatanyonepointmeantajam，fortherewasnowayofstoppingtheunendingprocession。Thelogsbehindfloatedgentlyagainsttheobstructionandcametorest。Thebrownmassthickened。Asfarastheeyecouldreachthesurfaceofthewaterwasconcealed。Andthen，astheslowpressuredevelopedfromthethreeorfourmilesoflogsforcedagainsteachotherbythepushingofthecurrent，thebreastofthejambegantorise。

Timbersup—ended，crossed，interlocked，slidoneovertheother，mountedhigherandhigherintheformidablegameofjack—strawsthelossofwhichspelleddeathtotheplayers。

Immediately，andwithfeverishactivity，themennearestathandattackedthework。Logsontoptheytumbledandrolledintothecurrentbelow。Menbeneaththebreasttuggedandpriedinsearchofthekeylogscausingallthetrouble。Others"flattenedoutthewings，"hopingtogeta"draw"aroundtheends。Asthestoppageofthedriveindicatedtothemenupanddownstreamthatajamhadformed，theygatheredatthescene——thosefromaboveoverthelogs，thosefrombelowuptherivertrail。

Rarely，unlessincaseofunusualcomplications，didittakemorethanafewhoursatmosttobreakthejam。Thebreastofitwentoutwitharush。Moreslowlythewingssuckedin。Reluctantlythemassfloatingonthesurfaceformilesupstreamstirred，silentlymovedforward。Forafewminutesitwasnecessarytowatchcarefullyuntiltheflowonwardsteadieditself，untilthecongestionhadspacedandorderedasbefore。Thenthemenmovedbacktotheirposts；thedrivewasresumed。Atnighttheriverwasnecessarilylefttoitsowndevices。Rivermen，withthetouchofsuperstitioninseparablyconnectedwithsuchaffairs，believeimplicitlythat"logsrunfreeatnight。"Certainly，thoughitmightbeexpectedthateachmorningwouldrevealabigjamtobreak，suchwasrarelythecase。Thelogshadusuallystopped，tobesure，butgenerallyinsopeacefulasituationaseasilytobestartedonbyafewminutes’work。Probablythiswasbecausetheytendedtocometorestintheslow，stillreachesoftheriver，throughwhich，indaytime，theywouldbeurgedbytherivermen。

Jamsontheriver，contrarytogeneralbelief，areofverycommonoccurrence。Throughoutthelengthofthedrivetherewereprobablythreeorfourhang—upsaday。Eachofthesehadtobebroken，andinthebreakingwasdanger。Thesmallestmisstep，theleastslownessinreadingthesignsofthebreak，theslightestlackofpromptnessinactingonthehintorofagilityinleapingfromonetotheotheroftheplungingtimbers，thefaintestflickerfromrigidattentiontotheantagonistcrouchingonthespring，wouldmeaninstantdeathtothedelinquent。Thusitwasliterallytruethateachoneofthesemenwascalleduponalmostdailytowagerhispersonalskillagainsthisdestruction。

Inthemeantimetherearwas"sacking"itswayasfastaspossible，movingcampwiththewaniganwhenevernecessary，workingveryhardandverycoldandverylong。Initswork，however，beyondthebreakingoftherollways，waslittleofthespectacular。