Anothercrewstretchedthefifteeninchmanillacablesacrossthefieldoflogsinordertosegregatethemintoseveralunitsofmass，andsopreventthemfrompilingupatthedown—streamendoftheenclosure。Thepile—driverbegantodropitshammeratspotsofweakness。Inspiteoftheacceleratedcurrentandtheincreasedvolumeoftheriver，everythingwassoonshipshapeandsafe。
\"We’reallrightnow，\"saidOrde。\"TheonlythingI’malittleuneasyaboutisthoseconfoundedtemporaryboomsupstream。Stillthey’reallrightunlesstheygettopilingup。Thenwe’llhavetoseewhatwecandotoholdthem。Ithinkassoonasthedriveristhroughdownatthesortingend，she’dbetterdriveafewclumpsofpilestostrengthentheswingwhenitisshut。Thenifthelogspiledownonusfromabove，wecanholdthemthere。\"
Abouttwohourslaterthepile—drivermovedup。Theswingwasopened；andthemenbegantodriveclumpsofpilesinsuchapositionastostrengthentheswingwhenthelattershouldbeshut。
Itwasaslowjob。Eachpilehadtobetakenfromtheraftatthesternofthescow，erectedinthe\"carrier，\"andpoundedintoplacebytheheavyhammerraisedandletdropinthederrickatthebow。
Longbeforethetaskwasfinished，thelogsinthetemporaryboomshadbeguntoslideatoponeanother，tocrossandtangle，untilatlasttheriverbedinsidetheboomswasfilledwithajamofformidabledimensions。Frombeneathitthewaterboiledineddies。
Orde，lookingatit，rousedhimselftosuddenactivity。
\"Getamoveon，\"headvisedCaptainAspinwallofthedriver。\"Ifthatjambreaksonus，wewanttobeready；andifitdon’tbreakbeforeyougetthisswingstrengthened，maybewecanholdherwheresheis。There’snoearthlydoubtthatthoseboompileswillneverstandupwhentheygetthefullpressureofthefreshet。\"
Hedepartedupriveronatourofinspectionfromwhichhereturnedalmostimmediately。
\"Hurryup！Hurryup！\"hecried。\"Shecan’tlastmuchlonger！\"
Indeedeventothemenonthepile—driver，evidencesofthepressuresustainedbytheslenderboompileswerenotwanting。Abovethesteadygurgleofthewaterandtheintermittentpuffingandothernoisesofthework，theycouldhearacreakingandgroaningoftimbersfullofportenttothosewhocouldreadthesigns。
Thedriver’screwlaboureddesperately，hoistingthepilesintothecarriage，trippingtheheavyhammer，sendingitaloftagain，bindingfeverishlytheclumpsofpilestogetherbymeansofcables。Eachmanworkedwithaneyeoverhisshoulder，fearfulofthepowerthatmenacedhim。
Twooftheclumpshadbeenplacedandbound；athirdwasnearlyfinished，whensuddenly，withacrackandaroartheupperboomsgaveway，projectingtheirlogsupontheopeningandthedriver。
Thehalfdozenmembersofthecrew，caughtutterlyunawareinspiteofthehalfwarningtheyhadbeenreceivingforanhourpast，werescatteredbythewindsofapanic。Twoorthreeflungthemselvesontheirfaces；severalranfromoneendofthescowtotheother；oneleapedintotheriver！Imminentdestructionseemeduponthem。
TomNorth，atthewinchthatoperatedthearmoftheswing，however，retainedhispresenceofmind。Atthefirstsagoutwardoftheboompileshesetinoperationthemachinerythatclosedthegate。
Clumsyandslowaswashismechanism，heneverthelesssucceededingettingthelongarmstarted。Thelogs，rushinginbackofit，hurrieditshut。Immediatelytheyjammedagain，andheapedupinaformidabletanglebehindthebarrier。TomNorth，hislittleblackpipebetweenhisteeth，stoodcalm，theleverofhiswinchinhishand。Ashortthreefeetfromthespotonwhichhestood，thefirstsawlogofthemanythatmighthaveoverwhelmedhimthrustforwarditsuglyhead。Thewashofthewaterliftedthehugepile—driverbodilyanddepositeditwithacrashhalfonthebankandhalfinthewater。
InstantlyafterthefirstbreakOrdehadcommencedrunningoutovertheboomsfromtheshore。
\"Goodboy，Tom！\"heshotatNorthashepassed。
Acrossthebreastofthejamhehurried，andtotheotherbankwherethepile—driverlay。Thecrewhadrecoveredfromtheirpanic，andwereashoregazingcuriouslyunderneaththescow。CaptainAspinwallexaminedthesupportsofthederrickondeck。
\"Thatwaslucky，\"saidOrdebrieflytoAspinwall。\"How’sthedamage？Stoveyouin？\"
\"I——Idon’tthinkso，\"repliedthecaptain，turningaratherperturbedfacetoOrde。
\"That’sgood。I’llsendoverthetugtohelpgetherafloat。We’vegotourworkcutoutforusnow。Assoonasyou’reafloat，blowyourwhistleandI’llcomeovertotellyouwhattodo。\"
\"Youdon’texpectmetoworkmydriverunderthefaceofthatjam！\"
criedthecaptain。
\"Certainly，\"snappedOrde，wheeling。
\"Notme！\"saidAspinwallpositively。\"IknowwhenI’vegotenough！\"
\"What’sthematter？\"askedOrde。
\"Itisn’tsafe，\"repliedthecaptain；\"andIdon’tintendtoriskmymenormydriver。\"
Ordestoodforamomentstock—still；thenwithasnortofangerheleapedtothedeck，seizedthemanbytheneckandthrusthimbodilyoverthesidetothebank。
Safe，youwhite—liveredskunk！\"heroared。\"Safe！Gooverinthemiddleofthatten—acrelotandliedownonyourfaceandseeifyoufeelsafethere！Getout；thewholepackofyou！I’minchargeherenow。\"
CaptainAspinwallpickedhimselfup，hisfaceredwithanger。
\"Getoffmydriver，\"hesnarled。\"Putthatmanoff。\"
Ordeseizedashortheavybar。
\"Thisdriverisrequisitioned，\"saidhe。\"Getout！Ihaven’ttimetofoolwithyou。I’vegottosavemylogs。\"
Theyhesitated；andwhiletheydidsoTomNorthandsomeothersofthecrewcamerunningacrossthejam。
\"Getacabletothewinch，\"Ordeshoutedattheseassoonastheywerewithinhearing。\"AndgetMarshupherewiththeSPRITE。We’vegottogetafloat。\"
Hepaidnomoreattentiontotheejectedcrew。Thelatter，overawedbytherivermen，whonowgatheredinfullforce，tookthepartofspectators。
Afewminutes’hardworkputthedriverafloat。Fortunatelyitsraftofpileshadnotbecomedetachedintheupheaval。
\"Tom，\"saidOrdebrisklytoNorth，\"youknowthepile—driverbusiness。Pickoutyourcrew，andtakecharge。\"
Intensecondsoftimethesituationhadchangedfromoneofcomparativesafetytooneofextremegravity。Thelogs，brokenloosefromtheuppertemporarybooms，nowjammedagainsttheswingandagainsttheotherlogsalreadyfillingthemainbooms。Alreadythepressurewasbeginningtotell，asthewaterbankedupbehindthemass。Thefifteen—inchcablestightenedslowlybutmightily；
someofthepilesbegantogroanandruboneagainsttheother；hereandtherealogdeliberatelyup—endedabovethelevel。
Ordetookchargeofthesituationinitsentirety，asageneralmight。HesetNorthimmediatelytodrivingclumpseachofsixteenpiles，boundtosoliditybychains，andsoarrangedinanglesandslantsastodirecttheenormouspressuretowardeitherbank，thussplittingtheenemy’spower。ThesmalldriverownedbytheBoomCompanydrovesimilarclumpshere，thereandeverywherethatneedaroseorweaknessdeveloped。Seventy—fivemenopposed，totheweightoftwentymilliontonsoflogsandariverofwater，theexpedientsinventedbydeterminationanddesperation。
Asinavirulentdisease，thesymptomsdevelopedrapidlywhenoncethecourseofthemaladywasassured。Afterthefirstrush，whentheupperboomsbroke，nothingspectacularoccurred。Steadilyandrelentlesslythelogs，packedclosetogetherdowntotheverybedofthestream，pressedoutwardagainstthefraildefences。Ordesoonfoundhimselfforcedfromtheconsiderationofdefiniteplansofcampaign。Hegaveoverformaldefences，andthrewhisenergiestosavingtheweakplaceswhichrapidlydeveloped。Bythemosttremendousexertionsheseemedbutjustabletokeepeven。Socloselybalancedwastheequilibriumbetweentheimprovisationofdefenceandtheincreaseofpressurebehindthejamthatitseemedasifevenamoment’sbreathingspellwouldbringthedeluge。Pilesquivered，bentslowlyoutward——immediately，beforethelogsbehindthemcouldstir，thepile—drivermustdoitswork。BackandforthdartedtheSPRITEandhersister—tugtheSPRAYtowingthepile—
driversorthestringsofpiles。Underthefrowningdestructionthatabreathmightloosen，thecrewshadtodotheirwork。Andifeverthatbreathshouldcome，therewouldbenochanceforescape。
Crushedandburied，themenandtheircraftalikewouldbebornewiththebreakingjamtoanunknowngraveintheLake。Everymanknewit。
Darknesscame。Noonestoppedforfood。Bythelightoflanternsthestrugglewenton，doublyterrifyinginthemysteryofnight。Bydaythemen，practisedinsuchmatters，couldatleastjudgeoftheprobabilitiesofabreak。Atnighttheyhadtoworkblindly，uncertainatwhatmomenttheforcestheycouldnotseewouldcutloosetooverwhelmthem。
Morningfoundnochangeinthesituation。Thewaterrosesteadily；
thelogsgrewmoreandmorerestive；thedefencesweakerandmoreinadequate。Ordebroughtoutsteamingpailsofcoffeewhichthemengulpeddownbetweenmoments。Noonethoughtofquitting。Theywereafirewiththeflameofcombat，andweresetobstinatelyonwinningeveninthefaceofodds。Aboutteno’clocktheywerereinforcedbymenfromthemillsdownstream。TheOwnersofthosemillshadnomindtolosetheirlogs。Anotherpile—driverwasalsosentupfromtheGovernmentwork。Withoutthisassistancethejammustsurelyhavegoneout。Spectatorsmarvelledhowitheldasitdid。Themassseemedconstantlytoquiverontheedgeofmotion。Hereandthereoverthesurfaceofthejamsinglelogscouldbeseenpoppingsuddenlyintotheair，propelledasanappleseedisprojectedfrombetweenaboy’sthumbandforefinger。Someofthefifteen—inchcablesstretchedtotheshoreparted。One，whichpassedoncearoundanoaktreebeforereachingitsshoreanchorage，actuallyburieditselfoutofsightinthehardwood。Bunchesofpilesbent，twisted，orwerecutoffasthoughtheyhadbeenbutshocksofIndiancorn。Thecurrenthadbecomesoswiftthatthetugscouldnotholdthedriversagainstit；andasaconsequence，beforecommencingoperations，specialmooringpileshadtobedriven。Eachminutethreatenedtobringanendtothejam，yetitheld；andwithoutrestthedoggedlittleinsectsunderitsfacetoiledtogainaninchonthewaters。
XXXIX
Allthatdayandthenextnightthefightwashandtohand，withouttheopportunityofabreathingspace。ThenOrde，bareheadedanddishevelled，strungtoahighexcitement，butcoolasaveteranunderfire，begantobeharassedbyannoyances。Thepilesprovidedforthedriversgaveout。Newmarkleft，ostensiblytopurchasemore。Hedidnotreturn。TomNorthandJimDenning，theireyesburningdeepintheirheadsforlackofsleep，cametoOrdeholdingtohimsymbolicallytheiremptyhands。
\"Nomorepiles，\"theysaidbriefly。
\"Get’em，\"saidOrdewithequalbrevity。\"Newmarkwillhaveenoughhereshortly。Inthemeantime，getthem。\"
Northandhisfrienddisappeared，takingwiththemthecrewsofthedriversandthetwotugs。Afteranintervaltheyreturnedtowingsmallraftsofthelongtimbers。Ordedidnotmakeanyinquiries；
noruntildayslaterdidheseeacopyofthenewspapertellinghowalawlessgangofrivermenhaddrivenawaytherailroadmenandstolentherailroad’sproperty。Thesepileslastedfiveorsixhours。TomNorthplacedanddrovethemaccuratelyanddeliberately，quiteunmindfuloftheconstantdanger。Acoldfireseemedtoconsumetheman，inflaminghiscourageandhisdoggedobstinacy。
Onceawingofthejambrokesuddenlyjustashiscrewhadplacedapileinthecarrier。Thescowwaspickedup，whirledaround，carriedbodilyahundredfeet，anddepositedfinallywithacrash。
Theinstantthecraftsteadiedandevenbeforeanyonecouldtellwhetherornothedangerwaspast，Tomcutloosethehammeranddrovethatpile！
\"IputyouinthatcarriertobeDROVE！\"heshoutedviciously，\"anddroveyou’llbe，ifweAREgoin’tohell！\"
WhentheSPRAYshoulderedthescowbacktopositionthatonepilewasleftstandinguprightinthechannel，amonumenttotheblinddeterminationoftheman。
Fortunatelythewingbreakcarriedwithitbutafewlogs；butitsufficedtoshow，ifdemonstrationwereneeded，whatwouldhappenifanymoreseriousbreakshouldoccur。
Ordewaseverywhere。Longsincehehadlosthishat；andoverhisforeheadandintohiseyesthestrandsofhishairwhippedtousledandunkempt。Milesandmileshetravelled；runningalongthetopsofthebooms，overthesurfaceofthejam，spyingtheweakeningplaces，andhurryingtothemarescue。Heseemedtireless，omnipresent，alivetoeveryneed。Itwasasthoughhispersonalityaloneheldincorrelationthesestrugglingforces；asthoughwerehetorelaxforaninstanthisefforttheywouldburstforthwiththeexplosionoflong—pentenergies。
Towardnoonthepilesgaveoutagain。
\"WhereinHELLisNewmark！\"explodedOrde，andimmediatelywashimselfagain，controlledandresourceful。HesentNorthandacrewofmentocutpilesfromstandingtimberinfarmwoodlotsneartheriver。
\"Haulthemoutwithyourwinch，\"saidhe。\"Iftheownersobject，standthemoffwithyourpeavies。Getthemanyway。\"
AboutthreeoftheafternoontheLUCYBELLEsplatteredupstreamfromthevillage，carryinganexcursiontoseethejam。CaptainSimpsonbroughtherascloseinaspossible。Thewavesraisedbyherawkwardpaddle—wheelandherclumsylinessurgedamongthelogsandpiles。Ordelookedonthiswithdistrust。
\"Gotellhimtopulloutofthat，\"heinstructedJimmyPowers\"Theconfoundedoldfooloughttoknowbetterthanthat。Tellhimit’sdangerous。Ifthejamgoesout，it’llcarryhimtoKingdomCome。\"
JimmyPowersreturnedred—facedfromhisinterview。
\"Hetoldmetogotohell，\"hesaidshortly。
\"Oh，hedid，\"snappedOrde。\"Ishouldthinkwehadenoughwithoutthatoldidiot！\"
WiththeshortnervousleapsofasuppressedangerherandowntowheretheSPRITEhadjusttowedtheNumberOnedriverintoanewposition。
\"LaymealongsidetheLUCYBELLE，\"hetoldMarsh。
ButSimpson，inapositionofimportanceatlast，wasdisinclinedtolisten。Hehadwornhisblueclothesandbrassbuttonsforagoodmanyyearsinchargeonlyofboxesandbarrels。Nowatastrokehefoundhimselfcommanderovertenscorepeople。Likewise，atfiftycentsahead，heforesawagoodthingaslongashighwatershouldlast。Hehadrisennoblytotheoccasion；forhehadevenhoistedhisbuntingandbroughtwithhimthelocalbrassband。Orde，brusqueinhisdesiretohurrythroughanaffairofminorimportance，rubbedthemanthewrongway。
\"IreckonI’vesomerightsonthisriver，\"CaptainSimpsonconcludedtheargument，\"andIain’tagoin’tobebulldozedoutofthem。\"
Theexcursionists，typical\"trippers\"fromRedding，Holland，MonroviaandMuskegon，cheeredthissentimentandjeeredatOrde。
Ordenoddedbriefly。
\"Marsh，\"saidhetohiscaptaininalowvoice，\"getacrewandtakethemincharge。Run’emoff。\"
Assoonasthetugtouchedthepiling，hewasoffandaway，payingnofurtherattentiontoamatteralreadysettled。CaptainMarshcalledadozenrivermentohim；laidtheSPRITEalongsidetheLUCY
BELLE，andinspiteofSimpson’sscandalisedprotestsandanincipientpanicamongthepassengers，thrustasidetheregularcrewofthesteamshipandtookcharge。Quitecalmlyhesurveyedthescene。Fromtheheightofthesteamer’sbridgehecouldseeabroadoverthecountry。AwarmJunesunfloodedthelandscapewhichwasfilledwiththepeaceofearlysummer。Theriverseemedtoflowsmoothlyandquietlyenough，inspiteoftheswiftnessofitscurrentandtheswollenvolumeofitswaters。Onlyupstreamwherethebigjamshruggedandgroaneddidanyelementjaronthepeaceofthescene；andeventhat，incontrasttotherestofthelandscape，affordedsmallhinttotheinexperiencedeyeoftheimminenceofamightydestruction。
CaptainMarshpaidlittleattentiontoallthis。Hiseyesweptrapidlyupanddownwherethebanksusedtobeuntilhesawacrosscurrentdeeperthantherestsweepinginathwarttheinundatedfields。Heswungoverthewheelandrangtotheengine—roomforhalfspeedahead。SlowlytheLUCYBELLEanswered。QuitecalmlyCaptainMarshrammedherthroughtheopeningandoutoverthecornfields。TheLUCYBELLEwasatypicalriversteamboat，builtlightinthedraughtinordertoslideoverthenumerousshiftingbarstobeencounteredinhercustomarybusiness。WhenCaptainMarshsawthathehadhittheopening，herangforfullspeed，andrammedthepooroldLUCYBELLEhardagroundinaboutafootofwaterthroughwhichafewmournfuldriedcornstalkswereshowingtheirheads。Then，hishandsinhispockets，hesaunteredoutofthepilot—housetothedeck。
\"Nowifyouwanttopicnic，\"hetoldtheastonishedandfrightenedexcursionists，\"gotoit！\"
Withentireindifferencetothewater，hevaultedoverthelowrailandsplashedaway。Therivermenandtheengineerwhohadaccompaniedhimlingeredonlylongenoughtostartuptheband。
\"Nowyou’resafeasacowtiedtoabrickwall，\"saidtheRoughRed，whoseappearancealonehadgonefartowardoverawingthepassengers。
\"Bejoyful。Startupthemusic。Startherup，Itellyou！\"
Thebandhastilybegantosquawk，verymuchoutoftime，andsomewhatoutoftune。
\"That’sright，\"grinnedtheRoughRedsavagely，\"keepherup。IfyouquitbeforeIgetbacktowork，I’llcomebackandtakeyouapart。\"
Theywadedthroughtheshallowwaterinthecornfield。AfterthemwaftedtheratherdisorganisedstrainsofWHOA，EMMA。CaptainSimpsonwasindulginginwhatresembledheatapoplexy。AfteratimetheLUCYBELLE’Screwrecoveredtheirscatteredwitssufficientlytotransportthepassengersinsmallboatstoapointnearthecountyroad，whencealltrudgedtotown。TheLUCYBELLEgrewinthecornfielduntilseveralweekslater，whentimewasfoundtopullheroffonrollers。
ArrivedattheboomsCaptainMarshshooktheloosewaterfromhislegs。
\"Allright，sir，\"hereportedtoOrde。\"Iran’emashoreyonder。\"
Ordelookedup，brushingthehairfromhiseyes。Heglancedinthedirectionofthecornfield，andaquickgrinflickeredacrosstheabsorbedexpressionofhisface。
\"Ishouldthinkyoudid，\"saidhebriefly。\"Iguessthat’llendtheexcursionbusiness。NowtakeNumberTwoupbelowtheswing；andthenrundownandseeifyoucandiscoverTom。Hewentsomewhereafterpilesaboutanhourago。\"
DownriverthevariousmillownerswerebusywithwhatmentheyhadleftinstringingdefencesacrosstheriverincaseOrde’sworksshouldgoout。WhenOrdeheardthishesworevigourously。
\"Crazyfools，\"hespatout。\"They’dbealotbetteroffhelpinghere。Ifthisgoesout，theirlittleboomswon’tamounttoawhiffofwind。\"
Hesentwordtothateffect；but，lackingtheenforcementofhispersonalpresencehismessagesdidnotcarryconviction，andthepanic—strickenownerscontinuedtolabour，eachaccordingtohisideas，onwhatOrde’sclearervisionsawtobeaseriesofalmostcomicalfutilities。However，Weltonansweredthesummons。Ordehailedhiscomingwithashout。
\"Iwantadredge，\"heyelled，assoonasthelumbermanwaswithindistance。\"IbelievewecanrelievethepressuresomewhatbyachannelintoSteam’sbayou。GetthatGovernmentdredgeupandthroughthebayouassoonasyoucan。\"
\"Allright，\"saidWeltonbriefly。\"Canyouholdher？\"
\"I’vegottoholdher，\"repliedOrdebetweenhisclenchedteeth。
\"HaveyouseenNewmark？WhereinHELLisNewmark？Ineedhimforfiftythings，andhe’sdisappearedoffthefaceoftheearth！
Purdy！thatsecondcable！She’ssnappedastrand！Getareinforcinglineonher！\"HeraninthedirectionofthenewdangerwithoutanotherthoughtofWelton。
Bythelateafternooncasualspectatorsfromthecountrysidehadgatheredinsomenumber。Thebolderormorecuriousoftheseaddedafurthertouchofanxietytothesituationbyclamberingoutoverthejamforabetterview。Ordeissuedinstructionsthattheseshouldkeepoffthelogs；butinspiteofthat，withtheimpertinentperseveranceofthesight—seer，manypersistedfromtimetotime，whentherivermenweretoobusilyengagedtoattendtothem，inventuringoutwheretheywerenotonlyindangerbutalsointheway。TomNorthwouldhavenoneofthisonhispile—driver。Ifamanwasnotactuallyworking，hehadnobusinessonNumberOne。
\"But，\"protestedaspectatormildly，\"IOWNthisdriver。Ihaven’tanyobjectionstoyourgrabbingherinthisemergency，evenifyoudidmanhandlemycaptain；butsurelyyouarenotgoingtokeepmeoffmyownproperty？\"
\"Idon’tgiveatinker’sdamnwhoyouare，\"repliedNorthsturdily。
\"Ifyou’renotworking，yougetoff。\"
Andgetoffhedid。
Thebroaddeckofthepile—driverscowwasatemptingpointfromwhichtosurveythework，andtheuglyjam，andthewaterboilingangrily，andthehollow—eyed，dishevelledmaniacswhoworkeddoggedlywithsetteethasthoughtheyhadnotalreadygonewithouttwonights’sleep。Northhadoftentoorderashoreintruders，untilhistempershortenedtothevanishingpoint。Onebighulkingcountrymanattemptedtoarguethepoint。Northpromptlyknockedhimoverboardintotheshallowwaterbetweenthedriverandthebank。
Hedidnotrise；soNorthfishedforhiminthemostmatter—of—factwaywithaboathook，threwhimonthebankunconscious，andwentondrivingpiles！Theincidentraisedalaughamongthemen。
Butfleshandbloodhasitslimitofendurance；andthatlimitwasalmostreached。Ordeheardthefirstpremonitionsofreactioninthemildgrumblingsthatarose。Heknewthesemenwellfromhislongexperiencewiththem。Althoughtheneedforstruggleagainstthetirelessdynamicsoftheriverwasasinsistentasever；
althoughitseemedcertainthatamoment’scessationofeffortwouldpermittheenemyanirretrievablegain，hecalledahaltonthewholework。
\"Boys，\"saidhe，irrelevantly，\"let’shaveasmoke？\"
Hesettheexamplebythrowinghimselffulllengthagainstaslantingpileandmostleisurelyfillinghispipe。Themenstaredamoment；thenfollowedhisexample。Agreatpeaceofeveningfilledthesky。Thehorizonlaylowandblackagainsttheafterglow。
Beneathittherivershonelikesilver。Onlythegroaning，theheaveandshruggingofthejam，andthelowthreateninggurgleofhurryingwatersremindedthetoil—wearymenoftheenemy’scontinuedactivity。OverbeyondtheriseoflandthatlaybetweentheriverandStearn’sBayoucouldbeseenthecloudofmingledsmokeandsteamthatmarkedtheactivitiesofthedredge。Fortenminutestheyrestedinthesolaceoftobacco。Ordewasapparentlymoreateasethananyoftherest，buteachinstantheexpectedtohearthepremonitoryCRACKthatwouldsoundtheendofeverything。Finallyheyawned，knockedtheashesfromhispipe，andgottohisfeet。
\"Now，\"saidhe，anewringinhisvoice，\"comeonandlet’sgetsomethingDONE！\"
Theyrespondedtoaman。
XL
Bymidnightthewaterseemedtohavegonedownslightly。Halfthecrewsnatchedalittlesleep。Forseveralhoursmoretheissuehungaggravatinglyinequilibrium。Then，withtheopeningofthechannelintoStearn’sBayoutheheaviestpressurewasrelieved。Forthemomenttheacutedangerpointwaspassed。
Ordespentthenexttwodaysinstrengtheningthedefences。Themenwereabletotaketheirquotaofmealsandofsleep。Merelytheworkinghourswerelongerthanusual。Ordehimselfsleptlittle，andwasstillpossessedbyafeverishactivity。Thefloodcontinuedataboutthesamevolume。Untilthewatershouldsubside，thedangercouldnotbeconsideredcompletelyoverwith。
InthesefewdaysofcomparativeleisureOrdehadtimetolookabouthimandtoreceivenews。ThejamhadbeensuccessfullyheldattheironrailroadbridgeaboveRedding；butonlybythemoststrenuousefforts。Bracesofoakbeamshadbeenslantedwheretheywoulddothemostgood；chainsstrengthenedtheweakerspots；andontopofalltonaftertonofrailroadironheldthewholeimmovably。Nolanhadenjoyedtheadvantageofa\"floating\"jam；ofconvenientfacilitiesincidenttoalargecity；andofanarousedpublicsentimentthatprofferedhimallthehelphecoulduse。Monrovia，littlevillagethatitwas，hadnotgraspedthesituation。Reddingsawitclearly。Thelossofthetimberalone——representingsomemillionsofdollars’worthofthesawedproduct——wouldmeanfailureofmillcompanies，ofbanksholdingtheirpaper，andsooffirmsinotherlinesofbusiness；andbesideswouldthrowthousandsofmenoutofemployment。Furthermore，whatwasquiteasserious，shouldtheironbridgegiveway，thewoodenbridgesbelowcouldhardlyfailtogoout。RailroadcommunicationbetweeneasternandwesternMichiganwouldbeentirelycutoff。Foraseasonindustryofeverydescriptionwouldbepracticallyparalysed。ThereforeNolanhadallthehelpherequired。Everydeviceknownwasemployedtostrengthenthejam。Foronlyafewhourswastheresultindoubt。ThenastheCLARIONjubilantlyexpressedit，\"It’sahundreddollarstoanoldhatsheholds！\"
