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〃You don't like him；〃 he stated。
〃I don't dislike him；〃 said Carroll。 〃I've not a thing against him。
But we could never be in the slightest degree sympathetic。 He and I
don'tdon't〃
〃Don't jibe；〃 Orde finished for her。 〃I didn't much think you
would。 Joe never was much of a society bug。〃 It was on the tip of
Carroll's tongue to reply that 〃society bugs〃 were not the only sort
she could appreciate； but she refrained。 She had begun to realise
the extent of her influence over her husband's opinion。
Newmark did not live at the hotel。 Early in the fall he had rented
a small one…story house situated just off Main Street； set well back
from the sidewalk among clumps of oleanders。 Into this he retired
as a snail into its shell。 At first he took his meals at the hotel；
but later he imported an impassive； secretive man…servant； who took
charge of him completely。 Neither master nor man made any friends；
and in fact rebuffed all advances。 One Sunday； Carroll and Orde；
out for a walk； passed this quaint little place； with its picket
fence。
〃Let's go in and return Joe's call；〃 suggested Orde。
Their knock at the door brought the calm valet。
〃Mr。 Newmark is h'out； sir；〃 said he。 〃Yes； sir； I'll tell him that
you called。〃
They turned away。 As they sauntered down the little brick…laid
walk； Carroll suddenly pressed close to her husband's arm。
〃Jack；〃 she begged； 〃I want a little house like that； for our very
own。〃
〃We can't afford it； sweetheart。〃
〃Not to own；〃 she explained； 〃just to rent。 It will be next best to
having a home of our own。〃
〃We'd have to have a girl； dear；〃 said Orde； 〃and we can't even
afford that； yet。〃
〃A girl！〃 cried Carroll indignantly。 〃For us two！〃
〃You couldn't do the housework and the cooking；〃 said Orde。 〃You've
never done such a thing in your life； and I won't have my little
girl slaving。〃
〃It won't be slaving； it will be funjust like play…housekeeping；〃
protested Carroll。 〃And I've got to learn some time。 I was brought
up most absurdly； and I realise it now。〃
〃We'll see；〃 said Orde vaguely。
The subject was dropped for the time being。 Later Carroll brought
it up again。 She was armed with several sheets of hotel stationery；
covered with figures showing how much cheaper it would be to keep
house than to board。
〃You certainly make out a strong caseon paper；〃 laughed Orde。 〃If
you buy a rooster and a hen； and she raises two broods； at the end
of a year you'll have twenty…six； and if they all breedeven
allowing half roostersyou'll have over three hundred； and if they
all breed； you'll have about thirty…five hundred； and if〃
〃Stop！ stop！〃 cried Carroll； covering her ears。
〃All right；〃 agreed Orde equably； 〃but that's the way it figures。
Funny the earth isn't overrun with chickens； isn't it？〃
She thrust her tables of figures into her desk drawer。 〃You're just
making fun of me always；〃 she said reproachfully。
Two days later Orde took her one block up the street to look at a
tiny little house tucked on a fifty…foot lot beneath the shadow of
the church。
〃It's mighty little；〃 said he。 〃I'll have to go out in the hall to
change my collar； and we couldn't have more than two people at a
time to call on us。〃
〃It's a dear！〃 said she； 〃and I'm not so e…nor…mous myself； whatever
YOU may be。〃
They ended by renting the little house； and Carroll took charge of
it delightedly。 What difficulties she overcame； and what laughable
and cryable mistakes she made only those who have encountered a like
situation could realise。 She learned fast； however； and took a real
pride in her tiny box of a home。 A piano was； of course； out of the
question； but the great golden harp occupied one corner； or rather
one side； of the parlour。 Standing thus enshrouded in its covering；
it rather resembled an august and tremendous veiled deity。 To
Carroll's great delight； Orde used solemnly to go down on all fours
and knock his forehead thrice on the floor before it when he entered
the house at evening。 When the very cold weather came and they had
to light the base…burner stove； which Orde stoutly maintained
occupied all the other half of the parlour； the harp's delicate
constitution necessitated its standing in the hall。 Nevertheless；
Carroll had great comfort from it。 While Orde was away at the
office； she whispered through its mellow strings her great
happiness； the dreams for her young motherhood which would come in
the summer； the vague and lingering pain over the hapless but
beloved ones she had left behind her in her other life。 Then she
arose refreshed； and went about the simple duties of her tiny
domain。
The winter was severe。 All the world was white。 The piles of snow
along the sidewalks grew until Carroll could hardly look over them。
Great fierce winds swept in from the lake。 Sometimes Orde and his
wife drove two miles to the top of the sand hills； where first they
had met in this their present home； and looked out beyond the
tumbled shore ice to the steel…gray； angry waters。 The wind pricked
their faces； and； going home； the sleigh…bells jingled； the
snowballs from the horses' hoofs hit against the dash； the cold air
seared the inside of their nostrils。 When Orde helped Carroll from
beneath the warm buffalo robes； she held up to him a face glowing
with colour； framed in the soft fluffy fur of a hood。
〃You darling！〃 he cried； and stooped to kiss her smooth； cold cheek。
When he had returned from the stable around the corner； he found the
lit lamp throwing its modified light and shade over the little round
table。 He shook down the base…burner vigorously； thrust several
billets of wood in its door； and turned to meet her eyes across the
table。
〃Kind of fun being married； isn't it？〃 said he。
〃Kind of；〃 she admitted； nodding gravely。
The business of the firm was by now about in shape。 All the boom
arrangements had been made； the two tugs were in the water and their
machinery installed； supplies and equipments were stored away； the
foremen of the crews engaged； and the crews themselves pretty well
picked out。 Only there needed to build the wanigan； and to cart in
the supplies for the upper river works before the spring break…up
and the almost complete disappearance of the roads。 Therefore； Orde
had the good fortune of unusual leisure to enjoy these first months
with his bride。 They entered together the Unexplored Country； and
found it more wonderful than they had dreamed。 Almost before they
knew it； January and February had flown。
〃We must pack up； sweetheart；〃 said Orde。
〃It's only yesterday that we came；〃 she cried regretfully。
They took the train for Redding； were installed in the gable room；
explored together for three days the delights of the old…fashioned
house； the spicy joys of Grandma Orde's and Amanda's cookery； the
almost adoring adulation of the old folks。 Then Orde packed his
〃turkey；〃 assumed his woods clothes； and marched off down the street
carrying his bag on his back。
〃He looks like an old tramp in that rig；〃 said Grandma Orde； closing
the storm door。
〃He looks like a conqueror of wildernesses！〃 cried Carroll；
straining her eyes after his vanishing figure。 Suddenly she darted
after him； calling in her high； bird…like tones。 He turned and came
back to her。 She clasped him by the shoulders； reluctant to let him
go。
〃Good…bye；〃 she said at last。 〃You'll take better care of my
sweetheart than you ever did of Jack Orde； won't you； dear？〃
XXII
Orde had reconnoitred the river as a general reconnoitres his
antagonist； and had made his dispositions as the general disposes of
his army； his commissary； his reserves。 At this point five men
could keep the river clear； at that rapid it would require twenty；
there a dozen would suffice for ordinary contingencies； and yet an
emergency might call for thirtythose thirty must not be beyond
reach。 In his mind's eye he apportioned the sections of the upper
river。 Among the remoter wildernesses every section must have its
driving camp。 The crews of each； whether few or many； would be
expected to keep clear and running their own 〃beats〃 on the river。
As far as the rear crew should overtake these divisions； either it
would absorb them or the members of them would be thrown forward
beyond the lowermost beat； to take charge of a new division down
stream。 When the settled farm country or the little towns were
reached； many of the driving camps would become unnecessary； the men
could be boarded out at farms lying in their beats。 A continual
advance would progress toward the Lake； the drive crews passing and
repassing each other like pigeons in the sown fields。 Each of th