第15章

Theboomerangworkedlikeacharm。Themenhadbeengrumblingatanapparentlypeacefulyieldingofthepointatissue，andwouldhavesackedoutmanyoftheblazedlogsifOrdehadnotheldthemrigidlytoit。Nowtheirspiritsflamedintojoyagain。Thesortingwentlikeclockwork。Orde，inpersonalcharge，watchedthatthroughthedifferentopeningsinhis"boomerang"the"H"logswereshuntedintotheriver。Shortlythechannelwasfulloflogsfloatingmerrilyawaydownthelittlebluewavelets。AfterawhileOrdehandedoverhisjobtoTomNorth。

"Can’tstanditanylonger，boys，"saidhe。"I’vegottogodownandseehowtheDutchmanismakingit。"

"Comebackandtellus！"yelledoneofthecrew。

"YoubetIwill！"Ordeshoutedback。

HedrovetheteamandbuckboarddownthemarshroadtoHeinzman’smill。Therehefoundevidencesofthewildestexcitement。Themillhadbeencloseddown，andallthementurnedintorescuelogs。

Boatspliedinalldirections。Atugdartedbackandforth。

Constantlythenumberoffloatinglogsaugmented，however。Manyhadalreadygoneby。

"Ifyouthinkyou’rebusynow，"saidOrdetohimselfwithachuckle，"justwaituntilyoubegintogetLOGS。"

Hewatchedforafewmomentsinsilence。

"What’shedoingwiththattug？"thoughthe。"O—ho！He’sstringingboomsacrosstherivertoholdthewholeoutfit。"

Helaughedaloud，turnedhisteamabout，anddrovefranticallybacktothebooms。Everyfewmomentshechuckled。Hiseyesdanced。

Hardlycouldhewaittogetthere。Onceatthecamp，heleapedfromthebuckboard，withashouttothestableman，andranrapidlyoutovertheboomstowherethesortingof"H"logswasgoingmerrilyforward。

"He’sshutdownhismill，"shoutedOrde，"andhe’sgotallthatgangofhighbankersout，andeveryoldrum—blossominMonrovia，andIbetifyousay’logs’tohim，he’dchasehistailincircles。"

"Wantthisjob？"Northaskedhim。

"No，"saidOrde，suddenlyfallensolemn，"haven’ttime。I’mgoingtotakeMarshandtheSPRITEandgototown。OldHeinzman，"headdedasanafterthought，"isstringingboomsacrosstheriver——

obstructingnavigation。"

Herandownthelengthofthewholeboomtowherelaythetwotugs。

"Marsh，"hecalledwhenstillsomedistanceaway，"gotupsteam？"

Thereappearedashort，square，blue—cladman，withhardbrowncheeks，aheavybleachedflaxenmoustache，andeyessteady，unwavering，andasblueasthesky。

"Upintwominutes，"heanswered，anddescendedfromthepilothousetoshoutdownalowdoorleadingfromthedeckintotheengineroom。

"Harvey，"hecommanded，"fireherup！"

Atall，good—naturednegroreachedtheupperhalfofhisbodyfromthelowdoortoseizeanarmfuloftheslabspiledalongthenarrowdeck。TenminuteslatertheSPRITE，acloudofwhitesmokepouringfromherfunnel，wascareeningdownthestretchoftheriver。

CaptainMarshguidedhisenergeticchargeamongthelogsfloatinginthestreamwiththemarvelloussecondinstinctoftheexperttugboatman。Awhirlofthewheeltotheright，aturntotheleft——thecraftheeledstronglyundertheforcingofherpowerfulruddertoavoidbyanarm’s—lengthsometimbersfairlyflungasidebythewash。Thedisplacementoftherapidrunningseemedalmosttopressthewaterabovethelevelofthedeckoneithersideandabouttenfeetfromthegunwale。Asthelowmarshesandcat—tailsflewpast，Ordenotedwithsatisfactionthatmanyofthelogs，urgedonesidebythebreeze，hadfoundlodgmentamongthereedsandinthebayousandinlets。Oneatatime，andpainfully，thesewouldhavetobesalvaged。

Inashorttimethemills’tallsmokestacksloomedinsight。ThelogsthickeneduntilitwaswithdifficultythatCaptainMarshcouldthreadhiswayamongthematall。ShortlyOrde，standingbythewheelinthepilot—house，couldseedownthestretchesoftheriveracrowdofmenworkingantlike。

"They’vegot’emstopped，"commentedOrde。"Lookatthatgangworkingfromboats！Theyhaven’tadozen’corkboots’among’em。"

"Whatdoyouwantmetodo？"askedCaptainMarsh。

"Thisisanavigableriver，isn’tit？"repliedOrde。"Runthrough！"

Marshrangforhalf—speedandbegantonosehiswaygentlythroughthelooselyfloatinglogs。Soonthetughadreachedthesceneofactivity，andheadedstraightfortheslenderlineofboomshitchedendtoendandstretchingquiteacrosstheriver。

"I’mafraidwe’lljustrideoverthemifwehitthemtooslow，"

suggestedMarsh。

Ordelookedathiswatch。

"We’llbelateforthemailunlesswehurry，"saidhe。Marshwhirledthespokesofhiswheeloverandrangtheengine—roombell。

Thewaterchurnedwhitebehind，thetugcareened。

"Vatyoudo！Stop！"criedHeinzmanfromoneoftheboatse，hisheadstilloutthedoor，lookedback。"Slowdown，Marsh，"

saidhe。"Let’sseetheshow。"Alreadythelogscaughtbytheboomshadtakentheirmotionandhadsweptpasttheopening。

AlthoughthelonesometugHeinzmanhadontheworkimmediatelypickeduponeendofthebrokenboom，andwithitstartedoutintotheriver，shefounddifficultyinmakingheadwayagainstthesweepofthelogs。Afteralongstruggleshereachedthemiddleoftheriver，whereshewasabletoholdherown。

"Wonderwhatnext？"speculatedOrde。"Howaretheygoingtogettheotherendoftheboomsoutfromtheotherbank？"

CaptainMarshhadreversedtheSPRITE。Thetuglaynearlymotionlessamidstream，herpropellerslowlyrevolving。

Upriverallthesmallboatsgatheredinaline，connectedonetotheotherbyarope。Thetugpassedovertothemthecableattachedtotheboom。Evidentlythecombinedeffortsoftherowboatswerecou。

Ordestuckhisheadfromthepilot—housedoor。

"You’reobstructingnavigation！"heyelled。"I’vegottogototowntobuyapostage—stamp。"

Theprowofthetug，accuratelyaimedbyMarsh，hitsquareinthejunctionoftwoofthebooms。Immediatelythewaterwasagitatedonbothsidesandforahundredfeetorsobythepressureofthelongpolessidewise。Thereensuedamomentofstrain；thenthelinkssnapped，andtheSPRITEplungedjoyouslythroughtheopening。Thebooms，sweptasidebythecurrent，floatedtoeithershore。Theriverwasopen。

Ordntedontoholdthehalf—boomacrossthecurrentwhilethetugbroughtouttheotherhalf。Whenthetugdroppedthecable，Ordelaughed。

"NobodybutaDutchmanwouldhavethoughtofthat！"hecried。"Nowforthefun！"

Immediatelytheweightfellonthesmallboats，theyweredraggedirresistiblybackward。EvenfromadistancethethreemenontheSPRITEcouldmakeoutthewhite—waterastheoarssplashedandchurnedandfranticallycaughtcrabsinavainefforttoholdtheirown。Marshloweredhistelescope，thetearsstreamingdownhisface。

"It’sbetterthanagoatfight，"saidhe。

Futilelyprotesting，therowboatsweredraggedbackward，turnedasawhipissnapped，andstrungoutalongthebankbelow。

"They’llhavetohavetwotugsbeforetheycanclosethebreakthatway，"commentedOrde。

"Surething，"repliedCaptainMarsh。

Butatthatmomentablacksmokerolledupoverthemarshes，andshortlyaroundthebendfromabovecametheLUCYBELLE。

TheLUCYBELLEwasthemainexcuseforcallingtherivernavigable。

ShemadetripsasoftenasshecouldbetweenReddingandMonrovia。

Inluck，shecouldcoverthefortymilesinaday。Itwasnounusualthing，however，fortheLUCYBELLEtohangupindefinitelyonsomeoneofthenumerousshiftingsandbars。Forthatreasonshecarriedmoreimperishablefreightthanpassengers。Inappearanceshewastwo—storied，withtwinsmokestacks，anironIndianonhertop，anda"splutter—bmysteriousheralwaysfathomlesseyes。ToOrdesheseemedfragile，aloof，enshrinedamongherlacesanddaintyribbons。

Hardlydaredhetouchherwhensheheldherhandouttohimweakly，butfellonhiskneesbesidethebedandburiedhisfaceintheclothes。Sheplacedagentlehandcaressioappreciatesyou！"shecried，possessingherselfoftheinfant。"He’sabeautifulbaby；oneofthebest—lookingnew—bornbabiesIeversaw！"

Ordeescapedtotheopenair。Hehadtogototheofficetoattendtosomedetailsofthebusiness。Witheverystephiselationincreased。Attheofficehethrewopenhisdeskwithaslam。

Newmarkjumpednervouslyandfrowned。Orde’sbig，open，andbrusquemannersbotheredhimastheywouldhavebotheredacat。

"Gotasonandheiroveratmyplace，"calledOrdeinhisbigvoice。

"Thisoldfirm’sgottorustlenow，Itellyou。"

"Congratulateyou，I’msure，"saidNewmarkehind"paddle—wheel。

"Therecomeshishelp，"saidOrde。"OldSimpsonwouldstoptopickupabogusthree—centpiece。"

Sureenough，onhailfromoneoftherowboats，theLUCYBELLEsloweddownandstopped。Afterashortconference，shesteamedclumsilyovertogetholdofoneendofthebooms。Thetugtooktheother。

Intime，andbydintofmuchsplashing，somecollisions，andseveralattempts，theendsoftheboomswereunited。

Bythistime，however，nearlyallthelogshadescaped。Thetug，towingastringofrowboats，setoutinpursuit。

TheSPRITEcontinuedonherwayuntilbeyondsight。Thenshesloweddownagain。TheLUCYBELLEchurnedaroundthebend，andturnedintowardthetug。

"She’sgoingtospeakus，"marvelledOrde。"Iwonderwhatthedickensshewants。"

"Tugahoy！"bellowedared—facedindividualfromtheupperdeck。Hewasdressedinblueandbrassbuttons，carriedatelescopeinonehand，andwasliberallyfestoonedwithgoldbraidandembroideredanchors。

"Answerhim，"OrdecommandedMarsh。

"Hullothere，commodore！whatisit？"repliedthetugcaptain。

Thered—facedfigureglareddownforamoment。

"TheywantatugupthereatHeinzman’s。Canyougo？"

"Sure！"criedMarsh，choking。

TheLUCYBELLEsheeredoffmagnificently。

"Whatdoyouthinkofthat？"MarshaskedOrde。

"Thecommodorealwaysactsasifthatoldraftwasasixty—gunfrigate，"wasOrde’snon—committalanswer。"Headupstreamagain。"

HeinzmansawtheSPRITEcoming，androwedoutfrantically，splashingateverystrokeandyellingwitheverybreath。

"Don’tyougothroughthere！Vaitaminute！Stop，Itellyou！"

"Holdup！"saidOrdetoMarsh。

Heinzmanrowedalongside，droppedhisoarsandmoppedhisbrow。

"Vatyoudo？"hedemandedheatedly。

"Iforgotthemoneytobuymystampwith，"saidOrdesweetly。"I’mgoingbacktogetit。"

"Notthroughmypooms！"criedHeinzman。

"Mr。Heinzman，"saidOrdeseverely，"youareobstructinganavigablestream。Iamdoingbusiness，andIcannotbeinterferedwith。"

"Butmylogs！"criedtheunhappymillman。

"Ihavenothingtodowithyourlogs。Youaredrivingyourownlogs，"Orderemindedhim。

Heinzmanvituperatedandpoundedthegunwale。

"Goahead，Marsh！"saidOrde。

Thetuggatheredway。SoonHeinzmanwasforcedtoletgo。Forasecondtimethechainsweresnapped。OrdeandMarshlookedbackoverthechurningwakeleftbytheSPRITE。Theseveredendsoftheboomswereswingingbacktowardeithershore。Betweenthemfloatedarowboat。Intherowboatgesticulatedapudgyman。Theriverwaswellsprinkledwithlogs。Evidentlythesortingwasgoingonwell。

"Mayaswellgobacktotheworks，"saidOrde。"Hewon’tstringthemtogetheragainto—day——notifhewaitsforthattughesentSimpsonfor。"

Accordingly，theyreturnedtothebooms，whereworkwassuspendedwhileOrdedetailedtoanappreciativeaudiencethehappeningsbelow。Thistickledthemenimmensely。

"Why，wehain’tsortedoutmore’namillionfeetofhislogs，"criedRollwayCharlie。"Hehain’tSEENnologsyet！"

Theyturnedwithnewenthusiasmtotheworkofshunting"H"logsintothechannel。

Intenminutes，however，thestablemanpickedhiswayoutovertheboomswithamessageforOrde。

Mr。Heinzman’sashore，andwantstoseeyou，"saidhe。

OrdeandJimDenningexchangedglances。

"’Coon’scomedown，"saidthelatter。

Ordefoundthemillmanpacingrestlesslyupanddownbeforeasteamingpairofhorses。Newmark，perchedonastump，wassurveyinghimsardonicallyandchewingtheendofanunlightedcigar。

"Hereyoupothare！"burstoutHeinzman，whenOrdesteppedashore。

"Now，thismuststop。Imustnotlosemylogs！Vatisyourprobosition？"

NewmarkbrokeinquicklybeforeOrdecouldspeak。

"I’vetoldMr。Heinzman，"saidhe，"thatwewouldsortanddelivertherestofhislogsfortwodollarsathousand。"

"Thatwillbeaboutit，"agreedOrde。

"But，"explodedHeinzman，"thatisasmuchasyouagreettodriveanddeliffermywholecut！"

"Precisely，"saidNewmark。

"PutIhafalltheeggspenceofdrivingthelogsmyself。WhyshoultIpayyoufordoingwhatIhafalrettypaidtohafdone？"

Ordechuckled。

"Heinzman，"saidhe，"ItoldyouI’dmakeyouscratchgravel。Nowit’stimetotalkbusiness。Youthoughtyouwereboringwithamightyauger，butit’stimetorevise。Wearen’tforcedtobotherwithyourlogs，andyou’reluckytogetoutsoeasy。IfIturnyourwholedriveintotheriver，you’lllosemorethanhalfofitoutright，andit’llcostyouaheaptosalvagetherest。Andwhat’smore，I’llturn’eminbeforeyoucangetholdofapile—driver。

I’llsortnightandday，"hebluffed，"andbyto—morrowmorningyouwon’thaveastickoftimberabovemybooms。"Helaughedagain。

"Youwanttogetdowntobusinessalmightysudden。"

WhenfinallyHeinzmanhaddrivensadlyaway，andthewholedrive，"H"logsincluded，waspouringintothemainboom，Ordestretchedhisarmsoverhisheadinaluxuryofsatisfaction。

"Thatjustaboutsettlesthatcampaign，"hesaidtoNewmark。

"Oh，no，itdoesn’t，"repliedthelatterdecidedly。

"Why？"askedOrde，surprised。"Youdon’timaginehe’lldoanythingmore？"

"No，butIwill，"saidNewmark。

XXVII

Earlyinthefallthebabywasborn。Itprovedtobeaboy。Orde，nervousasacataftertheordealofdoingnothing，tiptoedintothedarkenedroom。Hefoundhiswifeweakandpale，herdarkhairframingherface，anewlookofraptinnercontemplationrenderingevenmorenglyonhishead。

Sotheyremainedforsometime。Finallyheraisedhiseyes。Sheheldherlipstohim。Hekissedthem。

"Itseemssortofmake—believeevenyet，sweetheart，"shesmiledathimwhimsically，"thatwehaveareal，livebabyallofourown。"

"Likeotherpeople，"saidOrde。

"Notlikeotherpeopleatall！"shedisclaimed，withashowofindignation。

GrandmaOrdebroughtthenewcomerinforOrde’sinspection。Helookedgravelydownonthepuckered，discolouredbitofhumanitywithsomefeelingofdisappointment，andperhapsafaintuneasiness。

Afteramomenthevoicedthelatter。

"Is——doyouthink——thatis——"hehesitated，"doesthedoctorsayhe’sgoingtobeallright？"

"Allright！"criedGrandmaOrdeindignantly。"I’dliketoknowifheisn’tallrightnow！Whatintheworlddoyouexpectofanew—

bornbaby？"

ButCarrollwaslaughingsoftlytoherselfonthebed。Sheheldoutherarmsforthebaby，andcuddleditclosetoherbreast。

"He’salittledarling，"shecrooned，"andhe’sgoingtogrowupbigandstrong，justlikehisdaddy。"Sheputhercheekagainstthesleepingbabe’sandlookedupsidewiseatthetwostandingaboveher。"ButIknowhowyoufeel，"shesaidtoherhusband。"Whentheyfirstshowedhimtome，Ithoughthelookedlikeapeanutathousandyearsold。"

GrandmaOrdefairlysnortedwithindignation。

"Cometoyouroldgrandmother，whrathershortly。"Mrs。

Ordeisdoingwell，Ihope？"

"Fine，fine！"criedOrde。

Newmarkdroppedthesubjectandplungedintoabusinessmatter。

Orde’sattention，however，wasflighty。Afteralittlewhileheclosedhisdeskwithanotherbang。

"Nouse！"saidhe。"Gottomakeitavacation。I’mgoingtorunovertoseehowthefamilyis。"

Strangelyenough，theyoungcouplehadnotdiscussedbeforethequestionofaname。Oneeveningattwilight，whenOrdewasperchedatthefootofthebed，Carrollbroughtupthesubject。

"Heoughttobenamedforyou，"shebegantimidly。"Iknowthat，Jack，andI’dlovetohaveanotherJackOrdeinthefamily；but，dear，I’vebeenthinkingaboutfather。He’sapoor，forlornoldman，whodoesn’tgetmuchoutoflife。Anditwouldpleasehimso——

oh，morethanyoucanimaginesuchathingcouldpleaseanybody！"

Shelookedupathimdoubtfully。Ordesaidnothing，butwalkedaroundthebedtowherethebabylayinhislittlecradle。Heleanedoverandtooktheinfantupinhisgingerlyawkwardfashion。

"Howareyouto—day，BobbyOrde？"heinquiredoftheblinkingmite。

XXVIII

ThefirstseasonoftheBoomCompanywasmostsuccessful。Itsprospectsforthefuturewerebright。Thedrivehadbeendeliveredtoitsvariousownersatapricebelowwhatithadcostthemseverally，andwithoutthenecessaryattendantbother。Therefore，theloggerswereonlytoowillingtorenewtheircontractsforanotheryear。ThisdidnotsatisfyNewmark，however。

"Whatwewant，"hetoldOrde，"isachartergivingusexclusiverightsontheriver，andauthorisingustoasktoll。I’mgoingtotryandgetoneoutofthelegislature。"

HedepartedforLansingassoonastheAssemblyopened，andalmostimmediatelybecamelostinoneofthosefiercestrugglesofpoliticsnotlessbitterbecauseconcealed。Heinzmanwasalreadyontheground。

Newmarkhadtheshadowofrightonhisside，forheappliedforthecharteronthebasisoftheriverimprovementsalreadyputinbyhisfirm。Heinzman，however，possessedmuchpoliticalinfluence，adeepknowledgeofthesubterraneanworkingsofplotandcounterplot，anda"barrel。"Althougharmedwithanapparentlyincontestablelegalright，Newmarksoonfoundhimselffightingonthedefensive。

Heinzmanwantedtheimprovementsalreadyexistingcondemnedandsoldasapublicutilitytothehighestbidder。Heofferedfurtherguaranteesastofutureimprovements。Inadditionwereotherandmorepotentargumentsprofferedbehindcloseddoors。Manycasesresolvedthemselvesintoabaldquestionofcash。Othersdemandeddiplomacy。Jobs，fatcontracts，businessfavours，influencewereallflungoutfreely——bribesasabsoluteasthoughstampedwiththedollarmark。NewspapersallovertheStatewerepressedintoservice。These，boughtupbyHeinzmanandhisprospectivepartnersinalucrativebusiness，spokevirtuouslyofprivatepiracyofwhatarenowcalledpublicutilities，theexploitingofthepeople’snaturalwealths，andalltherestofaspeciousreasoningthemoreconvincinginthatitwasinmanyothercasesonlytootrue。Theindependentjournals，uninformedoftherightsofthecase，eitherremainedsilentonthematter，orgropedinapuzzledandundecidedmanneronbothsides。

AgainstthissecretbuteffectiveorganisationNewmarkmostunexpectedlyfoundhimselfpitted。Hehadanticipatedbeingabsentbutaweek；hebecameinvolvedinanaffairofmonths。

Withdecisionheappliedhimselftotheproblem。Hetookroomsatthehotel，sentforOrde，andbeganatoncetosetinmotionthemachineryofopposition。Therefreshedresourcesofthecompanywerestrainedtothebreakingpointinordertoraisemoneyforthisnewcampaignopeningbeforeit。Orde，returningtoLansingafteratripdevotedtothecarryingoutofNewmark’sdirectionsastofinances，wasdismayedatthetangleofstrategyandcross—strategy，innuendo，vagueandformlesscobwebforcesbywhichhewassurrounded。Hecouldmakenothingofthem。Theybrushedhisface，hefelttheirinfluence，yethecouldplacehisfingeronnotangibleandcomprehensiblesolidity。Amongthesedelicateandcomplicatedcross—currentsNewmarkmovedsilent，cold，secret。Heseemedtounderstandthem，toplaywiththem，tomanipulatethemaselementsofthegame。Abovethemwasthehollowshockoftheostensiblebattle——thespeeches，theloudtalkinlobbies，thenewspapervirtue，indignation，accusations；buttherealstrugglewashereinthefurtiveways，inwhisperedwordsdeliveredhastilyaside，inhotelhallsonthewaytoandfromthestairs，behindcloseddoorsofroomswithoutopentransoms。

Ordeincomicdespairacknowledgedthatitwasall"toodeepforhim。"Nevertheless，itwassoonborneinonhimthatthenewcompanywasstrugglingforitsveryrighttoexistence。Ithadbeendoingthatfromthefirst；butnow，toOrdethefight，theexistence，hadanewimportance。Thecompanyuptothispointhadbeenaschememerely，anexperimentthatmightwinorlose。Now，withthehistoryofadrivebehindit，ithadbecomealivingentity。Ordewouldhavefoughtagainstitsdissolutionashewouldhavefoughtagainstamurder。Yethehadpracticallytostandoneside，watchingNewmark’sslender，gray—clad，tensefigureglidinghereandthere，moresilent，morereserved，morewatchfuleveryday。

Thefightenduredthroughmostofthefirsthalfofthesession。

WhenfinallyitbecameevidenttoHeinzmanthatNewmarkwouldwin，hemadetheissueoftollratestheditchofhislastresistance，tryingtoforcelegalchargessolowastoeatuptheprofits。Atthelast，however，thebillpassedtheboard。Thecompanyhaditscharter。

AtwhatpriceonlyNewmarkcouldhavetold。Hehadfoughtwiththetenseearnestnessofthenervoustemperamentthatfightstowinwithoutcountofthecost。Thefirmwasestablished，butitwasasheavilyindebtasitscreditwouldstand。Newmarkhimself，thoughascalmandreservedandpreciseasever，seemedtohaveturnedgray，andoneofhiseyelidshadacquiredaslightnervoustwitchwhichpersistedforsomemonths。Hetookhisseatatthedesk，however，ascalmlyasever。Inthreedaysthescandalisedhowlsofbriberyandcorruptionhadgivenplaceinthenewspaperstosomeothersensation。

"Joe，"saidOrdetohispartner，"howaboutallthistalk？Istherereallyanythinginit？Youhaven’tgoneinforthatbusiness，haveyou？"

Newmarkstretchedhisarmswearily。

"Pressboughtup，"hereplied。"IknowforafactthatoldStanfordgotfivehundreddollarsfromsomeoftheHeinzmaninterests。I

couldhaveswunghimbackforanextrahundred，butitwasn’tworthwhile。Theyhowlbriberyatustodistractattentionfromtheirownperformances。"

WiththisevasivereplyOrdecontentedhimself。Whetheritsatisfiedhimorwhetherhewasloathtopursuethesubjectfurtheritwouldbeimpossibletosay。

"It’scostusplenty，anyway，"hesaid，afteramoment。"Theproposition’sgotaloadonit。Itwilltakeusalongtimetogetoutofdebt。Theriverdrivingwon’tpayquitesobigaswethoughtitwould，"heconcluded，witharuefullittlelaugh。

"Itwillpayplentywellenough，"repliedNewmarkdecidedly，"anditgivesusavantagepointtoworkfrom。Youdon’tsupposewearegoingtoquitatriverdriving，doyou？Wewanttolookaroundforsometimberofourown；there’swherethebigmoneyis。Andperhapswecanbuyaschoonerortwoandgointothecarryingtrade——thecountry’salivewithopportunity。NewmarkandOrdemeanssomethingtothesefellowsnow。Wecanhaveanythingwewant，ifwejustreachoutforit。"

Histhinfigure，ordinarilyslightlyaskew，hadstraightened；hissteel—gray，impersonaleyeshadlitupbehindthebowedglassesandwereseeingthingsbeyondthewallatwhichtheygazed。Ordelookedupathimwithasuddenadmiration。

"You’rethebrainsofthisconcern，"saidhe。

"We’llgeton，"repliedNewmark，thefiredyingfromhiseyes。

XXIX

InthecourseofthenexteightyearsNewmarkandOrdefloatedhighonthatfloodofapparentprosperitythatattendsabusinesswellconceivedandpassablywellmanaged。TheBoomandDrivingCompanymademoney，ofcourse，forwiththemarginoffiftypercentorthereaboutsnecessitatedbythetemporaryvalueoftheimprovements，goodyearscouldhardlyfailtobringgoodreturns。This，itwillberemembered，wasastockcompany。Withtheprofitsfromthatbusinessthetwomenembarkedonaseparatecopartnership。Theymademoneyatthis，too，buttheburdenofdebtnecessitatedbynewventures，constantlyweightedbytheheavyinterestdemandedatthattime，keptaffairsontheraggededge。

Inaddition，bothOrdeandNewmarkweremoreinclinedtoextensionofintereststhanto"playingsafe。"Theassetsgainedinoneventurewerepromptlypledgedtoanother。Theramificationsofdebt，property，mortgages，andexpectationsoverlappedeachotherinacobwebofinterests。

Ordelivedateaseinanewhouseofsomesizesurroundedbygrounds。Hekepttwoservants：abloodedteamofhorsesdrewthesuccessortotheoriginalbuckboard。Newmarkownedasailyachtoffiveorsixtons，inwhich，quitesolitary，hetookhisonlypleasure。Bothwereconsideredmenofsubstanceandproperty，asindeedtheywere。Only，theyriskeddollarstogainthousands。A

successionofbadyears，apanic—contractionofmoneymarkets，anyoneofadozenpossible，thoughnotprobable，contingencieswouldrenderitdifficulttomeettheobligationswhichconstantlycamedue，andwhichNewmarkkeptbusydevisingwaysandmeansofmeeting。

Ifthingswentwell——anditmayberemarkedthatlegitimatelytheyshould——NewmarkandOrdewouldsomedayberatedamongthemillionairefirms。Ifthingswentill，bankruptcycouldnotbeavoided。Therewasnomiddleground。NorwereOrdeandhispartneruniqueinthis；practicallyeveryfirmthendevelopingorexploitingthenaturalresourcesofthecountryfounditselfinthesamecase。

ImmediatelyafterthegrantingofthechartertodrivetheriverthepartnershadofferedthemanopportunityofacquiringaboutthirtymillionfeetoftimberremainingfromMorrisonandDaly’soriginalholdings。ThatfirmwasveryanxioustobegindevelopmentonalargescaleofitsBeesonLakepropertiesintheSaginawwaters。

DalyproposedtoOrdethathetakeovertheremnant，andhavingconfidenceintheyoungman’sabilities，agreedtolethimhaveitonlong—timenotes。AfterseveralconsultationswithNewmark，Ordefinallycompletedthepurchase。Belowtheboomstheyerectedamill，themachineryforwhichtheyhadalsoboughtofDaly，atRedding。ThefollowingwinterOrdespentinthewoods。Byspringhehadbanked，readytodrive，aboutsixmillionfeet。