"TheKingofFranceandtwicetenthousandmenMarchedupthehill，andthenmarcheddownagain，"

herecited；thenburstintohisdeeproaroflaughter。

"Nowyousee，boys，"hesaid，digginghisfistsintohiseyes，"ifyou’dputuparow，whatwe’dhavegotinto。Noblue—coatsinmine，thankyou。Well，pushthegrubpile，andthengetatthoselogs。

It’sacaseofflood—waternow。"

ButReed，havingrecoveredfromhisastonishment，hadstillhissay。

"Itellye，I’mnotdonewithyeyet，"hethreatened，shakinghisbonyforefingerinOrde’sface。"I’llsueyefordamages，andI’llGIT’em，too。"

"Seehere，youoldmossback，"saidOrde，thrustinghisbulkyformtothefore，"yousuejustassoonasyouwantto。Youcan’tgetatitanytooquicktosuitus。Butjustnowyougetoutofthiscamp，andyoustayout。You’reanoldman，andwedon’twanttoberoughwithyou，butyou’rebitingoffmorethanyoucanchew。Skedaddle！"

Reedhesitated，wavinghislongarmsabout，flail—like，asthoughtobeginaneworation。

"Now，dohopalong，"urgedOrde。"We’llpayyouanylegitimatedamages，ofcourse，butyoucan’texpecttohangupariverfuloflogsjustonanotion。Andwe’resickofyou。Oh，hell，then！Seehere，youtwo；justseethatthismanleavescamp。"

Ordeturnedsquareonhisheel。Reed，afteraglanceatthetwohugerivermenapproaching，beataretreattohismill，mutteringandwrathfulstill。

"Well，good—bye，boys，"saidDaly，pullingonhisovercoat；"I’lljustgetalongandbailtheboysoutofthatvillagecalaboose。I

reckonthey’vehadagoodnight’srest。Begood！"

Thefringeoftreestoeastwardshowedclearlyagainstthewhiteningsky。Hundredsofbirdsofallkindssanginanecstasy。Anotherdayhadbegun。Alreadymenwithpike—poleswereguidingthesullentimberstowardthesluice—way。

IV

WhenNewmarkawokeoncemoretointerestinaffairs，themorningwaswellspent。Ontherivertheworkwasgoingforwardwiththeprecisionofclockwork。Thesix—footloweringofthesluice—wayhadproducedafinecurrent，whichsuckedthelogsdownfromabove。Menwerebusilyengagedin"sacking"themfromthesidesofthepondtowarditscentre，lesttheloweringwatershouldleavethemstranded。Belowthedamthejamcrewwasfindingplentytodoinkeepingthemmovinginthewhite—waterandtheshallows。Afinesun，temperedwithapropheticwarmthoflaterspring，animatedthescene。Reedhadwithdrawntotheinteriorofhismill，andappearedtohavegivenupthecontest。

Someofthelogsshotawaydownthecurrent，runningfreely。Tothesethecrewswerenotrequiredtopayanyattention。Withluck，afewoftheindividualtimberswouldfloatten，eventwenty，milesbeforesomechanceeddyorfortuitousobstructionwouldbringthemtorest。Sucheddiesandobstructions，however，drewaconstanttollfromtheranksofthefree—movinglogs，sothatalwaysthevolumeoftimbersfloatingwiththecurrentdiminished，andalwaysthenumberoflogscaughtandstrandedalongthesidesoftheriverincreased。Torestorethesetothefasterwaterwastheespecialprovinceofthelastandmostexpertcrew——therear。

Ordediscoveredaboutnoonthatthejamcrewwashavingitstroubles。ImmediatelybelowReed’sdamranalongchutestrewnwithboulders，whichwasalternatelyashalloworastretchofwhite—

wateraccordingasthestreamroseorfell。Ordinarilythelogswereflushedoverthisdeclivitybyopeningthegate，behindwhichaheadofwaterhadbeenaccumulated。Now，however，theefficiencyofthegatehadbeendestroyed。Ordeearlydiscoveredthathewaslikelytohavetroubleinpreventingthelogsrushingthroughthechutefromgroundingintoabadjamontherapidsbelow。

Foratimethejamcrewsucceededinkeepingthe"wings"clear。Inthecentreofthestream，however，asmalljamformed，likeapier。

Alongthebankslogsgrounded，andwererolledoverbytheirownmomentumintoplacessoshallowastodiscourageanyhopeofrefloatingthemunlessbymainstrength。Asthesluicingofthenineortenmillionfeetthatconstitutedthisparticulardrivewentforward，thesituationrapidlybecameworse。

Tom，we’vegottogetflood—waterunlesswewanttorunintoanawfuljobthere，"saidOrdetotheforeman。"Iwonderifwecan’tdropthatgate’waydowntogetsomethingforahead。"

Thetwomenexaminedthechuteandthesluice—gateattentivelyforsometime。

"Ifwecouldclearoutthesplintersandrubbish，wemightspikeacoupleofsaplingsoneachsideforthegatetoslidedowninto，"

speculatedNorth。"Mighttryheron。"

Thelogswereheldupinthepond，andacrewofmensettoworktocutaway，aswellastheymightintherushofwater，thesplinteredendsoftheoldsillandapron。Itwashardwork。Newmark，watching，thoughtitimpracticable。Thecurrentrenderedfootingimpossible，soalltheworkhadtobedonefromabove。Wetwoodgrippedthelongsawsvice—like，sothataman’sutmoststrengthcouldscarcelybudgethem。Thewaterdeadenedtheforceofaxe—

blows。Nevertheless，withthesurepersistenceoftheriverman，theyheldtoit。Orde，watchingthemafewmoments，satisfiedhimselfthattheywouldsucceed，andsodeparteduprivertotakechargeoftherear。

Thiscrewhefoundworkingbusilyamongsomeoverflowedwoods。Theywereherdingthelaggardsoftheflock。Thesubsidenceofthewaterconsequentupontheopeningofthesluice—gatehadleftstrandedandinshallowsmanyhundredsofthelogs。Thesethemensometimes，waistdeepintheicywater，owingtotheextremeinequalityofthebottom，wererollingoverandoverwiththeirpeaviesuntiloncemoretheyfloated。Somefewtherivermenwereforcedtocarrybodily，tenmentoaside，thepeaviesclampedinashandles。Whenoncetheywereafloat，thetaskbecameeasier。Fromtheadvantageofdeadwood，stumps，orotherlogsthe"sackers"pushedtheunwieldytimbersforward，leaping，splashing，heaving，shoving，untilatlastthesteadycurrentofthemainriverseizedthelogsandborethemaway。Withmarvellousskilltheytoppedthedripping，bobby，rollingtimbers，treadingthemoverandover，backandforth，inunconsciouspreservationofequilibrium。

Therewasagooddealofnoiseandfunattherear。Thecrewhadbeendivided，andahalfworkedoneithersidetheriver。Arivalrydevelopedastowhichsideshouldadvancefastestinthesacking。

Itbecamearace。Momentarysuccessingettingaheadoftheotherfellowwasoccasionforexultantcrowing，whileamishapcalledforthironiccheersandcatcallsfromtherivalcamp。JustasOrdecametrampingupthetrail，oneoftherivermen’scaulksfailedto"bite"onanunusuallysmooth，barkedsurface。Hisfootslipped；

thelogrolled；hetriedinvaintoregainhisbalance，andfinallyfellinwithaheavysplash。

Theentireriversuspendedworktosendupahowlofdelight。Astheunfortunatecrawledout，drippingfromheadtofoot，hewasgreetedbyafloodofsarcasmandprofaneinquirythatleftnoroomforevenhisacknowledgedtalentsofrepartee。Cursingandashamed，hemadehiswayashoreoverthelogs，spirtingwaterateverystep。

Therehewrungouthiswoollenclothesasdryashecould，andresumedwork。

HardlyhadOrdetheopportunitytolookaboutattheprogressmaking，however，beforeheheardhisnameshoutedfromthebank。

Lookingup，tohissurprisehesawthesolemncookwavingafranticdish—towelathim。Nothingcouldinducethecooktoattemptthelogs。

"Whatisit，Charlie？"askedOrde，leapingashoreandstampingtheloosewaterfromhisboots。

"It’salloff，"confidedthecookpessimistically。"It’snogood。

He’sstoppedusnow。"

"What’soff？Who’sstoppedwhat？"

"Reed。He’sdruvthemenfromthedamwithashotgun。Wemightaswellquit。"

"Shotgun，hey！"exclaimedOrde。"Well，theoldsonofagun！"Hethoughtamoment，hislipspuckeredasthoughtowhistle；then，asusual，helaughedamusedly。"Let’sgotakealookatthearmy，"

saidhe。

Heswungawayataroundpace，followedratherbreathlesslybythecook。Thetrailledthroughthebrushacrossalittleflatpoint，upoverahighbluffwheretheriverswungin，downtoanotherpoint，andacrossapoletrailaboveamarshtocamp。

Apoletrailconsistsofsaplingslaidendtoend，andsupportedthreeorfourfeetabovewetplacesbymeansofsawbuck—likestructuresattheirextremities。Toariver—manoratight—ropedancertheyareeasywalks。Allothersmustproceedcautiouslyincontritememoryoftheirsins。

Ordemarchedacrossthefirsttwolengthsconfidentlyenough。Thenheheardasplashandlamentations。Turning，heperceivedCharlie，coveredwithmud，intheactofclamberinguponeofthesmalltrestles。

"Ain’tgotnocaulks！"ranthelamentations。"The————ofa————ofapole—trail，anyways！"

Hewalkedaheadgingerly，threwhishandsaloft，bentforward，thensuddenlyprotrudedhisstomach，heldoutonefootinfrontofhim，spasmodicallyhalfturned，andthen，realisingthecasehopeless，wiltedlikeawetrag，toclaspthepoletrailbothbyarmandleg。

Thissavedhimfromfallingoffaltogether，butswunghimunderneath，wherehehungliketheslothsinthepicture—books。A

seriesofviolentwrigglesbroughthim，red—facedandpanting，astridethepole，whence，hisfeelingsbeyondmerespeech，hesadlyeyedhispreciousderby，whichlay，crownup，inthemudbelow。

Ordecontemplatedthespectacleseriously。

"SorryIhaven’tgottimetoenjoyyoujustnow，Charlie，"heremarked。"I’dtakeitslower，ifIwereyou。"

Hedeparted，catchingfragmentsofvowsanentnevergoingonanymoreerrandsfornobody，andgettinghistimeifeveragainhewentawayfromhiswanigan。

Ordestoppedshortoutsidethefringeofbrushtoutteranotherirrepressiblechuckleofamusement。

ThecentreofthedamwasoccupiedbyReed。Theoldmanwasstillinfullregalia，hisplughatfuzzierthanever，andthrustevenfartherbackonhishead，hiscoat—tailsandloosetrousersflappingathiseverymovementashepacedbackandforthwithmilitaryprecision。Overhisshoulderhecarriedalongpercussion—lockshotgun。Notthirtyfeetaway，perchedalongthebank，foralltheworldlikearowofcormorants，sattherivermen，watchinghimsolemnlyandinsilence。

"What’sthematter？"inquiredOrde，approaching。

Theoldmansurveyedhimwithasnortofdisgust。

"Ifthelawofthelanddon’tprotectme，I’llprotectmyself，sir，"

heproclaimed。"Igiveyefairwarning！Iain’ta—goingtohavemypropertyinterferedwithnomore。"

"Butsurely，"saidOrde，"wehavearighttorunourlogsthrough。

It’sanopenriver。"

"Andhevyebeenrunningyourlogsthrough？"criedtheoldmanexcitedly。"Hevye？Firstoffyebegintoteardownmydam；andthen，whentheriverbeginsa—roarin’anda—ragin’through，thenyoutamperwithmyimprovementsfurthermore，a—lowerin’thegateandotherwisea—modifyin’mystructure。"

Ordesteppedforwardtosaysomethingfurther。ImmediatelyReedwheeled，histhumbonthehammer。

"Allright，oldSpiritof’76，"repliedOrde。"Don’tshoot；I’llcomedown。"

Hewalkedbacktothewaitingrow，smilingquizzically。

"Well，youcalamityhowlers，whatdoyouthinkofit？"

Nobodyanswered，buteverybodylookedexpectant。

"Thinkhe’dshoot？"inquiredOrdeofTomNorth。

"Iknowhewould，"repliedNorthearnestly。"Thatcrazy—headedkindarejustthefellerstoriploose。"

"Ithinkmyselfheprobablywould，"agreedOrde。

"Surely，"spokeupNewmark，"whateverthestatusofthedamagesuits，youhavethelegalrighttorunyourlogs。"

Orderolledaquizzicaleyeinhisdirection。

"Per—fect—lycorrect，son，"hedrawled，"butwe’reengagedinthehappyoccupationofgettingoutlogs。Bythetimethelawwasalladjustedandaheadofsteamup，thewater’dbedown。Inthisgame，yougetoutlogsfirst，andthinkaboutlawafterward。"

"Howaboutlegaldamages？"insistedNewmark。

"Legaldamages！"scoffedOrde。"Legaldamages！Why，wecountlegaldamagesaspartofourregularexpenses——likepotatoes。It’sluckyit’sso，"headded。"Ifanybodypaidanyattentiontolegaltechnicalities，there’dneverbealogdelivered。Amanalwayshasenemies。

"Well，whatareyougoingtodo？"persistedNewmark。

Ordethrustbackhisfelthatandranhisfingersthroughhisshort，crisphair。

"Thereyou’vegotme，"heconfessed，"but，ifnecessary，we’llpiletheoldwarrior。"

Hewalkedtotheedgeofthedamandstoodlookingdowncurrent。

Forperhapsafullminuteheremainedtheremotionless，hishatclingingtooneside，hishandinhishair。Thenhereturnedtothegrimlysilentrivermen。

"Boys，"hecommandedbriefly，"getyourpeaviesandcomealong。"

Heledthewaypastthemilltotheshallowsbelow。

"There’satrifleofwadingtodo，"heannounced。Bringdowntwologs——fairlybig——andholdthembythatoldsnag，"heordered。

"Whoa—up！Easy！Holdthemendon——no，pointingupstream——fix’emabouttenfootapart——that’sit！George，driveacoupleofstakeseachsideofthemtohold’em。Correct！Now，rundownacoupledozenmoreandpilethemacrossthosetwo——sideontothestream，ofcourse。Roll’emup——that’stheticket！"

Ordehadbeensplashingaboutintheshallowwater，showingwhereeachtimberwastobeplaced。Hedrewback，eyeingtheresultwithsatisfaction。Itlookedratherlikeasmallandbristlypier。

Nexthecasthiseyeaboutanddiscoveredapartiallysubmergedboulderonalinewiththenewlycompletedstructure。Againstthishebracedtheendsoftwomorelogs，onwhichheoncemorecausedtobeloadedatrightanglesmanytimbers。Anoldstubnearshorefurnishedhimthebasisofathirdpier。Hestakedathirty—inchbuttforafourth；andsoon，untilthepiers，inconjunctionwiththesmallcentrejamalreadymentioned，extendedquiteacrosstheriver。

Allthiswasaccomplishedinaveryshorttime，andimmediatelybelowthemill，butbeyondsightfromthesluice—gateofthedam。

"Now，boys，"commandedOrde，"shoveoffsomeshorelogs，andletthemcomedown。"

"We’llhaveajamsure，"objectedPurdystupidly。

"No，myson，wouldwe？"mockedOrde。"Isurelyhopenot！"

Thestraylogsfloatingdownwiththecurrenttherivermencaughtandarrangedtothebestpossibleadvantageabouttheimprovisedpiers。Agoodrivermanunderstandsthecorrelationofforcesrepresentedbysaw—logsandwater—pressure。Heknowshowtolookforthekey—loginbreakingjams；andbytheinversereasoning，whenneedariseshecanformajamasexpertlyasKoosy—oonekhimself——

thatbadlittlegodwhobringsabout。"DonQuixoteandthewindmills！"Thenheaddedvindictively，"Theoldfool！"although，ofcourse，thedrivewasnothispersonalconcern。

OnlyOrdeseemedtoseetheotherside。AndonOrdetheresponsibility，uncertainty，andvexationhadbornemostheavily，forthesuccessoftheundertakingwasinhishands。Withafewquickleapshehadgainedtheoldman’sside。

"Lookhere，Reed，"hesaidkindly，"youcan’tbreakthisjam。Comeashorenow，andleies。ItwasmanagedbyCharlieandhistwocookeesbymeansofpike—polesandalongsweepateitherend。Thepike—polesassuredprogresswhenthecurrentslacked；thesweepskeptherhead—

onwhendriftingwiththestreamthedisagreeableandundesired——

"whohidesourpipes，stealsourlastmatch，andbringsrainonthejustwhentheywanttogofishing。"

Sointensecondsaftertheshorelogsbegandriftingdownfromabove，thejamwastakingshape。Slowlyitformed，lowandbroad。

Then，asthewatergatheredpressure，thelogsbegantoslipoveroneanother。Theweightofthetopmostsunkthosebeneathtothebedofthestream。Thistoacertainextentdammedbackthewater。

Immediatelythepressureincreased。Morelogswerepiledontop。

Thepierslockedthestructure。Belowtheimproviseddamthewaterfellalmosttonothing，andaboveit，swirlingineddies，grumblingfiercely，bubbling，gurgling，searchingbusilyforanopening，theriver，turnedbackonitself，gathereditsswollenandangryforces。

"Thatwilldo，boys，"saidOrdewithsatisfaction。

Heledthewaytothebankandsatdown。Themenfollowedhisexample。Everymomentthewaterrose，andeachinstant，asmorelogscamedownthecurrent，thejambecamemoreformidable。

"Nothingcanstandthatpressure，"breathedNewmark，fascinated。

"Thebiggerthepressurethetightershelocks，"repliedOrde，lightinghispipe。

Thehighbankwherethemensatlaywellabovethereachofthewater。NotsotheflatonwhichstoodReed’smill。Inordertotakefulladvantageofthewater—powerdevelopedbythedam，theoldmanhadcausedhisstructuretobebuiltnearlyatalevelwiththestream。Nowtheriver，backingup，rapidlyoverflowedthisflat。

Asthejamtightenedbyitsownweightandtheaccumulationoflogs，thewaterfairlyjumpedfromthelowestfloorofthemilltotheoneabove。

OrdehadnotlongtowaitforReed’sappearance。Inlessthanfiveminutestheoldmandescendedonthegroup，somewhatofhismartialairabated，andsomethingofavagueanxietymanifestinhiseye。

"What’sthematterhere？"hedemanded。

"Matter？"inquiredOrdeeasily。"Oh，nothingmuch，justalittlejam。"

"Butit’sfloodingmymill！"

"SoIperceive，"repliedOrde，strikingamatch。

"Well，whydon’tyoubreakit？"

"Notinterested。"

Theoldwarriorranupthebanktowherehecouldgetagoodviewofhisproperty。Thewaterwaspouringintothefirst—floorwindows。

"Here！"hecried，runningback。"I’vealotofgrainup—stairs。

It’llberuined！"

"Notinterested，"repeatedOrde。

Reedwasrapidlylosingcontrolofhimself。

"ButI’vegotalotofmoneyinvestedhere！"heshouted。"Youmiserableblackguard，you’reruiningme！"

Ordereplacedhispipe。

Reedranbackandforthfrantically，disappeared，returnedbearinganantiquatedpike—pole，andsingle—handedandaloneattackedthejam！

Astonishmentanddelightheldtherivermenbreathlessforamoment。

Thenaroaroflaughterdrownedeventhenoiseofthewaters。Menpoundedeachotherontheback，rolledoverandover，clutchinghandfulsofearth，struggledweakandred—facedforbreathastheysawagainstthesky—lineofthebristlingjamthelank，flappingfigurewiththeoldplughatpushingfranticallyagainsttheimmovablestaticsofamightypower。Theexasperationofdelay，theanxietylestsuccessbelostthroughthemulishandnarrow—mindedobstinacyofoneman，theresentmentagainstanotherobstaclenottobeforeseenandnottobeexpectedinataskredundantlysuppliedwithobstaclesofitsown——thesefoundreliefatlast。

"ByJove！"breathedNewmarksoftlytohimselftup。You’llkillyourself。"

Reedturnedtohim，awildlightinhiseye。

"Breakit！"hepleaded。"You’reruiningme。I’vegotallmymoneyinthatmill。"

"Well，"saidOrde，"we’vegotalotofmoneyinourlogstoo。Youhaven’ttreatedusquiteright。"

Reedglancedfranticallytowardthefloodupstream。

"Come，"saidOrde，takinghimgentlybythearm。"There’snoreasonyouandIshouldn’tgetalongtogetherallright。Maybewe’rebothalittlehard—headed。Let’stalkitover。"

Heledtheoldmanashore，andoutofearshotoftherivermen。

Attheendoftenminuteshereturned。

"War’sover，boys！"heshoutedcheerfully。"Getinandbreakthatjam。"

Atoncethecrewswarmedacrossthelogbarriertoapointabovethecentrepier。Thistheyattackedwiththeirpeavies，。

Charlie’stemperamentwaspessimisticatbest。Whenthewaniganwastobemoved，herosefairlytotheheightsofwhatmightbecalleddestructiveprophecy。

Thepackingbeganbeforethemenhadfinishedbreakfast。Shortlyafterdaylightthewanigan，pushedstronglyfromshorebythepike—

poles，wasdriftingtowardthechute。Whentheheavyscowthreatenedtoturnside—on，thesweepsateitherendchurnedthewaterfranticallyinanendeavourtostraightenherout。Sometimes，byarollingthetoplogsoffintothecurrentbelow。Inlessthannotimetheyhadtornoutquiteaholeinthetoplayer。Theriverrushedthroughtheopening。Immediatelythelogsinthewingsweretumbledinfromeitherside。Atfirstthemenhadtodoallofthework，butsoontheriveritselfturnedtotheirassistance。Timberscreakedandsettled，orroseslightlybuoyantasthewaterloosenedthetangle。

Mentrodontheedgeofexpectation。Constantlythelogsshifted，andasconstantlythemenshiftedalso，avoidingtheupheavalsandgrindingstogether，waryeyesestimatingthecorrelationoftheforcesintowhosecrushingreachasinglemisstepwouldbringthem。

Themovementacceleratedeachinstant，asthemusicoftheplayhastenstotheclimax。Woodfibressmashed。Thewholemassseemedtosinkdownandforwardintoaboilingofwaters。Then，withacreakandagroan，thejammoved，hesitated，movedagain；finally，urgedbythefranticriver，wentoutinamajesticcrashingandbatteringoflogs。

AtthefirstmovementNewmarkexpectedtherivermentomaketheirescape。Instead，theystoodatattention，theirpeaviespoised，watchingcat—eyedthesymptomsofthebreak。Twiceorthriceseveralofthemen，observingsomethingnotevidenttoNewmark’sunpractisedeye，ranforward，usedtheirpeaviesvigorouslyforamomentorso，andstoodbacktowatchtheresult。Onlyattheverylast，whenitwouldseemthatsomeofthemmustsurelyhecaught，didtheriver—jacks，usingtheirpeavy—shaftsasbalancingpoles，zigzagcalmlytoshoreacrosstheplunginglogs。Newmarkseemedimpressed。

"Thatwasacloseshave，"saidhetothelastmanashore。

"What？"inquiredtheriverman。"Didn’tseeit。Somebodyfalldown？"

"Why，no，"explainedNewmark；"gettinginoffthoselogswithoutgettingcaught。"

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