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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'
ice jam！ Glory be！ but I'm glad to see ye！〃
Orde was still laughing。
〃I didn't know you'd turned into the Rough Red； Jimmy；〃 said he。 〃I
don't believe we were either of us old enough for whiskers then；
were we？〃
The Rough Red grinned。
〃Thrue for ye！〃 said he。 〃And what have ye been doing all these
years？〃
〃That's just it； Jimmy；〃 said Orde； drawing the giant one side； out
of ear…shot。 〃All my eggs are in one basket； and it's a mean trick
of you to hire out for filthy lucre to kick that basket。〃
〃What do ye mane？〃 asked the Rough Red； fixing his twinkling little
eyes on Orde。
〃You don't mean to tell me；〃 countered Orde； glancing down at the
other's rubber…shod feet； 〃that this crew has been sent up here just
to break out those measly little rollways？〃
〃Thim？〃 said the Rough Red。 〃Thim？ Hell； NO！ Thim's my bodyguard。
They can lick their weight in wild cats； and I'd loike well to see
the gang of highbankers that infists this river thry to pry thim
out。 We weren't sint here to wurrk； we were sint here to foight。〃
〃Fight？ Why？〃 asked Orde。
〃Oh； I dunno；〃 replied the Rough Red easily。 〃Me boss and the blank
of a blank blanked blank that's attimptin' to droive this river has
some sort of a row。〃
〃Jimmy；〃 said Orde； 〃didn't you know that I am the gentleman last
mentioned？〃
〃What！〃
〃I'm driving this river； and that's my dam…keeper you've got hid
away somewhere here； and that's my water you're planning to waste！〃
〃What？〃 repeated the Rough Red； but in a different tone of voice。
〃That's right；〃 said Orde。
In a tone of vast astonishment； the Rough Red mentioned his probable
deserts in the future life。
〃Luk here； Jack；〃 said he after a moment； 〃here's a crew of white…
water birlers that ye can't beat nowheres。 What do you want us to
do？ We're now gettin' four dollars a day AN' board from that
murderin' ould villain； Heinzman； SO WE CAN AFFORD TO WURRK FOR YOU
CHEAP。〃
Orde hesitated。
〃Oh； please do now； darlint！〃 wheedled the Rough Red； his little
eyes agleam with mischief。 〃Sind us some oakum and pitch and we'll
caulk yure wanigan for ye。 Or maybe some more peavies； and we'll
hilp ye on yure rollways。 And till us； afore ye go； how ye want
this dam； and that's the way she'll be。 Come； now； dear！ and ain't
ye short…handed now？〃
Orde slapped his knee and laughed。
〃This is sure one hell of a joke！〃 he cried。
〃And ain't it now？〃 said the Rough Red； smiling with as much
ingratiation as he was able。
〃I'll take you boys on；〃 said Orde at last； 〃at the usual wages
dollar and a half for the jam； three for the rear。 I doubt if
you'll see much of Heinzman's money when this leaks out。〃
XXIV
Thus Orde； by the sheer good luck that sometimes favours men engaged
in large enterprises； not only frustrated a plan likely to bring
failure to his interests； but filled up his crews。 It may be
remarked here； as well as later； that the 〃terrors of the Saginaw〃
stayed with the drive to its finish； and proved reliable and
tractable in every particular。 Orde scattered them judiciously； so
there was no friction with the local men。 The Rough Red he retained
on the rear。
Here the breaking of the rollways had reached a stage more exciting
both to onlooker and participant than the mere opening of the river
channel。 Huge stacks of logs piled sidewise to the bank lined the
stream for miles。 When the lowermost log on the river side was
teased and pried out； the upper tiers were apt to cascade down with
a roar； a crash； and a splash。 The man who had done the prying had
to be very quick…eyed； very cool； and very agile to avoid being
buried under the tons of timber that rushed down on him。 Only the
most reliable men were permitted at this initial breaking down。
Afterwards the crew rolled in what logs remained。
The Rough Red's enormous strength； dare…devil spirit； and nimbleness
of body made him invaluable at this dangerous work。 Orde； too；
often took a hand in some of the more ticklish situations。 In old
days； before he had attained the position of responsibility that
raised the value of his time beyond manual work； he had been one of
the best men on the river at breaking bank rollways。 A slim；
graceful； handsome boy of twenty； known as 〃Rollway Charlie；〃 also
distinguished himself by the quickness and certainty of his work。
Often the men standing near lost sight of him entirely in the spray；
the confusion； the blur of the breaking rollways； until it seemed
certain he must have perished。 Nevertheless； always he appeared at
right or left； sometimes even on a log astream； nonchalant； smiling；
escaped easily from the destructive power he had loosed。 Once in
the stream the logs r