the riverman-第32章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



from　the　Saginaw；　sixty　strong；　have　been　sent　in　by　Heinzman。　　He　

says　Heinzman　hired　them　to　come　over　not　to　work；　but　just　to　fight　

and　annoy　us。〃



〃That　so？〃　said　Orde。　　〃Well；　where　are　they？〃

s。　　Like　

Silver　Jack　of　the　Muskegon；　his　exploits　had　been　celebrated　in　

song。　　A　big；　broad…faced　man；　with　a　red　beard；　they　had　told　him；　

with　little；　flickering　eyes；　a　huge　voice　that　bellowed　through　the　

woods　in　a　torrent　of　commands　and　imprecations；　strong　as　a　bull；　

and　savage　as　a　wild　beast。　　A　hint　of　his　quality　will　suffice　from　

the　many　stories　circulated　about　him。　　It　was　said　that　while　

jobbing　for　Morrison　and　Daly；　in　some　of　that　firm's　Saginaw　Valley　

holdings；　the　Rough　Red　had　discovered　that　a　horse　had　gone　lame。　　

He　called　the　driver　of　that　team　before　him；　seized　an　iron　

starting　bar；　and　with　it　broke　the　man's　leg。　　〃Try　th'　lameness　

yourself；　Barney　Mallan；〃　said　he。　　To　appeal　to　the　charity　of　such　

a　man　would　be　utterly　useless。　　Orde　saw　this　point。　　He　picked　up　

his　reins　and　spoke　to　his　team。



But　before　the　horses　had　

〃Don't　know。　　But　he　sticks　by　his　story；　and　tells　it　pretty　

straight。〃



〃Bring　him　over；　and　let's　hear　it；〃　said　Orde。



〃Hullo；　Charlie！〃　he　greeted　the　cook　when　the　latter　stood　before　

him。　　〃What's　this　yarn　Jim's　telling　me？〃



〃It's　straight；　Mr。　Orde；〃　said　the　cook。　　〃There's　a　big　crew　

brought　in　from　the　Saginaw　Waters　to　do　you　up。　　They're　supposed　

to　be　over　here　to　run　his　drive；　but　really　they're　goin'　to　fight　

and　raise　hell。　　For　why　would　he　want　sixty　men　to　break　out　them　

little　rollways　of　his'n　up　at　the　headwaters？〃



〃Is　that　where　they've　gone？〃　asked　Orde　like　a　flash。



〃Yes；　sir。　　And　he　only　owns　a　'forty'　up　there；　and　it　ain't　more'n　

half　cut；　anyway。〃



〃I　didn't　know　he　owned　any。〃



〃Yes；　sir。　　He　bought　that　little　Johnson　piece　last　winter。　　I　been　

workin'　up　there　with　a　little　two…horse　crew　since　January。　　We　

didn't　put　up　more'n　a　couple　hundred　thousand。〃



〃Is　he　breaking　out　his　rollways　below？〃　Orde　asked　Denning。



〃No；　sir；〃　struck　in　Charlie；　〃he　ain't。〃



〃How　do　you　happen　to　be　so　wise？〃　inquired　Orde；　〃Seems　to　me　you　

know　about　as　much　as　old　man　Solomon。〃



〃Well；〃　explained　Charlie；　〃you　see　it's　like　this。　　When　I　got　back　

from　the　woods　last　week；　I　just　sort　of　happened　into　McNeill's　

place。　　I　wasn't　drinkin'　a　drop！〃　he　cried　virtuously；　in　answer　to　

Orde's　smile。



〃Of　course　not；〃　said　Orde。　　〃I　was　just　thinking　of　the　last　time　

we　were　in　there　together。〃



〃That's　just　it！〃　cried　Charlie。　　〃They　was　always　sore　at　you　about　

that。　　Well；　I　was　lyin'　on　one　of　those　there　benches　back　of　the　

'Merican　flags　in　the　dance　hall　'cause　I　was　very　sleepy；　when　in　

blew　old　man　Heinzman　and　McNeill　himself。　　I　just　lay　low　for　black　

ducks　and　heard　their　talk。　　They　took　a　look　around；　but　didn't　see　

no　one；　so　they　opened　her　up　wide。〃



〃What　did　you　hear？〃　asked　Orde。



Well；　McNeill　he　agreed　to　get　a　gang　of　bad　ones　from　the　Saginaw　

to　run　in　on　the　river；　and　I　heard　Heinzman　tell　him　to　send　'em　in　

to　headwaters。　　And　McNeill　said；　'That's　all　right　about　the　cash；　

Mr。　Heinzman；　but　I　been　figgerin'　on　gettin'　even　with　Orde　for　

some　myself。'〃



〃Is　that　all？〃　inquired　Orde。



〃That's　about　all；〃　confessed　Charlie。



〃How　do　you　know　he　didn't　hire　them　to　carry　down　his　drive　for　

him？　　He'd　need　sixty　men　for　his　lower　rollways；　and　maybe　they　

weren't　all　to　go　to　headwaters？〃　asked　Orde　by　way　of　testing　

Charlie's　beliefs。



〃He's　payin'　them　four　dollars　a　day；〃　replied　Charlie　simply。　　

〃Now；　who'd　pay　that　fer　just　river　work？〃



Orde　nodded　at　Jim　Denning。



〃Hold　on；　Charlie；〃　said　he。　　〃Why　are　you　giving　all　this　away　if　

you　were　working　for　Heinzman？〃



〃I'm　working　for　you　now；〃　replied　Charlie　with　dignity。　　〃And；　

besides；　you　helped　me　out　once　yourself。〃



I　guess　it's　a　straight　tip　all　right；〃　said　Orde　to　Denning；　when　

the　cook　had　resumed　his　place　by　the　fire。



〃Thattaken　three　steps；　a　huge　riverman　had　

planted　himself　squarely　in　the　way。　　The　others　rising；　slowly　

surrounded　the　rig。



〃I　don't　know　what　you're　up　here　for；〃　growled　the　man's　what　I　thought。　　That's

why　I　brought　him　up。〃



〃If　that　crew's　been　sent　in　there；　it　means　only　one　thing　at　that　

end　of　the　line；〃　said　Orde。



〃Sure。　　They're　sent　up　to　waste　out　the　water　in　the　reservoir　and　

hang　this　end　of　the　drive；〃　replied　Denning。



〃Correct；〃　said　Orde。　　〃The　old　skunk　knows　his　own　rollways　are　so　

far　down　stream　that　he's　safe；　flood　water　or　no　flood　water。〃



A　pause　ensued；　during　which　the　two　smoked　vigorously。



〃What　are　you　going　to　do　about　it？〃　asked　Denning　at　last。



〃What　would　you　do？〃　countered　Orde。



〃Well；〃　said　Denning　slowly；　and　with　a　certain　grim　joy；　〃I　don't　

bet　those　Saginaw　river…pigs　are　any　more　two…fisted　than　the　boys　

on　this　river。　　I'd　go　up　and　clean　'em　out。〃



〃Won't　do；〃　negatived　Orde　briefly。　　〃In　the　first　place；　as　you　

know　very　well；　we're　short…handed　now；　and　we　can't　spare　the　men　

from　the　work。　　In　the　second　place；　we'd　hang　up　sure；　then；　to　go　

up　in　that　wilderness；　fifty　miles　from　civilisation；　would　mean　a　

first…class　row　of　too　big　a　size　to　handle。　　Won't　do！〃



〃Suppose　you　get　a　lawyer；〃　suggested　Denning　sarcastically。



Orde　laughed　with　great　good…humour



〃Where'd　our　water　be　by　the　time　he　got　an　injunction　for　us？〃



He　fell　into　a　brown　study；　during　which　his　pipe　went　out。



〃Jim；〃　he　said　finally；　〃it　isn't　a　fair　game。　　I　don't　know　what　to　

do。　　Delay　will　hang　us；　taking　men　off　the　work　will　hang　us。　　I've　

just　got　to　go　tip　there　myself　and　see　what　can　be　done　by　talking　

to　them。〃



〃Talking　to　them！〃　Denning　snorted。　　〃You　might　as　well　whistle　down　

the　draught…pipe　of　hell！　　If　they're　just　up　there　for　a　row；　

there'll　be　whisky　in　camp；　and　you　can　bet　McNeill's　got　some　of　

'em　instructed　on　YOUR　account。　　They'll　kill　you；　sure！〃



〃I　agree　with　you　it's　risky；〃　replied　Orde。　　〃I'm　scared；　I'm　

willing　to　admit　it。　　But　I　don't　see　what　else　to　do。　　Of　course　

he's　got　no　rights；　but　what　the　hell　good　does　that　do　us　after　our　

water　is　gone？　　And　Jim；　my　son；　if　we　hang　this　drive；　I'll　be　

buried　so　deep　I　never　will　dig　out。　　No；　I've　got　to　go。　　You　can　

stay　up　here　in　charge　of　the　rear　until　I　get　back。　　Send　word　by　

Charlie　who's　to　boss　your　division　while　you're　gone。〃







XXIII





Orde　tramped　back　to　Sawyer's　early　next　morning；　hitched　into　the　

light　buckboard　the　excellent　team　with　which　later；　when　the　drive　

should　spread　out；　he　would　make　his　longest　jumps；　and　drove　to　

head…waters。　　He　arrived　in　sight　of　the　dam　about　three　o'clock。　　

At　the　edge　of　the　clearing　he　pulled　up　to　survey　the　scene。



A　group　of　three　small　log…cabins　marked　the　Johnson；　and　later　the　

Heinzman；　camp。　　From　the　chimneys　a　smoke　arose。　　Twenty　or　thirty　

rivermen　lounged　about　the　sunny　side　of　the　largest　structure。　　

They　had　evidently　just　arrived；　for　some　of　their　〃turkeys〃　were　

still　piled　outside　the　door。　　Orde　clucked　to　his　horses；　and　the　

spidery　wheels　of　the　buckboard　swung　lightly　over　the　wet　hummocks　

of　the　clearing；　to　come　to　a　stop　opposite　the　men。　　Orde　leaned　

forward　against　his　knees。



〃Hullo；　boys！〃　said　he　cheerfully。



No　one　replied；　though　two　or　three　nodded　surlily。　　Orde　looked　

them　over　with　some　interest。



They　were　a　dirty；　unkempt；　unshaven；　hard…looking　lot；　with　

bloodshot　eyes；　a　flicker　of　the　dare…devil　in　expression；　beyond　

the　first　youth；　hardened　into　an　enduring　toughness　of　　fibrebad　

men　from　the　Saginaw；　in　truth；　and；　unless　Orde　was　mistaken；　men　

just　off　a　drunk；　and　therefore　especially　dangerous；　men　eager　to　

fight　at　the　drop　of　the　hat；　or　sooner；　to　be　accommodating；　and　

ready　to　employ　in　their　assaults　all　the　formidable　and　terrifying　

weapons　of　the　rough…and…tumble；　reckless；　hard；　irreverrent；　

blasphemous；　to　be　gained　over　by　no　words；　fair　or　foul；　absolutely　

scornful　of　any　and　all　institutions　imposed　on　them　by　any　other　

but　the　few　men　whom　they　acknowledged　as　their　leaders。　　And　to　

master　these　men's　respect　there　needed　either　superlative　strength；　

superlative　recklessness；　or　superlative　skill。



〃Who's　your　boss？〃　asked　Orde。



〃The　Rough　Red；〃　growled　one　of　the　men　without　moving。



Orde　had　heard　of　this　man；　of　his　personality　and　his　deed　at　the　

horses'　heads；　〃but　you　wanted　to　see　the　boss；　and　I　guess　you'd　

better　see　him。〃



〃I　intend　to　see　him；〃　said　Orde　sharply。　　〃Get　out　of　the　way　and　

let　me　hitch　my　team。〃



He　drove　deliberately　ahead；　forcing　the　man　to　step　aside；　and　

stopped　his　horses　by　a　stub。　　He　tied　them　there　and　descended；　to　

lean　his　back　also　against　the　log　walls　of　the　little　house。



After　a　few　moments　a　huge　form　appeared　above　the　river　bank　at　

some　forty　rods'　distance。



〃Yonder　he　comes　now；〃　vouchsafed　the　man　nearest　Orde。



Orde　made　out　the　great　square　figure　of　the　boss；　his　soft　hat；　his　

flaming　red　beard；　his　dingy　mackinaw　coat；　his　dingy　black…and…

white　checked　flannel　shirt；　his　dingy　blue　trousers　tucked　into　

high　socks；　and；　instead　of　driving　boots；　his　ordinary　lumberman's　

rubbers。　　As　a　spot　of　colour；　he　wore　a　flaming　red　knit　sash；　with　

tassels。　　Before　he　had　approached　near　enough　to　be　plainly　

distinguishable；　he　began　to　bellow　at　the　men；　commanding　them；　

with　a　mighty　array　of　oaths；　to　wake　up　and　get　the　sluice…gate　

open。　　In　a　moment　or　so　he　had　disappeared　behind　some　bushes　that　

intervened　in　his　approach　to　the　house。　　His　course　through　them　

could　be　traced　by　the　top　of　his　cap；　which　just　showed　above　them。　　

In　a　moment　he　thrust　through　the　brush　and　stood　before　Orde。



For　a　moment　he　stared　at　the　young　man；　and　then；　with　a　wild　Irish　

yell；　leaped　upon　him。　　Orde；　caught　unawares　and　in　an　awkward　

position；　was　hardly　able　even　to　struggle　against　the　gigantic　

riverman。　　Indeed；　before　he　had　recovered　his　faculties　to　the　

point　of　offering　determined　resistance；　he　was　pinned　back　against　

the　wall　by　his　shoulders；　and　the　Rough　Red's　face　was　within　two　

feet　of　his　own。



〃And　how　are　ye；　ye　ould　darlint？〃　shouted　the　latter；　with　a　roll　

of　oaths。



〃Why；　Jimmy　Bourke！〃　cried　Orde；　and　burst　into　a　laugh。



The　Rough　Red　jerked　him　to　his　feet；　delivered　a　bear　hug　that　

nearly　crushed　his　ribs；　and　pounded　him　mightily　on　the　back。



〃You　ould　snoozer！〃　he　bellowed。　　〃Where　the　blankety　blank　in　blank　

did　you　come　from？　　Byes；〃　he　shouted　to　the　men；　〃it's　me　ould　boss　

on　th'　Au　Sable　six　year　backthat　time；　ye　mind；　whin　we　had　th'