the riverman-第4章
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if indeed they reach him at all。 Thus； often he works all day up to
his waist in a current bearing the rotten ice of the first break…up；
or endures the drenching of an early spring rain； or battles the
rigours of a belated snow with apparent indifference。 You or I
would be exceedingly uncomfortable； would require an effort of
fortitude to make the plunge。 Yet these men； absorbed in the mighty
problems of their task； have little attention to spare to such
things。 The cold； the wet； the discomfort； the hunger； the
weariness； all pass as shadows on the background。 In like manner
the softer moods of the spring rarely penetrate through the
concentration of faculties on the work。 The warm sun shines； the
birds by thousands flutter and twitter and sing their way north； the
delicate green of spring； showered from the hand of the passing
Sower； sprinkles the tops of the trees； and gradually sifts down
through the branches； the great； beautiful silver clouds sail down
the horizon like ships of a statelier age； as totally without actual
existence to these men。 The logs； the riverthose are enough to
strain all the faculties a man possesses； and more。
So when； as now； a chance combination of circumstances brings them
leisure to look about them； the forest and the world of out…of…doors
comes to them with a freshness impossible for the city dweller to
realise。 The surroundings are accustomed； but they bring new
messages。 To most of them； these impressions never reach the point
of coherency。 They brood； and muse； and expand in the actual and
figurative warmth； and proffer the general opinion that it is a damn
fine day！
Another full half hour elapsed before the situation developed
further。 Then Tom North's friend Jim； who had gathered his long
figure on the top of a stump； unclasped his knees and remarked that
old Plug Hat was back。
The men arose to their feet and peered cautiously through the brush。
They saw Reed； accompanied by a thick…set man whom some recognised
as the sheriff of the county； approach the edge of the dam。 A
moment later the working crew mounted to the top； stacked their
tools neatly； resumed their coats and jackets； and departed up the
road in convoy of the sheriff。
A gasp of astonishment broke from the concealed rivermen。
〃Well； I'll be damned！〃 ejaculated one。 〃What are we comin' to？
That's the first time I ever see one lonesome sheriff gather in ten
river…hogs without the aid of a gatlin' or an ambulance！ What's the
matter with that chicken…livered bunch； anyway？〃
Orde watched them； his eyes expressionless； until they had
disappeared in the fringe of the forest Then he turned to the
astonished group。
〃Jim；〃 said he； 〃and you； Ellis； and you； and you； and you； and you；
get to work on that dam。 And remember this； if you are arrested； go
peaceably。 Any resistance will spoil the whole game。〃
The men broke into mingled cheers and laughter as the full
significance of Orde's plan reached them。 They streamed back to the
dam； where they perched proffering advice and encouragement to those
about to descend。
Immediately； however； Reed was out； his eyes blazing either side his
hawk nose。
〃Here！〃 he cried； 〃quit that！ I'll have ye arrested！〃
〃Arrest ahead；〃 replied Orde coldly。
Reed stormed back and forth for a moment； then departed at full
speed up the road。
〃Now； boys； get as much done as possible；〃 urged Orde。 〃We better
get back in the brush； or he may try to take in the whole b'iling of
us on some sort of a blanket warrant。〃
〃How about the other boys？〃 inquired North。
〃I gave one of them a telegram to send to Daly；〃 replied Orde。
〃Daly will be up to bail them out。〃
Once more they hid in the woods； and again； after a longer interval；
the mill owner and the sheriff reappeared。 Reed appeared to be
expostulating violently； and a number of times pointed up river； but
the sheriff went ahead stolidly to the dam； summoned those working
below； and departed up the road as before。 Reed stood uncertain
until he saw the rivermen beginning to re…emerge from the brush；
then followed the officer at top speed。
Without the necessity of command； a half…dozen men leaped down on
the apron。 The previous crews had made considerable progress in
weakening the heavy supports。 As soon as these should be cut out
and the backing removed； the mere sawing through of the massive sill
should carry away the whole obstruction。
〃Next time will decide it；〃 remarked Orde。 〃If the sheriff brings a
posse and sits down to lay for us； of course we won't be able to get
near to finish the job。〃
〃I didn't think that of George Morris；〃 commented Sims in an
aggrieved way。 〃He was a riverman himself once before he was
sheriff。〃
〃He's got to obey orders； and serve a warrant when it's issued； of
course；〃 replied Orde to this。 〃What did you expect？〃
At the end of another hour； which brought the time to four o'clock；
the sheriff made his third appearancethis time in a side…bar
buggy。
〃I wish I dared join that confab；〃 said Orde； 〃and hear what's going
on； but I'm afraid he'd jug me sure。〃
〃He wouldn't jug me；〃 spoke up Newmark。 〃I'll go down。〃
〃Bully for you！〃 agreed Orde。
The young man departed in his precise； methodical manner； picking
his way rather mincingly among the inequalities of the trail。 In
spite of the worn and wrinkled condition of his garments； they
retained something of a city hang and smartness that sharply
differentiated their wearer from even the well…dressed citizens of a
smaller town。 They seemed to match the refined； shrewd； but cold
intelligence of his lean and nervous face。
About sunset he returned from a scene which the distant spectators
had watched with breathless interest。 It was in essence only a
repetition of the two that had preceded it； but Reed had evidently
gone almost to the point of violence in his insistence； and the
sheriff had shaken him off rudely。 Finally； Morris and his six
prisoners had trailed away。 The sheriff and North's friend occupied
the seat of the buggy； while the other five trudged peaceably
alongside。 Once again Reed clattered away on his bony steed； but
this time ahead of the official party。
With a whoop the river crew； now reduced to a scant dozen； rushed
down to meet the too deliberate Newmark。
〃Well？〃 they demanded； crowding about him。
〃Reed wanted the sheriff to stay and protect the dam；〃 reported
Newmark in his brief； dry manner。 〃Sheriff refused。 Said his duty
was simply to arrest on warrant； and as often as Reed got out
warrants； he'd serve them。 Reed said； then； he should get a posse
and hunt up Orde and the rest of them。 Sheriff replied that as far
as he could see； the terms of his warrant were covered by the men he
found working on the dam； Reed demanded protection； Sheriff said for
him to get an injunction； and it would be enforced。〃
〃Well； that's all right；〃 interjected Orde with satisfaction。
〃We'll have her cut through before he gets that injunction； and I
guess I've got men enough here and down river to get through before
we're ALL arrested。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Newmark； 〃that's all very well。 But now he's gone to
telegraph the governor to send the troops。〃
Orde whistled a jig tune。
〃Kind of expected that； boys；〃 said he。 〃Let's see。 The next train
out from ReddingThey'll be here by five in the morning at soonest。
Hope it'll be later。〃
〃What will you do？〃 asked Newmark。
〃Take chances；〃 replied Orde。 〃All you boys get to work。 Zeke；〃 he
commanded one of the cookees； 〃go up road； and report if Morris
comes back。 I reckon this time we'll have to scatter if he comes
after us。 I hope we won't have to； though。 Like to keep everything
square on account of this State troop business。〃
The sun had dropped below the fringe of trees； which immediately
etched their delicate outlines against a pale； translucent green
sky。 Two straight； thin columns of smoke rose from the neglected
camp…fires。 Orde； glancing around him； noticed these。
〃Doctor；〃 he commanded sharply； 〃get at your grub！ Make some coffee
right off； and bring it down。 Get the lanterns from the wanigan；
and bring them to the dam。 Come on； boys！〃
Over a score of men attacked the sluice…way； for by now part of the
rear crew had come down river。 The pond above had recovered its
volume。 Water was beginning to trickle over the top of the gate。
In a short time progress became difficult； almost impossible； The
men worked up to their knees in swift water。 They could not see；
and the strokes of axe or pick lost much of their force against the
liquid。 Dusk fell。 The fringe of the forest became mysterious in
its velvet dark。 Silver streaks； of a supernal calm； suggested the
reaches of the pond。 Above； the sky's day surface unfolded and
receded and dissolved and melted away until； through the pale
afterglow； one saw beyond into the infinities。 Down by the sluice a
dozen lanterns flickered and blinked yellow against the blue…
blackness of the night。
After some time Orde called his crew off and opened the sluice…
gates。 The water had become too deep for effective work； and a half
hour's flow would reduce the pressure。 The time was occupied in
eating and in drying off about the huge fire the second cookee had
built close at hand。
〃Water cold； boys？〃 asked Orde。
〃Some；〃 was his reply。
〃Want to quit？〃 he inquired； with mock solicitude。
〃Nary quit。〃
Orde's shout of laughter broke the night silence of the whispering
breeze and the rushing water。
〃We'll stick to 'em like death to a dead nigger；〃 was his comment。
Newmark； having extracted a kind of cardigan jacket from the bag he
had brought with him as far as the mill； looked at the smooth； iron…
black water and shivered。
When the meal was finished； the men lit their pipes and went back to
work philosophically。 With entire absorption in the task； they dug；
chopped； and picked。 The dull sound of blows； the gurgle and
trickle of the water； the occasional grunt or brief comment of a
riverman alone broke the calm of evening。 Now that the sluice…gate
was down and the water had ceased temporarily to flow over it； the
work went faster。 Orde； watching with the eye of an expert；
vouchsafed to the taciturn Newmark that he thought they'd make it。
Near midnight； however； a swaying lantern was seen approaching。
Orde； leaping to his feet with a curse at the boy on watch； heard
the sound of wheels。 A moment later； Daly's bulky form stepped into
the illumination of the fire。
Orde wandered over to where his principal stood peering about him。
〃Hullo！〃 sa
