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〃Per…fect…ly correct； son；〃 he drawled； 〃but we're engaged in the
happy occupation of getting out logs。 By the time the law was all
adjusted and a head of steam up； the water'd be down。 In this game；
you get out logs first； and think about law afterward。〃
〃How about legal damages？〃 insisted Newmark。
〃Legal damages！〃 scoffed Orde。 〃Legal damages！ Why； we count legal
damages as part of our regular expenseslike potatoes。 It's lucky
it's so；〃 he added。 〃If anybody paid any attention to legal
technicalities； there'd never be a log delivered。 A man always has
enemies。
〃Well； what are you going to do？〃 persisted Newmark。
Orde thrust back his felt hat and ran his fingers through his short；
crisp hair。
〃There you've got me；〃 he confessed； 〃but； if necessary； we'll pile
the old warrior。〃
He walked to the edge of the dam and stood looking down current。
For perhaps a full minute he remained there motionless； his hat
clinging to one side； his hand in his hair。 Then he returned to the
grimly silent rivermen。
〃Boys；〃 he commanded briefly； 〃get your peavies and come along。〃
He led the way past the mill to the shallows below。
〃There's a trifle of wading to do；〃 he announced。 Bring down two
logsfairly bigand hold them by that old snag；〃 he ordered。
〃Whoa…up！ Easy！ Hold them end onno； pointing up streamfix 'em
about ten foot apartthat's it！ George； drive a couple of stakes
each side of them to hold 'em。 Correct！ Now； run down a couple
dozen more and pile them across those twoside on to the stream； of
course。 Roll 'em upthat's the ticket！〃
Orde had been splashing about in the shallow water； showing where
each timber was to be placed。 He drew back； eyeing the result with
satisfaction。 It looked rather like a small and bristly pier。
Next he cast his eye about and discovered a partially submerged
boulder on a line with the newly completed structure。 Against this
he braced the ends of two more logs； on which he once more caused to
be loaded at right angles many timbers。 An old stub near shore
furnished him the basis of a third pier。 He staked a thirty…inch
butt for a fourth； and so on； until the piers； in conjunction with
the small centre jam already mentioned； extended quite across the
river。
All this was accomplished in a very short time； and immediately
below the mill； but beyond sight from the sluice…gate of the dam。
〃Now； boys；〃 commanded Orde； 〃shove off some shore logs； and let
them come down。〃
〃We'll have a jam sure；〃 objected Purdy stupidly。
〃No； my son； would we？〃 mocked Orde。 〃I surely hope not！〃
The stray logs floating down with the current the rivermen caught
and arranged to the best possible advantage about the improvised
piers。 A good riverman understands the correlation of forces
represented by saw…logs and water…pressure。 He knows how to look
for the key…log in breaking jams； and by the inverse reasoning； when
need arises he can form a jam as expertly as Koosy…oonek himself
that bad little god who brings about 。 〃Don Quixote and the
windmills！〃 Then he added vindictively； 〃The old fool！〃 although；
of course； the drive was not his personal concern。
Only Orde seemed to see the other side。 And on Orde the
responsibility； uncertainty； and vexation had borne most heavily；
for the success of the undertaking was in his hands。 With a few
quick leaps he had gained the old man's side。
〃Look here； Reed；〃 he said kindly； 〃you can't break this jam。 Come
ashore now； and leies。 It was managed by Charlie and his two cookees by
means of pike…poles and a long sweep at either end。 The pike…poles
assured progress when the current slacked； the sweeps kept her head…
on when drifting with the streamthe disagreeable and undesired
〃who hides our pipes； steals our last match； and brings rain on the
just when they want to go fishing。〃
So in ten seconds after the shore logs began drifting down from
above； the jam was taking shape。 Slowly it formed； low and broad。
Then； as the water gathered pressure； the logs began to slip over
one another。 The weight of the topmost sunk those beneath to the
bed of the stream。 This to a certain extent dammed back the water。
Immediately the pressure increased。 More logs were piled on top。
The piers locked the structure。 Below the improvised dam the water
fell almost to nothing； and above it； swirling in eddies； grumbling
fiercely； bubbling； gurgling； searching busily for an opening； the
river； turned back on itself； gathered its swollen and angry forces。
〃That will do； boys；〃 said Orde with satisfaction。
He led the way to the bank and sat down。 The men followed his
example。 Every moment the water rose； and each instant； as more
logs came down the current； the jam became more formidable。
〃Nothing can stand that pressure；〃 breathed Newmark； fascinated。
〃The bigger the pressure the tighter she locks；〃 replied Orde；
lighting his pipe。
The high bank where the men sat lay well above the reach of the
water。 Not so the flat on which stood Reed's mill。 In order to
take full advantage of the water…power developed by the dam； the old
man had caused his structure to be built nearly at a level with the
stream。 Now the river； backing up； rapidly overflowed this flat。
As the jam tightened by its own weight and the accumulation of logs；
the water fairly jumped from the lowest floor of the mill to the one
above。
Orde had not long to wait for Reed's appearance。 In less than five
minutes the old man descended on the group； somewhat of his martial
air abated； and something of a vague anxiety manifest in his eye。
〃What's the matter here？〃 he demanded。
〃Matter？〃 inquired Orde easily。 〃Oh； nothing much； just a little
jam。〃
〃But it's flooding my mill！〃
〃So I perceive；〃 replied Orde； striking a match。
〃Well； why don't you break it？〃
〃Not interested。〃
The old warrior ran up the bank to where he could get a good view of
his property。 The water was pouring into the first…floor windows。
〃Here！〃 he cried； running back。 〃I've a lot of grain up…stairs。
It'll be ruined！〃
〃Not interested；〃 repeated Orde。
Reed was rapidly losing control of himself。
〃But I've got a lot of money invested here！〃 he shouted。 〃You
miserable blackguard； you're ruining me！〃
Orde replaced his pipe。
Reed ran back and forth frantically； disappeared； returned bearing
an antiquated pike…pole； and single…handed and alone attacked the
jam！
Astonishment and delight held the rivermen breathless for a moment。
Then a roar of laughter drowned even the noise of the waters。 Men
pounded each other on the back； rolled over and over； clutching
handfuls of earth； struggled weak and red…faced for breath as they
saw against the sky…line of the bristling jam the lank； flapping
figure with the old plug hat pushing frantically against the
immovable statics of a mighty power。 The exasperation of delay； the
anxiety lest success be lost through the mulish and narrow…minded
obstinacy of one man； the resentment against another obstacle not to
be foreseen and not to be expected in a task redundantly supplied
with obstacles of its ownthese found relief at last。
〃By Jove！〃 breathed Newmark softly to himselft up。 You'll kill yourself。〃
Reed turned to him； a wild light in his eye。
〃Break it！〃 he pleaded。 〃You're ruining me。 I've got all my money
in that mill。〃
〃Well；〃 said Orde； 〃we've got a lot of money in our logs too。 You
haven't treated us quite right。〃
Reed glanced frantically toward the flood up stream。
〃Come；〃 said Orde； taking him gently by the arm。 〃There's no reason
you and I shouldn't get along together all right。 Maybe we're both
a little hard…headed。 Let's talk it over。〃
He led the old man ashore； and out of earshot of the rivermen。
At the end of ten minutes he returned。
〃War's over； boys！〃 he shouted cheerfully。 〃Get in and break that
jam。〃
At once the crew swarmed across the log barrier to a point above the
centre pier。 This they attacked with their peavies；。
Charlie's temperament was pessimistic at best。 When the wanigan was
to be moved； he rose fairly to the heights of what might be called
destructive prophecy。
The packing began before the men had finished breakfast。 Shortly
after daylight the wanigan； pushed strongly from shore by the pike…
poles； was drifting toward the chute。 When the heavy scow
threatened to turn side…on； the sweeps at either end churned the
water frantically in an endeavour to straighten her out。 Sometimes；
by a rolling the top
logs off into the current below。 In less than no time they had torn
out quite a hole in the top layer。 The river rushed through the
opening。 Immediately the