the riverman-第43章

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as　collateral。





Affairs　stood　thus　in　the　autumn　before　the　year　the　notes　would　

come　due。　　The　weather　had　been　beautiful。　　A　perpetual　summer　

seemed　to　have　embalmed　the　world　in　its　forgetfulness　of　times　and　

seasons。　　Navigation　remained　open　through　October　and　into　

November。　　No　severe　storms　had　as　yet　swept　the　lakes。　　The　barge　

and　her　two　tows　had　made　one　more　trip　than　had　been　thought　

possible。　　It　had　been　the　intention　to　lay　them　up　for　the　winter；　

but　the　weather　continued　so　mild　that　Orde　suggested　they　be　laden　

with　a　consignment　for　Jones　and　Mabley；　of　Chicago。



〃Did　intend　to　ship　by　rail；〃　said　he。　　〃They're　all　'uppers；'　so　it　

would　pay　all　right。　　But　we　can　save　all　kinds　of　money　by　water；　

and　they　ought　to　skip　over　there　in　twelve　to　fifteen　hours。〃



Accordingly；　the　three　vessels　were　laid　alongside　the　wharves　at　

the　mill；　and　as　fast　as　possible　the　selected　lumber　was　passed　

into　their　holds。　　Orde　departed　for　the　woods　to　start　the　cutting　

as　soon　as　the　first　belated　snow　should　fall。



This　condition　seemed；　however；　to　delay。　　During　each　night　it　grew　

cold。　　The　leaves；　after　their　blaze　and　riot　of　colour；　turned　

crisp　and　crackly　and　brown。　　Some　of　the　little；　still　puddles　were　

filmed　with　what　was　almost；　but　not　quite　ice。　　A　sheen　of　frost　

whitened　the　house　roofs　and　silvered　each　separate　blade　of　grass　

on　the　lawns。　　But　by　noon　the　sun；　rising　red　in　the　veil　of　smoke　

that　hung　low　in　the　snappy　air；　had　mellowed　the　atmosphere　until　

it　lay　on　the　cheek　like　a　caress。　　No　breath　of　wind　stirred。　　

Sounds　came　clearly　from　a　distance。　　Long　V…shaped　flights　of　geese　

swept　athwart　the　sky；　very　high　up；　but　their　honking　came　faintly　

to　the　ear。　　And　yet；　when　the　sun；　swollen　to　the　great　dimensions　

of　the　rising　moon；　dipped　blood…red　through　the　haze；　the　first　

premonitory　tingle　of　cold　warned　one　that　the　grateful　warmth　of　

the　day　had　been　but　an　illusion　of　a　season　that　had　gone。　　This　

was　not　summer；　but；　in　the　quaint　old　phrase；　Indian　summer；　and　

its　end　would　be　as　though　the　necromancer　had　waved　his　wand。



To　Newmark；　sitting　at　his　desk；　reported　Captain　Floyd　of　the　steam　

barge　NORTH　STAR。



〃All　loaded　by　noon；　sir；〃　he　said。



Newmark　looked　up　in　surprise。



〃Well；　why　do　you　tell　me？〃　he　inquired。



〃I　want　your　orders。〃



〃My　orders？　　Why？〃



〃This　is　a　bad　time　of　year；〃　explained　Captain　Floyd；　〃and　the　

storm　signal's　up。　　All　the　signs　are　right　for　a　blow。〃



Newmark　whirled　in　his　chair。



〃A　blow！〃　he　cried。　　〃What　of　it？　　You　don't　come　in　every　time　it　

blows；　do　you？〃



〃You　don't　know　the　lakes；　sir；　at　this　time　of　year；〃　insisted　

Captain　Floyd。



〃Are　you　afraid？〃　sneered　Newmark。



Captain　Floyd's　countenance　burned　a　dark　red。



〃I　only　want　your　orders；〃　was　all　he　said。　　〃I　thought　we　might　

wait　to　see。〃



〃Then　go；〃　snapped　Newmark。　　〃That　lumber　must　get　to　the　market。　　

You　heard　Mr。　Orde's　orders　to　sail　as　soon　as　you　were　loaded。〃



Captain　Floyd　nodded　curtly　and　went　out　without　further　comment。



Newmark　arose　and　looked　out　of　the　window。　　The　sun　shone　as　

balmily　soft　as　ever。　　English　sparrows　twittered　and　fought　

outside。　　The　warm　smell　of　pine　shingles　rose　from　the　street。　　

Only　close　down　to　the　horizon　lurked　cold；　flat；　greasy…looking　

clouds；　and　in　the　direction　of　the　Government　flag…pole　he　caught　

the　flash　of　red　from　the　lazily　floating　signal。　　He　was　little　

weatherwise；　and　he　shook　his　head　sceptically。　　Nevertheless　it　was　

a　chance；　and　he　took　it；　as　he　had　taken　a　great　many　others。







XXXIV





To　Carroll's　delight；　Orde　returned　unexpectedly　from　the　woods　late　

that　night。　　He　was　so　busy　these　days　that　she　welcomed　any　chance　

to　see　him。　　Much　to　his　disappointment；　Bobby　had　been　taken　duck…

hunting　by　his　old　friend；　Mr。　Kincaid。　　Next　morning；　however；　Orde　

told　Carroll　his　stay　would　be　short　and　that　his　day　would　be　

occupied。



〃I'd　take　old　Prince　and　get　some　air；〃　he　advised。　　〃You're　too　

much　indoors。　　Get　some　friend　and　drive　around。　　It's　fine　and　

blowy　out；　and　you'll　get　some　colour　in　your　cheeks。〃



After　breakfast　Carroll　accompanied　her　husband　to　the　front　door。　　

When　they　opened　it　a　blast　of　air　rushed　in；　whirling　some　dead　

leaves　with　it。



〃I　guess　the　fine　weather's　over；〃　said　Orde；　looking　up　at　the　sky。



A　dull　lead　colour　had　succeeded　the　soft　gray　of　the　preceding　

balmy　days。　　The　heavens　seemed　to　have　settled　down　closer　to　the　

earth。　　A　rising　wind　whistled　through　the　branches　of　the　big　maple　

trees；　snatching　the　remaining　leaves　in　handfuls　and　tossing　them　

into　the　air。　　The　tops　swayed　like　whips。　　Whirlwinds　scurried　

among　the　piles　of　dead　leaves　on　the　lawns；　scattering　them；　

chasing　them　madly　around　and　around　in　circles。



〃B…r…r…r！〃　shivered　Carroll。　　〃Winter's　coming。〃



She　kept　herself　busy　about　the　house　all　the　morning；　ate　her　lunch　

in　solitude。　　Outside；　the　fierce　wind；　rising　in　a　crescendo　

shriek；　howled　around　the　eaves。　　The　day　darkened；　but　no　rain　

fell。　　At　last　Carroll　resolved　to　take　her　husband's　advice。　　She　

stopped　for　Mina　Heinzman；　and　the　two　walked　around　to　the　stable；　

where　the　men　harnessed　old　Prince　into　the　phaeton。



They　drove；　the　wind　at　their　backs；　across　the　drawbridge；　past　the　

ship…yards；　and　out　beyond　the　mills　to　the　Marsh　Road。　　There；　on　

either　side　the　causeway；　miles　and　miles　of　cat…tails　and　reeds　

bent　and　recovered　under　the　snatches　of　the　wind。　　Here　and　there　

showed　glimpses　of　ponds　or　little　inlets；　the　surface　of　the　water　

ruffled　and　dark　blue。　　Occasionally　one　of　these　bayous　swung　in　

across　the　road。　　Then　the　two　girls　could　see　plainly　the　fan…like　

cat's…paws　skittering　here　and　there　as　though　panic…stricken　by　the　

swooping；　invisible　monster　that　pursued　them。



Carroll　and　Mina　Heinzman　had　a　good　time。　　They　liked　each　other　

very　much；　and　always　saw　a　great　deal　to　laugh　at　in　the　things　

about　them　and　in　the　subjects　about　which　they　talked。　　When；　

however；　they　turned　toward　home；　they　were　forced　silent　by　the　

mighty　power　of　the　wind　against　them。　　The　tears　ran　from　their　

eyes　as　though　they　were　crying；　they　had　to　lower　their　heads。　　

Hardly　could　Carroll　command　vision　clear　enough　to　see　the　road　

along　which　she　was　driving。　　This　was　really　unnecessary；　for　

Prince　was　buffeted　to　a　walk。　　Thus　they　crawled　along　until　they　

reached　the　turn…bridge；　where　the　right…angled　change　in　direction　

gave　them　relief。　　The　river　was　full　of　choppy　waves；　considerable　

in　size。　　As　they　crossed；　the　SPRITE　darted　beneath　them；　lowering　

her　smokestack　as　she　went　under　the　bridge。



They　entered　Main　Street；　where　was　a　great　banging　and　clanging　of　

swinging　signs　and　a　few　loose　shutters。　　All　the　sidewalk　displays　

of　vegetables　and　other　goods　had　been　taken　in；　and　the　doors；　

customarily　wide　open；　were　now　shut　fast。　　This　alone　lent　to　the　

street　quite　a　deserted　air；　which　was　emphasised　by　the　fact　that　

actually　not　a　rig　of　any　sort　stood　at　the　curbs。　　Up　the　empty　

roadway　whirled　one　after　the　other　clouds　of　dust　hurried　by　the　

wind。



〃I　wonder　where　all　the　farmers'　wagons　are？〃　marvelled　the　

practical　Mina。　　〃Surely　they　would　not　stay　home　Saturday　afternoon　

just　for　this　wind！〃



Opposite　Randall's　hardware　store　her　curiosity　quite　mastered　her。



〃Do　stop！〃　she　urged　Carroll。　　〃I　want　to　run　in　and　see　what's　the　

matter。〃



She　was　gone　but　a　moment；　and　returned；　her　eyes　shining　with　

excitement。



〃Oh；　Carroll！〃　she　cried；　〃there　are　three　vessels　gone　ashore　off　

the　piers。　　Everybody's　gone　to　see。〃



〃Jump　in！〃　said　Carroll。　　〃We'll　drive　out。　　Perhaps　they'll　get　out　

the　life…saving　crew。〃



They　drove　up　the　plank　road　over　the　sand…hill；　through　the　beech　

woods；　to　the　bluff　above　the　shore。　　In　the　woods　they　were　

somewhat　sheltered　from　the　wind；　although　even　there　the　crash　of　

falling　branches　and　the　whirl　of　twigs　and　dead　leaves　advertised　

that　the　powers　of　the　air　were　abroad；　but　when　they　topped　the　

last　rise；　the　unobstructed　blast　from　the　open　Lake　hit　them　square　

between　the　eyes。



Probably　a　hundred　vehicles　of　all　descriptions　were　hitched　to　

trees　just　within　the　fringe　of　woods。　　Carroll；　however；　drove　

straight　ahead　until　Prince　stood　at　the　top　of　the　plank　road　that　

led　down　to　the　bath　houses。　　Here　she　pulled　up。



Carroll　saw　the　lake；　slate　blue　and　angry；　with　white…capped　

billows　to　the　limit　of　vision。　　Along　the　shore　were　rows　and　rows　

of　breakers；　leaping；　breaking；　and　gathering　again；　until　they　were　

lost　in　a　tumble　of　white　foam　that　rushed　and　receded　on　the　sands。　　

These　did　not　look　to　be　very　large　until　she　noticed　the　twin　piers　

reaching　out　from　the　river's　mouth。　　Each　billow；　as　it　came　in；　

rose　sullenly　above　them；　broke　tempestuously　to　overwhelm　the　

entire　structure　of　their　ends；　and　ripped　inshore　along　their　

lengths；　the　crest　submerging　as　it　ran　every　foot　of　the　massive　

structures。　　The　piers　and　the　light…houses　at　their　ends　looked　

like　little　toys；　and　the　compact　black　crowd　of　people　on　the　shore　

below　were　as　small　as　Bobby's　tin　soldiers。



〃Look　thereout　farther！〃　pointed　Mina。



Carroll　looked；　and　rose　to　her　feet　in　excitement



Three　little　toy　shipsor　so　they　seemed　compared　to　the　mountains　

of　waterlay　broadside…to；　just　inside　the　farthest　line　of　

breakers。　　Two　were　sailing　schooners。　　These　had　been　thrown　on　

their　beam　ends；　their　masts　pointing　at　an　angle　toward　the　beach。　　

Each　wave；　as　it　reached；　stirred　them　a　trifle；　then　broke　in　a　

deluge　of　water　that　for　a　moment　covered　their　hulls　completely　

from　sight。　　With　a　mighty　suction　the　billow　drained　away；　carrying　

with　it　wreckage。　　The　third　vessel　was　a　steam　barge。　　She；　too；　

was　broadside　to　the　seas；　but　had　caught　in　some　hole　in　the　bar　so　

that　she　lay　far　down　by　the　head。　　The　shoreward　side　of　her　upper　

works　had；　for　some　freakish　reason；　given　away　first；　so　now　the　

interior　of　her　staterooms　and　saloons　was　exposed　to　view　as　in　the　

cross…section　of　a　model　ship。　　Over　her；　too；　the　great　waves　

hurled　themselves；　each　carrying　away　its　spoil。　　To　Carroll　it　

seemed　fantastically　as　though　the　barge　were　made　of　sugar；　and　

that　each　sea　melted　her　precisely　as　Bobby　loved　to　melt　the　lump　

in　his　chocolate　by　raising　and　lowering　it　in　a　spoon。



And　the　queer　part　of　it　all　was　that　these　waves；　so　mighty　in　

their　effects；　appeared　to　the　woman　no　different　from　those　she　had　

often　watched　in　the　light　summer　blows　that　for　a　few　hours　raise　

the　〃white　caps〃　on　the　lake。　　They　came　in　from　the　open　in