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formidable dimensions。 From beneath it the water boiled in eddies。
Orde； looking at it； roused himself to sudden activity。
〃Get a move on；〃 he advised Captain Aspinwall of the driver。 〃If
that jam breaks on us； we want to be ready； and if it don't break
before you get this swing strengthened； maybe we can hold her where
she is。 There's no earthly doubt that those boom piles will never
stand up when they get the full pressure of the freshet。〃
He departed up river on a tour of inspection from which he returned
almost immediately。
〃Hurry up！ Hurry up！〃 he cried。 〃She can't last much longer！〃
Indeed even to the men on the pile…driver； evidences of the pressure
sustained by the slender boom piles were not wanting。 Above the
steady gurgle of the water and the intermittent puffing and other
noises of the work； they could hear a creaking and groaning of
timbers full of portent to those who could read the signs。
The driver's crew laboured desperately； hoisting the piles into the
carriage； tripping the heavy hammer； sending it aloft again； binding
feverishly the clumps of piles together by means of cables。 Each
man worked with an eye over his shoulder； fearful of the power that
menaced him。
Two of the clumps had been placed and bound； a third was nearly
finished； when suddenly； with a crack and a roar the upper booms
gave way； projecting their logs upon the opening and the driver。
The half dozen members of the crew； caught utterly unaware in spite
of the half warning they had been receiving for an hour past； were
scattered by the winds of a panic。 Two or three flung themselves on
their faces； several ran from one end of the scow to the other； one
leaped into the river！ Imminent destruction seemed upon them。
Tom North； at the winch that operated the arm of the swing； however；
retained his presence of mind。 At the first sag outward of the boom
piles he set in operation the machinery that closed the gate。
Clumsy and slow as was his mechanism； he nevertheless succeeded in
getting the long arm started。 The logs； rushing in back of it；
hurried it shut。 Immediately they jammed again； and heaped up in a
formidable tangle behind the barrier。 Tom North； his little black
pipe between his teeth； stood calm； the lever of his winch in his
hand。 A short three feet from the spot on which he stood； the first
saw log of the many that might have overwhelmed him thrust forward
its ugly head。 The wash of the water lifted the huge pile…driver
bodily and deposited it with a crash half on the bank and half in
the water。
Instantly after the first break Orde had commenced running out over
the booms from the shore。
〃Good boy； Tom！〃 he shot at North as he passed。
Across the breast of the jam he hurried； and to the other bank where
the pile…driver lay。 The crew had recovered from their panic； and
were ashore gazing curiously underneath the scow。 Captain Aspinwall
examined the supports of the derrick on deck。
〃That was lucky；〃 said Orde briefly to Aspinwall。 〃How's the
damage？ Stove you in？〃
〃II don't think so；〃 replied the captain； turning a rather
perturbed face to Orde。
〃That's good。 I'll send over the tug to help get her afloat。 We've
got our work cut out for us now。 As soon as you're afloat； blow
your whistle and I'll come over to tell you what to do。〃
〃You don't expect me to work my driver under the face of that jam！〃
cried the captain。
〃Certainly；〃 snapped Orde； wheeling。
〃Not me！〃 said Aspinwall positively。 〃I know when I've got enough！〃
〃What's the matter？〃 asked Orde。
〃It isn't safe；〃 replied the captain； 〃and I don't intend to risk my
men or my driver。〃
Orde stood for a moment stock…still； then with a snort of anger he
leaped to the deck； seized the man by the neck and thrust him bodily
over the side to the bank。
Safe； you white…livered skunk！〃 he roared。 〃Safe！ Go over in the
middle of that ten…acre lot and lie down on your face and see if you
feel safe there！ Get out； the whole pack of you！ I'm in charge
here now。〃
Captain Aspinwall picked himself up； his face red with anger。
〃Get off my driver；〃 he snarled。 〃Put that man off。〃
Orde seized a short heavy bar。
〃This driver is requisitioned；〃 said he。 〃Get out！ I haven't time
to fool with you。 I've got to save my logs。〃
They hesitated； and while they did so Tom North and some others of
the crew came running across the jam。
〃Get a cable to the winch；〃 Orde shouted at these as soon as they
were within hearing。 〃And get Marsh up here with the SPRITE。 We've
got to get afloat。〃
He paid no more attention to the ejected crew。 The latter； overawed
by the rivermen； who now gathered in full force； took the part of
spectators。
A few minutes' hard work put the driver afloat。 Fortunately its
raft of piles had not become detached in the upheaval。
〃Tom；〃 said Orde briskly to North； 〃you know the pile…driver
business。 Pick out your crew； and take charge。〃
In ten seconds of time the situation had changed from one of
comparative safety to one of extreme gravity。 The logs； broken
loose from the upper temporary booms； now jammed against the swing
and against the other logs already filling the main booms。 Already
the pressure was beginning to tell； as the water banked up behind
the mass。 The fifteen…inch cables tightened slowly but mightily；
some of the piles began to groan and rub one against the other； here
and there a log deliberately up…ended above the level。
Orde took charge of the situation in its entirety； as a general
might。 He set North immediately to driving clumps each of sixteen
piles； bound to solidity by chains； and so arranged in angles and
slants as to direct the enormous pressure toward either bank； thus
splitting the enemy's power。 The small driver owned by the Boom
Company drove similar clumps here； there and everywhere that need
arose or weakness developed。 Seventy…five men opposed； to the
weight of twenty million tons of logs and a river of water； the
expedients invented by determination and desperation。
As in a virulent disease； the symptoms developed rapidly when once
the course of the malady was assured。 After the first rush； when
the upper booms broke； nothing spectacular occurred。 Steadily and
relentlessly the logs； packed close together down to the very bed of
the stream； pressed outward against the frail defences。 Orde soon
found himself forced from the consideration of definite plans of
campaign。 He gave over formal defences； and threw his energies to
saving the weak places which rapidly developed。 By the most
tremendous exertions he seemed but just able to keep even。 So
closely balanced was the equilibrium between the improvisation of
defence and the increase of pressure behind the jam that it seemed
as if