\"Wemustpackup，sweetheart，\"saidOrde。
\"It’sonlyyesterdaythatwecame，\"shecriedregretfully。
TheytookthetrainforRedding，wereinstalledinthegableroom，exploredtogetherforthreedaysthedelightsoftheold—fashionedhouse，thespicyjoysofGrandmaOrde’sandAmanda’scookery，thealmostadoringadulationoftheoldfolks。ThenOrdepackedhis\"turkey，\"assumedhiswoodsclothes，andmarchedoffdownthestreetcarryinghisbagonhisback。
\"Helookslikeanoldtrampinthatrig，\"saidGrandmaOrde，closingthestormdoor。
\"Helookslikeaconquerorofwildernesses！\"criedCarroll，straininghereyesafterhisvanishingfigure。Suddenlyshedartedafterhim，callinginherhigh，bird—liketones。Heturnedandcamebacktoher。Sheclaspedhimbytheshoulders，reluctanttolethimgo。
\"Good—bye，\"shesaidatlast。\"You’lltakebettercareofmysweetheartthanyoueverdidofJackOrde，won’tyou，dear？\"
XXII
Ordehadreconnoitredtheriverasageneralreconnoitreshisantagonist，andhadmadehisdispositionsasthegeneraldisposesofhisarmy，hiscommissary，hisreserves。Atthispointfivemencouldkeeptheriverclear；atthatrapiditwouldrequiretwenty；
thereadozenwouldsufficeforordinarycontingencies，andyetanemergencymightcallforthirty——thosethirtymustnotbebeyondreach。Inhismind’seyeheapportionedthesectionsoftheupperriver。Amongtheremoterwildernesseseverysectionmusthaveitsdrivingcamp。Thecrewsofeach，whetherfewormany，wouldbeexpectedtokeepclearandrunningtheirown\"beats\"ontheriver。
Asfarastherearcrewshouldovertakethesedivisions，eitheritwouldabsorbthemorthemembersofthemwouldbethrownforwardbeyondthelowermostbeat，totakechargeofanewdivisiondownstream。Whenthesettledfarmcountryorthelittletownswerereached，manyofthedrivingcampswouldbecomeunnecessary；themencouldbeboardedoutatfarmslyingintheirbeats。AcontinualadvancewouldprogresstowardtheLake，thedrivecrewspassingandrepassingeachotherlikepigeonsinthesownfields。Eachofthesesectionswouldbeinchargeofaforeman，whoseresponsibilityceasedwiththedeliveryofthelogstothemennextbelow。A
walkingbosswouldtrudgecontinuallytherivertrail，orridethelogsdownstream，holdingthecorrelationofthesemanyunits。Ordehimselfwoulddriveupanddowntheriver，overseeingthewholeplanofcampaign，throwingthecampsforward，concentratinghisforceshere，spreadingthemelsewhere，keepingaccuratelyinmindtheentiresituationsothathecouldsaywithfullconfidence：\"OpenDamNumberOneforthreehoursatnineo’clock；DamNumberTwofortwohoursandahalfattenthirty，\"andsoondowntheline；surethatthefloodwatersthusreleasedwouldarriveattherightmoment，wouldsupplementeachother，andwouldsospacethemselvesastoaccomplishthemostworkwiththeleastwaste。Inthatonepointmorethaninanyothershowedtheexpert。Thewaterwashisammunition，adefiniteandlimitedquantityofit。To\"getthelogsoutwiththewater\"wasthelastwordofpraisetobesaidfortheriverdriver。Themorelogs，thegreatertheglory。
Thusitcanreadilybeseen，thismatterwasratheracampaignthanamerelabour，requiringthemen，themunitions，theorganisation，thetacticalability，thestrategy，theresourcefulness，theboldness，andtheexecutivegeniusofamilitarycommander。
Toallthesethings，andtothedistributionofsuppliesandimplementsamongthevariouscamps，Ordehadattended。Thewaniganfortherearcrewwasbuilt。Theforemenandwalkingbosshadbeenpickedout。Everythingwasinreadiness。Ordewassatisfiedwiththesituationexceptthathefoundhimselfrathershort—handed。Hehadcountedonthreehundredmenforhiscrews，butscrapeandscratchashewould，hewasunabletogatherovertwohundredandfifty。Thismatterwasnotsoserious，however，aslater，whenthewoodscampsshouldbreakup，hewouldbeabletopickupmoreworkmen。
\"Theywon’tberivermenlikemyoldcrew，though，\"saidOrderegretfullytoTomNorth，thewalkingboss。\"I’dliketostealafewfromsomeofthoseMuskegonoutfits。\"
Untilthelogsshouldbewelladrift，Ordehadresolvedtobosstherearcrewhimself。
Astherearwasnaturallythefarthestupstream，OrdehadtakenalsothecontracttobreaktherollwaysbelongingtoCarlin，whichintheseason’sworkwouldbepileduponthebank。Thushecouldgettoworkimmediatelyatthebreak—up，andwithoutwaitingforsomeoneelse。ThesevenoreightmillionfeetoflumbercomprisedinCarlin’sdrivewouldkeepthemenbelowbusyuntiltheotherowners，fartherdownandupthetributaries，shouldalsohaveputtheirseason’scutafloat。
Theicewentoutearly，toOrde’ssatisfaction。AssoonastheriverranclearinitslowerreacheshetookhisrearcrewintoCarlin’srollways。
Thiscrewwasfortyinnumber，andhadbeenpickedfromthebest——ahard—bitten，toughbandofveterans，weatherbeaten，scarredinnumerousfightsorbythebackwoodsscourgeofsmall—pox，compact，muscular，fearless，loyal，cynicallyalooffromthosenotoftheircult，out—spokenandfreetocriticise——inshort，mentodogreatthingsunderthestrongleader，andtomutinyattheendofthreedaysundertheweak。TheypiledoffthetrainatSawyer’s，stampedtheirfeetontheboardplatformofthestation，shoulderedtheir\"turkeys，\"andstraggledoffdownthetote—road。Itwasaneighteen—milewalkin。Thegroundhadlooseneditsfrost。Thefootingwasankle—deepinmudandsnow—water。
Nextmorning，brightandearly，thebreakingoftherollwaysbegan。
Duringthewinterthelogshadbeenhauleddowniceroadstotheriver，wheretheywere\"banked\"inpilestwenty，andeventhirty，feetinheight。Thebedofthestreamitselfwasfilledwiththemforamile，saveinanarrowchannelleftdownthroughthemiddletoallowforsomeflowofwater；thebankswerepiledwiththem，sideon，readytorolldownattheurgingofthemen。
Firstofall，theentirecrewsetitself，bymeansofitspeavies，torollingthelowerlogsintothecurrent，wheretheywererapidlyborneaway。Asthewaterswerenowatflood，thiswasaquickandeasylabour。Occasionallysometierswouldbestucktogetherbyice，inwhichcaseconsiderablepryingandheavingwasnecessaryinordertocrackthemapart。Butfortymen，allbusilyatwork，soonhadtheriverfull。Ordedetailedsomesixoreighttodropbelowinorderthattherivermightruncleartothenextsection，wherethenextcrewwouldtakeupthetask。Thesemen，quitesimply，walkedtotheedgesoftherollway，rolledalogapieceintothewater，steppedaboard，leanedagainsttheirpeavies，andweresweptawaybytheswiftcurrent。Thelogsonwhichtheystoodwhirledintheeddies，caromedagainstothertimbers，slackenedspeed，shotaway；neverdidtheridersaltertheirposesofeasyequilibrium。
Fromtimetotimeonepropelledhiscraftashorebyhookingtoandpushingagainstotherlogs。Therehestoodonsomeprominentpoint，leaninghischincontemplativelyagainstthethickshaftofhispeavy，watchingtheendlessprocessionofthelogsdriftingby。
Apparentlyhewasidle，butinrealityhiseyesmissednoshiftoftheorderedranks。Whenaslighthitchorpause，asubtlechangeinthepatternofthebrowncarpetcaughthisattention，hesprangintolife。Balancinghispeavyacrosshisbody，hemadehiswaybyshortdashestothepointofthreatenedcongestion。There，workingvigorously，sweptdownstreamwiththemass，hepulled，hauled，andheaved，forcingtheheavy，reluctanttimbersfromthecohesionthatthreatenedtroublelater。Oblivioustohissurroundings，hewrenchedandprieddesperately。Thebanksoftheriverdriftedby。
Pointsucceededpoint，asthoughwithdrawnupstreambysomeinvisiblemanipulator。Theriverappearedstationary，thebanksinmotion。Finallyheheardathiselbowthevoiceofthemanstationedbelowhim，whohadrunoutfromhisownpoint。
\"Hullo，Bill，\"herepliedtothisman，\"youoldsloughhog！Tieintothisthis！\"
\"Allthetime！\"agreedBillcheerfully。
Inafewmomentsthedangerwasaverted，thelogsranfree。Therivermenthereuponmadetheiruncertainwaybacktoshore，wheretheytooktherivertrailupstreamagaintotheirrespectiveposts。
Atnoontheyatelunchestheyhadbroughtwiththeminlittlecanvasbags，snatchedbeforetheylefttherollwaysfromasupplyhandybythecook。Inthemeantimethemaincrewweresquattingintheleaofthebrush，devouringahotmealwhichhadbeencarriedtotheminwoodenboxesstrappedtothebacksofthechoreboys。Downtheriverandupitstributariesothercrews，bothintheemployofNewmarkandOrdeandofothers，werealsopausingfromtheircoldanddangeroustoil。Theriver，refreshedafteritslongwinter，bentitsmightybacktothegreatannualburdenlaiduponit。
Bytheendoftheseconddaythelogsactuallyinthebedofthestreamhadbeenshakenloose，andalargeproportionofthemhadfloatedentirelyfromsight。Itnowbecamenecessarytobreakdowntherollwayspiledalongthetopsofthebanks。
Theeveningofthisday，however，OrdereceivedavisitfromJimDenning，theforemanofthenextsectionbelow，bringingwithhimCharlie，thecookofDaly’slastyear’sdrive。Leavinghimbythelargerfire，JimDenningdrewhisprincipaloneside。
\"Thisfellowdriftedinto—nighttwodayslateafteradrunk，andhetellsanalmightyqueerstory，\"saidhe。\"HesaysacrewofbadmenfromtheSaginaw，sixtystrong，havebeensentinbyHeinzman。HesaysHeinzmanhiredthemtocomeovernottowork，butjusttofightandannoyus。\"
\"Thatso？\"saidOrde。\"Well，wherearethey？\"
s。LikeSilverJackoftheMuskegon，hisexploitshadbeencelebratedinsong。Abig，broad—facedman，witharedbeard，theyhadtoldhim，withlittle，flickeringeyes，ahugevoicethatbellowedthroughthewoodsinatorrentofcommandsandimprecations，strongasabull，andsavageasawildbeast。Ahintofhisqualitywillsufficefromthemanystoriescirculatedabouthim。ItwassaidthatwhilejobbingforMorrisonandDaly，insomeofthatfirm’sSaginawValleyholdings，theRoughRedhaddiscoveredthatahorsehadgonelame。
Hecalledthedriverofthatteambeforehim，seizedanironstartingbar，andwithitbroketheman’sleg。\"Tryth’lamenessyourself，BarneyMallan，\"saidhe。Toappealtothecharityofsuchamanwouldbeutterlyuseless。Ordesawthispoint。Hepickeduphisreinsandspoketohisteam。
Butbeforethehorseshad\"Don’tknow。Buthesticksbyhisstory，andtellsitprettystraight。\"
\"Bringhimover，andlet’shearit，\"saidOrde。
\"Hullo，Charlie！\"hegreetedthecookwhenthelatterstoodbeforehim。\"What’sthisyarnJim’stellingme？\"
\"It’sstraight，Mr。Orde，\"saidthecook。\"There’sabigcrewbroughtinfromtheSaginawWaterstodoyouup。They’resupposedtobeoverheretorunhisdrive，butreallythey’regoin’tofightandraisehell。Forwhywouldhewantsixtymentobreakoutthemlittlerollwaysofhis’nupattheheadwaters？\"
\"Isthatwherethey’vegone？\"askedOrdelikeaflash。
\"Yes，sir。Andheonlyownsa’forty’upthere，anditain’tmore’nhalfcut，anyway。\"
\"Ididn’tknowheownedany。\"
\"Yes，sir。HeboughtthatlittleJohnsonpiecelastwinter。Ibeenworkin’uptherewithalittletwo—horsecrewsinceJanuary。Wedidn’tputupmore’nacouplehundredthousand。\"
\"Ishebreakingouthisrollwaysbelow？\"OrdeaskedDenning。
\"No，sir，\"struckinCharlie，\"heain’t。\"
\"Howdoyouhappentobesowise？\"inquiredOrde，\"SeemstomeyouknowaboutasmuchasoldmanSolomon。\"
\"Well，\"explainedCharlie，\"youseeit’slikethis。WhenIgotbackfromthewoodslastweek，IjustsortofhappenedintoMcNeill’splace。Iwasn’tdrinkin’adrop！\"hecriedvirtuously，inanswertoOrde’ssmile。
\"Ofcoursenot，\"saidOrde。\"Iwasjustthinkingofthelasttimewewereintheretogether。\"
\"That’sjustit！\"criedCharlie。\"Theywasalwayssoreatyouaboutthat。Well，Iwaslyin’ononeofthosetherebenchesbackofthe’Mericanflagsinthedancehall’causeIwasverysleepy，wheninblewoldmanHeinzmanandMcNeillhimself。Ijustlaylowforblackducksandheardtheirtalk。Theytookalookaround，butdidn’tseenoone，sotheyopenedherupwide。\"
\"Whatdidyouhear？\"askedOrde。
Well，McNeillheagreedtogetagangofbadonesfromtheSaginawtoruninontheriver，andIheardHeinzmantellhimtosend’emintoheadwaters。AndMcNeillsaid，’That’sallrightaboutthecash，Mr。Heinzman，butIbeenfiggerin’ongettin’evenwithOrdeforsomemyself。’\"
\"Isthatall？\"inquiredOrde。
\"That’saboutall，\"confessedCharlie。
\"Howdoyouknowhedidn’thirethemtocarrydownhisdriveforhim？He’dneedsixtymenforhislowerrollways，andmaybetheyweren’talltogotoheadwaters？\"askedOrdebywayoftestingCharlie’sbeliefs。
\"He’spayin’themfourdollarsaday，\"repliedCharliesimply。
\"Now，who’dpaythatferjustriverwork？\"
OrdenoddedatJimDenning。
\"Holdon，Charlie，\"saidhe。\"WhyareyougivingallthisawayifyouwereworkingforHeinzman？\"
\"I’mworkingforyounow，\"repliedCharliewithdignity。\"And，besides，youhelpedmeoutonceyourself。\"
Iguessit’sastraighttipallright，\"saidOrdetoDenning，whenthecookhadresumedhisplacebythefire。
\"Thattakenthreesteps，ahugerivermanhadplantedhimselfsquarelyintheway。Theothersrising，slowlysurroundedtherig。
\"Idon’tknowwhatyou’reupherefor，\"growledtheman’swhatIthought。That’swhyIbroughthimup。\"
\"Ifthatcrew’sbeensentinthere，itmeansonlyonethingatthatendoftheline，\"saidOrde。
\"Sure。They’resentuptowasteoutthewaterinthereservoirandhangthisendofthedrive，\"repliedDenning。
\"Correct，\"saidOrde。\"Theoldskunkknowshisownrollwaysaresofardownstreamthathe’ssafe，floodwaterornofloodwater。\"
Apauseensued，duringwhichthetwosmokedvigorously。
\"Whatareyougoingtodoaboutit？\"askedDenningatlast。
\"Whatwouldyoudo？\"counteredOrde。
\"Well，\"saidDenningslowly，andwithacertaingrimjoy，\"Idon’tbetthoseSaginawriver—pigsareanymoretwo—fistedthantheboysonthisriver。I’dgoupandclean’emout。\"
\"Won’tdo，\"negativedOrdebriefly。\"Inthefirstplace，asyouknowverywell，we’reshort—handednow，andwecan’tsparethemenfromthework。Inthesecondplace，we’dhangupsure，then；togoupinthatwilderness，fiftymilesfromcivilisation，wouldmeanafirst—classrowoftoobigasizetohandle。Won’tdo！\"
\"Supposeyougetalawyer，\"suggestedDenningsarcastically。
Ordelaughedwithgreatgood—humour\"Where’dourwaterbebythetimehegotaninjunctionforus？\"
Hefellintoabrownstudy，duringwhichhispipewentout。
\"Jim，\"hesaidfinally，\"itisn’tafairgame。Idon’tknowwhattodo。Delaywillhangus；takingmenofftheworkwillhangus。I’vejustgottogotiptheremyselfandseewhatcanbedonebytalkingtothem。\"
\"Talkingtothem！\"Denningsnorted。\"Youmightaswellwhistledownthedraught—pipeofhell！Ifthey’rejustupthereforarow，there’llbewhiskyincamp；andyoucanbetMcNeill’sgotsomeof’eminstructedonYOURaccount。They’llkillyou，sure！\"
\"Iagreewithyouit’srisky，\"repliedOrde。\"I’mscared；I’mwillingtoadmitit。ButIdon’tseewhatelsetodo。Ofcoursehe’sgotnorights，butwhatthehellgooddoesthatdousafterourwaterisgone？AndJim，myson，ifwehangthisdrive，I’llbeburiedsodeepIneverwilldigout。No；I’vegottogo。YoucanstayuphereinchargeoftherearuntilIgetback。SendwordbyCharliewho’stobossyourdivisionwhileyou’regone。\"
XXIII
OrdetrampedbacktoSawyer’searlynextmorning，hitchedintothelightbuckboardtheexcellentteamwithwhichlater，whenthedriveshouldspreadout，hewouldmakehislongestjumps，anddrovetohead—waters。Hearrivedinsightofthedamaboutthreeo’clock。
Attheedgeoftheclearinghepulleduptosurveythescene。
Agroupofthreesmalllog—cabinsmarkedtheJohnson，andlatertheHeinzman，camp。Fromthechimneysasmokearose。Twentyorthirtyrivermenloungedaboutthesunnysideofthelargeststructure。
Theyhadevidentlyjustarrived，forsomeoftheir\"turkeys\"werestillpiledoutsidethedoor。Ordecluckedtohishorses，andthespiderywheelsofthebuckboardswunglightlyoverthewethummocksoftheclearing，tocometoastopoppositethemen。Ordeleanedforwardagainsthisknees。
\"Hullo，boys！\"saidhecheerfully。
Noonereplied，thoughtwoorthreenoddedsurlily。Ordelookedthemoverwithsomeinterest。
Theywereadirty，unkempt，unshaven，hard—lookinglot，withbloodshoteyes，aflickerofthedare—devilinexpression，beyondthefirstyouth，hardenedintoanenduringtoughnessoffibre——badmenfromtheSaginaw，intruth，and，unlessOrdewasmistaken，menjustoffadrunk，andthereforeespeciallydangerous；meneagertofightatthedropofthehat，orsooner，tobeaccommodating，andreadytoemployintheirassaultsalltheformidableandterrifyingweaponsoftherough—and—tumble；reckless，hard，irreverrent，blasphemous，tobegainedoverbynowords，fairorfoul；absolutelyscornfulofanyandallinstitutionsimposedonthembyanyotherbutthefewmenwhomtheyacknowledgedastheirleaders。Andtomasterthesemen’srespectthereneededeithersuperlativestrength，superlativerecklessness，orsuperlativeskill。
\"Who’syourboss？\"askedOrde。
\"TheRoughRed，\"growledoneofthemenwithoutmoving。
Ordehadheardofthisman，ofhispersonalityandhisdeedatthehorses’heads，\"butyouwantedtoseetheboss，andIguessyou’dbetterseehim。\"
\"Iintendtoseehim，\"saidOrdesharply。\"Getoutofthewayandletmehitchmyteam。\"
Hedrovedeliberatelyahead，forcingthemantostepaside，andstoppedhishorsesbyastub。Hetiedthemthereanddescended，toleanhisbackalsoagainstthelogwallsofthelittlehouse。
Afterafewmomentsahugeformappearedabovetheriverbankatsomefortyrods’distance。
\"Yonderhecomesnow，\"vouchsafedthemannearestOrde。
Ordemadeoutthegreatsquarefigureoftheboss，hissofthat，hisflamingredbeard，hisdingymackinawcoat，hisdingyblack—and—
whitecheckedflannelshirt，hisdingybluetrouserstuckedintohighsocks，and，insteadofdrivingboots，hisordinarylumberman’srubbers。Asaspotofcolour，heworeaflamingredknitsash，withtassels。Beforehehadapproachednearenoughtobeplainlydistinguishable，hebegantobellowatthemen，commandingthem，withamightyarrayofoaths，towakeupandgetthesluice—gateopen。Inamomentorsohehaddisappearedbehindsomebushesthatintervenedinhisapproachtothehouse。Hiscoursethroughthemcouldbetracedbythetopofhiscap，whichjustshowedabovethem。
InamomenthethrustthroughthebrushandstoodbeforeOrde。
Foramomenthestaredattheyoungman，andthen，withawildIrishyell，leapeduponhim。Orde，caughtunawaresandinanawkwardposition，washardlyableeventostruggleagainstthegiganticriverman。Indeed，beforehehadrecoveredhisfacultiestothepointofofferingdeterminedresistance，hewaspinnedbackagainstthewallbyhisshoulders，andtheRoughRed’sfacewaswithintwofeetofhisown。
\"Andhowareye，yeoulddarlint？\"shoutedthelatter，witharollofoaths。
\"Why，JimmyBourke！\"criedOrde，andburstintoalaugh。
TheRoughRedjerkedhimtohisfeet，deliveredabearhugthatnearlycrushedhisribs，andpoundedhimmightilyontheback。
\"Yououldsnoozer！\"hebellowed。\"Wheretheblanketyblankinblankdidyoucomefrom？Byes，\"heshoutedtothemen，\"it’smeouldbossonth’AuSablesixyearback——thattime，yemind，whinwehadth’
icejam！Glorybe！butI’mgladtoseeye！\"
Ordewasstilllaughing。
\"Ididn’tknowyou’dturnedintotheRoughRed，Jimmy，\"saidhe。\"I
don’tbelievewewereeitherofusoldenoughforwhiskersthen，werewe？\"
TheRoughRedgrinned。
\"Thrueforye！\"saidhe。\"Andwhathaveyebeendoingalltheseyears？\"
\"That’sjustit，Jimmy，\"saidOrde，drawingthegiantoneside，outofear—shot。\"Allmyeggsareinonebasket，andit’sameantrickofyoutohireoutforfilthylucretokickthatbasket。\"
\"Whatdoyemane？\"askedtheRoughRed，fixinghistwinklinglittleeyesonOrde。
\"Youdon’tmeantotellme，\"counteredOrde，glancingdownattheother’srubber—shodfeet，\"thatthiscrewhasbeensentupherejusttobreakoutthosemeaslylittlerollways？\"
\"Thim？\"saidtheRoughRed。\"Thim？Hell，NO！Thim’smybodyguard。
Theycanlicktheirweightinwildcats，andI’dloikewelltoseethegangofhighbankersthatinfiststhisriverthrytoprythimout。Weweren’tsintheretowurrk；weweresintheretofoight。\"
\"Fight？Why？\"askedOrde。
\"Oh，Idunno，\"repliedtheRoughRedeasily。\"Mebossandtheblankofablankblankedblankthat’sattimptin’todroivethisriverhassomesortofarow。\"
\"Jimmy，\"saidOrde，\"didn’tyouknowthatIamthegentlemanlastmentioned？\"
\"What！\"
\"I’mdrivingthisriver，andthat’smydam—keeperyou’vegothidawaysomewherehere，andthat’smywateryou’replanningtowaste！\"
\"What？\"repeatedtheRoughRed，butinadifferenttoneofvoice。
\"That’sright，\"saidOrde。
Inatoneofvastastonishment，theRoughRedmentionedhisprobabledesertsinthefuturelife。
\"Lukhere，Jack，\"saidheafteramoment，\"here’sacrewofwhite—
waterbirlersthatyecan’tbeatnowheres。Whatdoyouwantustodo？We’renowgettin’fourdollarsadayAN’boardfromthatmurderin’ouldvillain，Heinzman，SOWECANAFFORDTOWURRKFORYOU
CHEAP。\"
Ordehesitated。
\"Oh，pleasedonow，darlint！\"wheedledtheRoughRed，hislittleeyesagleamwithmischief。\"Sindussomeoakumandpitchandwe’llcaulkyurewaniganforye。Ormaybesomemorepeavies，andwe’llhilpyeonyurerollways。Andtillus，aforeyego，howyewantthisdam，andthat’sthewayshe’llbe。Come，now，dear！andain’tyeshort—handednow？\"
Ordeslappedhiskneeandlaughed。
\"Thisissureonehellofajoke！\"hecried。
\"Andain’titnow？\"saidtheRoughRed，smilingwithasmuchingratiationashewasable。
\"I’lltakeyouboyson，\"saidOrdeatlast，\"attheusualwages——
dollarandahalfforthejam，threefortherear。Idoubtifyou’llseemuchofHeinzman’smoneywhenthisleaksout。\"
XXIV
ThusOrde，bythesheergoodluckthatsometimesfavoursmenengagedinlargeenterprises，notonlyfrustratedaplanlikelytobringfailuretohisinterests，butfilleduphiscrews。Itmayberemarkedhere，aswellaslater，thatthe\"terrorsoftheSaginaw\"
stayedwiththedrivetoitsfinish，andprovedreliableandtractableineveryparticular。Ordescatteredthemjudiciously，sotherewasnofrictionwiththelocalmen。TheRoughRedheretainedontherear。
Herethebreakingoftherollwayshadreachedastagemoreexcitingbothtoonlookerandparticipantthanthemereopeningoftheriverchannel。Hugestacksoflogspiledsidewisetothebanklinedthestreamformiles。Whenthelowermostlogontheriversidewasteasedandpriedout，theuppertierswereapttocascadedownwitharoar，acrash，andasplash。Themanwhohaddonethepryinghadtobeveryquick—eyed，verycool，andveryagiletoavoidbeingburiedunderthetonsoftimberthatrusheddownonhim。Onlythemostreliablemenwerepermittedatthisinitialbreakingdown。
Afterwardsthecrewrolledinwhatlogsremained。
TheRoughRed’senormousstrength，dare—devilspirit，andnimblenessofbodymadehiminvaluableatthisdangerouswork。Orde，too，oftentookahandinsomeofthemoreticklishsituations。Inolddays，beforehehadattainedthepositionofresponsibilitythatraisedthevalueofhistimebeyondmanualwork，hehadbeenoneofthebestmenontheriveratbreakingbankrollways。Aslim，graceful，handsomeboyoftwenty，knownas\"RollwayCharlie，\"alsodistinguishedhimselfbythequicknessandcertaintyofhiswork。
Oftenthemenstandingnearlostsightofhimentirelyinthespray，theconfusion，theblurofthebreakingrollways，untilitseemedcertainhemusthaveperished。Nevertheless，alwaysheappearedatrightorleft，sometimesevenonalogastream，nonchalant，smiling，escapedeasilyfromthedestructivepowerhehadloosed。Onceinthestreamthelogsrantheirappointedcourse，watchedbythemenwhoherdedthemontheirway。Andbelow，fromthetributaries，fromtheotherrollwaysanever—endingprocessionofrecruitsjoinedthisgreatbrownarmyonitswaytothelake，untilformilesandmilestheriverwasalmostasolidmassoflogs。
Thecrewsonthevariousbeatsnowhadtheirhandsfulltokeepthelogsrunning。Theslightestcheckatanyonepointmeantajam，fortherewasnowayofstoppingtheunendingprocession。Thelogsbehindfloatedgentlyagainsttheobstructionandcametorest。Thebrownmassthickened。Asfarastheeyecouldreachthesurfaceofthewaterwasconcealed。Andthen，astheslowpressuredevelopedfromthethreeorfourmilesoflogsforcedagainsteachotherbythepushingofthecurrent，thebreastofthejambegantorise。
Timbersup—ended，crossed，interlocked，slidoneovertheother，mountedhigherandhigherintheformidablegameofjack—strawsthelossofwhichspelleddeathtotheplayers。
Immediately，andwithfeverishactivity，themennearestathandattackedthework。Logsontoptheytumbledandrolledintothecurrentbelow。Menbeneaththebreasttuggedandpriedinsearchofthekeylogscausingallthetrouble。Others\"flattenedoutthewings，\"hopingtogeta\"draw\"aroundtheends。Asthestoppageofthedriveindicatedtothemenupanddownstreamthatajamhadformed，theygatheredatthescene——thosefromaboveoverthelogs，thosefrombelowuptherivertrail。
Rarely，unlessincaseofunusualcomplications，didittakemorethanafewhoursatmosttobreakthejam。Thebreastofitwentoutwitharush。Moreslowlythewingssuckedin。Reluctantlythemassfloatingonthesurfaceformilesupstreamstirred，silentlymovedforward。Forafewminutesitwasnecessarytowatchcarefullyuntiltheflowonwardsteadieditself，untilthecongestionhadspacedandorderedasbefore。Thenthemenmovedbacktotheirposts；thedrivewasresumed。Atnighttheriverwasnecessarilylefttoitsowndevices。Rivermen，withthetouchofsuperstitioninseparablyconnectedwithsuchaffairs，believeimplicitlythat\"logsrunfreeatnight。\"Certainly，thoughitmightbeexpectedthateachmorningwouldrevealabigjamtobreak，suchwasrarelythecase。Thelogshadusuallystopped，tobesure，butgenerallyinsopeacefulasituationaseasilytobestartedonbyafewminutes’work。Probablythiswasbecausetheytendedtocometorestintheslow，stillreachesoftheriver，throughwhich，indaytime，theywouldbeurgedbytherivermen。
Jamsontheriver，contrarytogeneralbelief，areofverycommonoccurrence。Throughoutthelengthofthedrivetherewereprobablythreeorfourhang—upsaday。Eachofthesehadtobebroken，andinthebreakingwasdanger。Thesmallestmisstep，theleastslownessinreadingthesignsofthebreak，theslightestlackofpromptnessinactingonthehintorofagilityinleapingfromonetotheotheroftheplungingtimbers，thefaintestflickerfromrigidattentiontotheantagonistcrouchingonthespring，wouldmeaninstantdeathtothedelinquent。Thusitwasliterallytruethateachoneofthesemenwascalleduponalmostdailytowagerhispersonalskillagainsthisdestruction。
Inthemeantimetherearwas\"sacking\"itswayasfastaspossible，movingcampwiththewaniganwhenevernecessary，workingveryhardandverycoldandverylong。Initswork，however，beyondthebreakingoftherollways，waslittleofthespectacular。
