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The broad deck of the pile…driver scow was a tempting point from
which to survey the work； and the ugly jam； and the water boiling
angrily； and the hollow…eyed； dishevelled maniacs who worked
doggedly with set teeth as though they had not already gone without
two nights' sleep。 North had often to order ashore intruders； until
his temper shortened to the vanishing point。 One big hulking
countryman attempted to argue the point。 North promptly knocked him
overboard into the shallow water between the driver and the bank。
He did not rise； so North fished for him in the most matter…of…fact
way with a boat hook； threw him on the bank unconscious； and went on
driving piles！ The incident raised a laugh among the men。
But flesh and blood has its limit of endurance； and that limit was
almost reached。 Orde heard the first premonitions of reaction in
the mild grumblings that arose。 He knew these men well from his
long experience with them。 Although the need for struggle against
the tireless dynamics of the river was as insistent as ever；
although it seemed certain that a moment's cessation of effort would
permit the enemy an irretrievable gain； he called a halt on the
whole work。
〃Boys；〃 said he； irrelevantly； 〃let's have a smoke？〃
He set the example by throwing himself full length against a
slanting pile and most leisurely filling his pipe。 The men stared a
moment； then followed his example。 A great peace of evening filled
the sky。 The horizon lay low and black against the afterglow。
Beneath it the river shone like silver。 Only the groaning； the
heave and shrugging of the jam； and the low threatening gurgle of
hurrying waters reminded the toil…weary men of the enemy's continued
activity。 Over beyond the rise of land that lay between the river
and Stearn's Bayou could be seen the cloud of mingled smoke and
steam that marked the activities of the dredge。 For ten minutes
they rested in the solace of tobacco。 Orde was apparently more at
ease than any of the rest； but each instant he expected to hear the
premonitory CRACK that would sound the end of everything。 Finally
he yawned； knocked the ashes from his pipe； and got to his feet。
〃Now；〃 said he； a new ring in his voice； 〃come on and let's get
something DONE！〃
They responded to a man。
XL
By midnight the water seemed to have gone down slightly。 Half the
crew snatched a little sleep。 For several hours more the issue hung
aggravatingly in equilibrium。 Then； with the opening of the channel
into Stearn's Bayou the heaviest pressure was relieved。 For the
moment the acute danger point was passed。
Orde spent the next two days in strengthening the defences。 The men
were able to take their quota of meals and of sleep。 Merely the
working hours were longer than usual。 Orde himself slept little；
and was still possessed by a feverish activity。 The flood continued
at about the same volume。 Until the water should subside； the
danger could not be considered completely over with。
In these few days of comparative leisure Orde had time to look about
him and to receive news。 The jam had been successfully held at the
iron railroad bridge above Redding； but only by the most strenuous
efforts。 Braces of oak beams had been slanted where they would do
the most good； chains strengthened the weaker spots； and on top of
all ton after ton of railroad iron held the whole immovably。 Nolan
had enjoyed the advantage of a 〃floating〃 jam； of convenient
facilities incident to a large city； and of an aroused public
sentiment that proffered him all the help he could use。 Monrovia；
little village that it was； had not grasped the situation。 Redding
saw it clearly。 The loss of the timber alonerepresenting some
millions of dollars' worth of the sawed productwould mean failure
of mill companies； of banks holding their paper； and so of firms in
other lines of business； and besides would throw thousands of men
out of employment。 Furthermore； what was quite as serious； should
the iron bridge give way； the wooden bridges below could hardly fail
to go out。 Railroad communication between eastern and western
Michigan would be entirely cut off。 For a season industry of every
description would be practically paralysed。 Therefore Nolan had all
the help he required。 Every device known was employed to strengthen
the jam。 For only a few hours was the result in doubt。 Then as the
CLARION jubilantly expressed it； 〃It's a hundred dollars to an old
hat she holds！〃
Orde received all this with satisfaction； but with a slight
scepticism。
〃It's a floating jam； and it gets a push from underneath；〃 he
pointed out。 〃It's probably safe； but another flood might send it
out。〃
〃The floods are going down；〃 said North。
〃Good Lord； I hope so！〃 said Orde。
Newmark sent word that a sudden fit of sickness had confined him to
the house。
〃Didn't think of a little thing like piles；〃 said Orde to himself。
〃Well； that's hardly fair。 Joe couldn't have realised when he left
here just how bad things were。〃
For two days； as has been said； nothing happened。 Then Orde decided
to break out a channel through the jam itself。 This was a necessary
preliminary to getting the logs in shape for distribution。 An
opening was made in the piles； and the rivermen； with pike…pole and
peavy； began cautiously to dig their way through the tangled
timbers。 The Government pile…driver； which had finally been sent up
from below； began placing five extra booms at intervals down stream
to capture the drift as fast as it was turned loose。 From the mills
and private booms crews came to assist in the labour。 The troubles
appeared to be quite over； when word came from Redding that the
waters were again rising。 Ten minutes later Leopold Lincoln Bunn；
the local reporter； came flapping in on Randall's old white horse；
like a second Paul Revere； crying that the iron bridge had gone； and
the logs were racing down river toward the booms。
〃It just went out！〃 he answered the eager exclamations of the men
who crowded around him。 〃That's all I know。 It went out！ And the
other bridges！ Sure！ All but the Lake Shore！ Don't know why that
didn't go out。 No； the logs didn't jam there； just slid right
under！〃
〃That settles it；〃 said Welton； turning away。
〃You aren't going to quit！〃 cried Orde。
〃Certainly。 You're crazy！〃 said Welton with some asperity。 〃If
they can't stop a little jam with iron； what are your wooden
defences going to amount to against the whole accumulation？ When
those logs hit the tail of this jam； she'll go out before you can
wink。〃
He refused to listen to argument。
〃It's sure death；〃 said he； 〃and I'm not going to sacrifice my men
for nothing； even if they'd stay。〃
Other owners among the bystanders said the same thing。 A