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BELLE； and in spite of Simpson's scandalised protests and an
incipient panic among the passengers； thrust aside the regular crew
of the steamship and took charge。 Quite calmly he surveyed the
scene。 From the height of the steamer's bridge he could see abroad
over the country。 A warm June sun flooded the landscape which was
filled with the peace of early summer。 The river seemed to flow
smoothly and quietly enough； in spite of the swiftness of its
current and the swollen volume of its waters。 Only up stream where
the big jam shrugged and groaned did any element jar on the peace of
the scene； and even that； in contrast to the rest of the landscape；
afforded small hint to the inexperienced eye of the imminence of a
mighty destruction。
Captain Marsh paid little attention to all this。 His eye swept
rapidly up and down where the banks used to be until he saw a cross
current deeper than the rest sweeping in athwart the inundated
fields。 He swung over the wheel and rang to the engine…room for
half speed ahead。 Slowly the LUCY BELLE answered。 Quite calmly
Captain Marsh rammed her through the opening and out over the
cornfields。 The LUCY BELLE was a typical river steamboat； built
light in the draught in order to slide over the numerous shifting
bars to be encountered in her customary business。 When Captain
Marsh saw that he had hit the opening； he rang for full speed； and
rammed the poor old LUCY BELLE hard aground in about a foot of water
through which a few mournful dried cornstalks were showing their
heads。 Then； his hands in his pockets； he sauntered out of the
pilot…house to the deck。
〃Now if you want to picnic；〃 he told the astonished and frightened
excursionists； 〃go to it！〃
With entire indifference to the water； he vaulted over the low rail
and splashed away。 The rivermen and the engineer who had
accompanied him lingered only long enough to start up the band。
〃Now you're safe as a cow tied to a brick wall；〃 said the Rough Red；
whose appearance alone had gone far toward overawing the passengers。
〃Be joyful。 Start up the music。 Start her up； I tell you！〃
The band hastily began to squawk； very much out of time； and
somewhat out of tune。
〃That's right；〃 grinned the Rough Red savagely； 〃keep her up。 If
you quit before I get back to work； I'll come back and take you
apart。〃
They waded through the shallow water in the cornfield。 After them
wafted the rather disorganised strains of WHOA； EMMA。 Captain
Simpson was indulging in what resembled heat apoplexy。 After a time
the LUCY BELLE'S crew recovered their scattered wits sufficiently to
transport the passengers in small boats to a point near the county
road； whence all trudged to town。 The LUCY BELLE grew in the
cornfield until several weeks later； when time was found to pull her
off on rollers。
Arrived at the booms Captain Marsh shook the loose water from his
legs。
〃All right； sir；〃 he reported to Orde。 〃I ran 'em ashore yonder。〃
Orde looked up； brushing the hair from his eyes。 He glanced in the
direction of the cornfield； and a quick grin flickered across the
absorbed expression of his face。
〃I should think you did；〃 said he briefly。 〃I guess that'll end the
excursion business。 Now take Number Two up below the swing； and
then run down and see if you can discover Tom。 He went somewhere
after piles about an hour ago。〃
Down river the various mill owners were busy with what men they had
left in stringing defences across the river in case Orde's works
should go out。 When Orde heard this he swore vigourously。
〃Crazy fools；〃 he spat out。 〃They'd be a lot better off helping
here。 If this goes out； their little booms won't amount to a whiff
of wind。〃
He sent word to that effect； but； lacking the enforcement of his
personal presence his messages did not carry conviction； and the
panic…stricken owners continued to labour； each according to his
ideas； on what Orde's clearer vision saw to be a series of almost
comical futilities。 However； Welton answered the summons。 Orde
hailed his coming with a shout。
〃I want a dredge；〃 he yelled； as soon as the lumberman was within
distance。 〃I believe we can relieve the pressure somewhat by a
channel into Steam's bayou。 Get that Government dredge up and
through the bayou as soon as you can。〃
〃All right；〃 said Welton briefly。 〃Can you hold her？〃
〃I've got to hold her；〃 replied Orde between his clenched teeth。
〃Have you seen Newmark？ Where in HELL is Newmark？ I need him for
fifty things； and he's disappeared off the face of the earth！
Purdy！ that second cable！ She's snapped a strand！ Get a
reinforcing line on her！〃 He ran in the direction of the new danger
without another thought of Welton。
By the late afternoon casual spectators from the countryside had
gathered in some number。 The bolder or more curious of these added
a further touch of anxiety to the situation by clambering out over
the jam for a better view。 Orde issued instructions that these
should keep off the logs； but in spite of that； with the impertinent
perseverance of the sight…seer； many persisted from time to time；
when the rivermen were too busily engaged to attend to them； in
venturing out where they were not only in danger but also in the
way。 Tom North would have none of this on his pile…driver。 If a
man was not actually working； he had no business on Number One。
〃But；〃 protested a spectator mildly； 〃I OWN this driver。 I haven't
any objections to your grabbing her in this emergency； even if you
did manhandle my captain； but surely you are not going to keep me
off my own property？〃
〃I don't give a tinker's damn who you are；〃 replied North sturdily。
〃If you're not working； you get off。〃
And get off he did。
The broad deck of the pile…driver scow was a tempting point from
which to survey the work； and the ugly jam； and the water boiling
angrily； and the hollow…eyed； dishevelled maniacs who worked
doggedly with set teeth as though they had not already gone without
two nights' sleep。 North had often to order ashore intruders； until
his temper shortened to the vanishing point。 One big hulking
countryman attempted to argue the point。 North promptly knocked him
overboard into the shallow water between the driver and the bank。
He did not rise； so North fished for him in the most matter…of…fact
way with a boat hook； threw him on the bank unconscious； and went on
driving piles！ The incident raised a laugh among the men。
But flesh and blood has its limit of endurance； and that limit was
almost reached。 Orde heard the first premonitions of reaction in
the mild grumblings that arose。 He knew these men well from his
long experience with them。 Although the need for struggle against
the tireless dynamics of the river was as insistent as ever；
although it seemed certain that a moment's cessation of effort would
permit the enemy an irretrievable gain； he called a halt on the
whole work。
〃Boys；〃 said he； irrelevantly； 〃let's have a smoke？〃
He set the example by throwing himself full length against a
slanting pile and most leisurely filling his pipe。 The men stared a
moment； then followed his example。 A great peace of evening filled
the sky。 The horizon lay low and black against the afterglow。
Beneath it the river shone like silver。 Only the groaning； the
heave and shrugging of the jam； and the low threatening gurgle of
hurrying waters reminded the toil…weary men of the enemy's continued
activity。 Over beyond the rise of land that lay between the river
and Stearn's Bayou could be seen the cloud of mingled smoke and
steam that marked the activities of the dredge。 For ten minutes
they rested in the solace of tobacco。 Orde was apparently more at
ease than any of the rest； but each instant he expected to hear the
premonitory CRACK that would sound the end of everything。 Finally
he yawned； knocked the ashes from his pipe； and got to his feet。
〃Now；〃 said he； a new ring in his voice； 〃come on and let's get
something DONE！〃
They responded to a man。
XL
By midnight the water seemed to have gone down slightly。 Half the
crew snatched a little sleep。 For several hours more the issue hung
aggravatingly in equilibrium。 Then； with the opening of the channel
into Stearn's Bayou the heaviest pressure was relieved。 For the
moment the acute danger point was passed。
Orde spent the next two days in strengthening the defences。 The men
were able to take their quota of meals and of sleep。 Merely the
working hours were longer than usual。 Orde himself slept little；
and was still possessed by a feverish activity。 The flood continued
at about the same volume。 Until the water should subside； the
danger could not b