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〃We have sixty men； all told；〃 said Orde。 〃We ought to be able to
carry it through。〃
He filled his plate and walked across to a vacant place。 Here he
found himself next to Newmark。
〃Hello！〃 he greeted that young man； 〃fixed it with the doctor all
right？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Newmark； in his brief； dry manner； 〃thanks！ I think
I ought to tell you that the sheriff is not at Spruce Rapids； but at
the villageexpecting trouble。〃
Orde whistled； then broke into a roar of delight。
〃Boys；〃 he called； 〃old Plug Hat's got the sheriff right handy。 I
guess he sort of expected we'd be thinking of cutting through that
dam。 How'd you like to go to jail？〃
〃I'd like to see any sheriff take us to jail； unless he had an army
with him；〃 growled one of the river…jacks。
〃Has he a posse？〃 inquired Orde of Newmark。
〃I didn't see any； but I understood in the village that the governor
had been advised to hold State troops in readiness for trouble。〃
Orde fell into a brown study； eating mechanically。 The men began an
eager and somewhat truculent discussion full of lawless and
bloodthirsty suggestion。 Some suggested the kidnapping and
sequestration of Reed until the affair should be finished。
〃How'd he get hold of his old sheriff； then？〃 they inquired with
some pertinence。
Orde； however； paid no attention to all this talk； but continued to
frown into space。 At last his face cleared； and he slapped down his
tin plate so violently that the knife and fork jumped off into the
dirt。
〃I have it！〃 he cried aloud。
But he would not tell what he had。 After the noon hour he
instructed a half…dozen men to provide themselves with saws； axes；
picks； and shovels； and all marched in the direction of the mill。
When within a hundred yards or so of that structure the advancing
riverman saw the lank； black figure of the mill owner flap into
sight； astride a bony old horse； and clatter away； coat…tails
flying； up the road and into the waiting forest。
〃Now； boys！〃 cried Orde crisply。 〃He'll be back in an hour with the
sheriff。 Lively！〃 He rapidly designated ten men of his crew。 〃You
boys get to work and make things hum。 Get as much done as you can
before the sheriff comes。〃
〃He'll have to bring all of Spruce County to get me；〃 commented one
of those chosen； spitting on his hands。
〃Me； too！〃 said others。
〃Now； listen；〃 said Orde； holding them with an impressive gesture。
〃When that sheriff comes； with or without a posse； I want you to go
peaceably。 Understand？〃
〃Cave in？ Not much！〃 cried Purdy。
〃See here；〃 and Orde drew them aside to an earnest； low…voiced
conversation that lasted several minutes。 When he had finished he
clapped each of them on the back； and all moved off； laughing； to
the dam。
〃Now； boys；〃 he commanded the others； 〃no row without orders。
Understand？ If there's going to be a fight； I'll give you the word
when。〃
The chopping crew descended to the bottom of the sluice； the gate of
which had been shut； and began immediately to chop away at the
apron。 As the water in the pond above had been drawn low by the
morning's work； none overflowed the gate； so the men were enabled to
work dry。 Below the apron； of course； had been filled in with earth
and stones。 As soon as the axe…men had effected an entry to this
deposit； other men with shovels and picks began to remove the
filling。
The work had continued nearly an hour when Orde commanded the fifty
or more idlers back to camp。
〃Get out； boys；〃 he ordered。 〃The sheriff will be here pretty quick
now； and I don't want any row。 Get out of sight。〃
〃And leave them to fight her out alone？ Guess not！〃 grumbled a
tall； burly individual with a red face。
Orde immediately walked directly to this man。
〃Am I bossing this drive； or am I not？〃 he demanded。
The riverman growled something。
SMACK！ SMACK！ sounded Orde's fists。 The man； taken by surprise；
went down in a heap； but immediately rebounded to his feet as though
made of rubber。 But Orde had seized a peavy； and stood over against
his antagonist； the murderous weapon upraised。
〃Lie down； you hound； or I'll brain you！〃 he roared at the top
strength of his great voice。 〃Want fight； do you？ Well； you won't
have to wait till the sheriff gets here！ You make a move！〃
For a full half minute the man crouched breathless； and Orde； his
ruddy face congested； held his threatening attitude。 Then he
dropped his peavy and stepped aside。
〃March！〃 he commanded。 〃Get your turkey and hit the hay trail。
You'll get your time at Redding。〃
The man sullenly arose and slouched away； grumbling under his
breath。 Orde watched him from sight； then turned to the silent
group； a new crispness in his manner。
〃Well？〃 he demanded。
Hesitating； they turned to the river trail； leaving the ten still
working at the sluice。 When well within the fringe of the brush；
Orde called a halt。 His customary good…humour seemed quite
restored。
〃Now； boys；〃 he commanded； 〃squat down and lay low。 You give me an
ache！ Don't you suppose I got this thing all figured out？ If fight
would do any good； you know mighty well I'd fight。 And the boys
won't be in jail any longer than it takes to get a wire to Daly to
bail them out。 Smoke up； and don't bother。〃
They filled their pipes and settled down to an enjoyment of the
situation。 Ordinarily from very early in the morning until very
late at night the riverman is busy every instant at his dangerous
and absorbing work。 Those affairs which do not immediately concern
his taskas the swiftness of rapids； the state of flood； the curves
of streams； the height of water； the obstructions of channels； the
quantities of logspass by the outer fringe of his consciousness；
if indeed they reach him at all。 Thus； often he works all day up to
his waist in a current bearing the rotten ice of the first break…up；
or endures the drenching of an early spring rain； or battles the
rigours of a belated snow with apparent indifference。 You or I
would be exceedingly uncomfortable； would require an effort of
fortitude to make the plunge。 Yet these men； absorbed in the mighty
problems of their task； have little attention to spare to such
things。 The cold； the wet； the discomfort； the hunger； the
weariness； all pass as shadows on the background。 In like manner
the softer moods of the spring rarely penetrate through the
concentration of faculties on the work。 The warm sun shines； the
birds by thousands flutter and twitter and sing their way north； the
delicate green of spring； showered from the hand of the passing
Sower； sprinkles the tops of the trees； and gradually sifts down
through the branches； the great； beautiful silver clouds sail down
the horizon like ships of a statelier age； as totally without actual
existence to these men。 The logs； the riverthose are enough to
strain all the faculties a man possesses； and more。
So when； as now； a chance combination of circumstances brings them
leisure to look about them； the forest and the world of out…of…doors
comes to them with a freshness impossible for the city dweller to
realise。 The surroundings are accustomed； but they bring new
messages。 To most of them； these impressions never reach the point
of coherency。 They brood； and muse； and expand in the actual and
figurative warmth； and proffer the general opinion that it is a damn
fine day！
Another full half hour elapsed before the situation developed
further。 Then Tom North's friend Jim； who had gathered his long
figure on the top of a stump； unclasped his knees and remarked that
old Plug Hat was back。
The men arose to their feet and peered cautiously through the brush。
They saw Reed； accompanied by a thick…set man whom some recognised
as the sheriff of the county； approach the edge of the dam。 A
moment later the working crew mounted to the top； stacked their
tools neatly； resumed their coats and jackets； and departed up the
road in convoy of the sheriff。
A gasp of astonishment broke from the concealed rivermen。
〃Well； I'll be damned！〃 ejaculated one。 〃What are we comin' to？
That's the first time I ever see one lonesome sheriff gather in ten
river…hogs without the aid of a gatlin' or an ambulance！ What's the
matter with that chicken…livered bunch； anyway？〃
Orde watched them； his eyes expressionless； until they had
disappeared in the fringe of the forest Then he turned to the
astonished group。
〃Jim；〃 said he； 〃and you； Ellis； and you； and you； and you； and you；
get to work on that dam。 And remember this； if you are arrested； go
peaceably。 Any resistance will spoil the whole game。〃
The men broke into mingled cheers and laughter as the full
significance of O