the riverman-第2部分

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enough　before；　but　now　there　seems　to　be　no　current　at　all。〃



〃Case　of　wait　for　the　wind；〃　agreed　Tom　North。　　〃Old　Daly　will　be　

red…headed。　　He　must　be　about　out　of　logs　at　the　mill。　　The　flood…

water's　going　down　every　minute；　and　it'll　make　the　riffles　above　

Redding　a　holy　fright。　　And　I　expect　Johnson's　drive　will　be　down　on　

our　rear　most　any　time。〃



〃It's　there　already。　　Let's　go　take　a　look；〃　suggested　Orde。



They　picked　their　way　around　the　edge　of　the　pond　to　the　site　of　the　

new　mill。



〃Sluice　open　all　right；〃　commented　Orde。　　〃Thought　she　might　be　

closed。〃



〃I　saw　to　that；〃　rejoined　North　in　an　injured　tone。



〃'Course；〃　agreed　Orde；　〃but　he　might　have　dropped　her　shut　on　you　

between　times；　when　you　weren't　looking。〃



He　walked　out　on　the　structure　and　looked　down　on　the　smooth　water　

rushing　through。



〃Ought　to　make　a　draw；〃　he　reflected。　　Then　he　laughed。　　〃Tom；　look　

here；〃　he　called。　　〃Climb　down　and　take　a　squint　at　this。〃



North　clambered　to　a　position　below。



〃The　son　of　a　gun！〃　he　exclaimed。



The　sluice；　instead　of　bedding　at　the　natural　channel　of　the　river；　

had　been　built　a　good　six　feet　above　that　level；　so　that；　even　with　

the　gates　wide　open；　a　〃head〃　of　six　feet　was　retained　in　the　slack　

water　of　the　pond。



〃No　wonder　we　couldn't　get　a　draw；〃　said　Orde。　　〃Let's　hunt　up　old　

What's…his…name　and　have　a　pow…wow。〃



〃His　name　is　plain　Reed；〃　explained　North。　　〃There　he　comes　now。〃



〃Sainted　cats！〃　cried　Orde；　with　one　of　his　big；　rollicking　

chuckles。　　〃Where　did　you　catch　it？〃



The　owner　of　the　dam　flapped　into　view　as　a　lank　and　lengthy　

individual　dressed　in　loose；　long　clothes　and　wearing　a…top　a　

battered　old　〃plug〃　hat；　the　nap　of　which　seemed　all　to　have　been　

rubbed　off　the　wrong　way。



As　he　bore　down　on　the　intruders　with　tremendous；　nervous　strides；　

they　perceived　him　to　be　an　old　man；　white　of　hair；　cadaverous　of　

countenance；　with　thin；　straight　lips；　and　burning；　fanatic　eyes　

beneath　stiff　and　bushy　brows。



〃Good…morning；　Mr。　Reed；〃　shouted　Orde　above　the　noise　of　the　water。



〃Good…morning；　gentlemen；〃　replied　the　apparition。



〃Nice　dam　you　got　here；〃　went　on　Orde。



Reed　nodded；　his　fiery　eyes　fixed　unblinking　on　the　riverman。



〃But　you　haven't　been　quite　square　to　us；〃　said　Orde。　　You　aren't　

giving　us　much　show　to　get　our　logs　out。〃



〃How　so？〃　snapped　the　owner；　his　thin　lips　tightening。



〃Oh；　I　guess　you　know；　all　right；〃　laughed　Orde；　clambering　

leisurely　back　to　the　top　of　the　dam。　　〃That　sluice　is　a　good　six　

foot　too　high。〃



〃Is　that　so！〃　cried　the　old　man；　plunging　suddenly　into　a　craze　of　

excitement。　　〃Well；　let　me　tell　you　this；　Mr。　Man；　I'm　giving　you　

all　the　law　gives　you；　and　that's　the　natural　flow　of　the　river；　and　

not　a　thing　more　will　you　get！　　You　that　comes　to　waste　and　destroy；　

to　arrogate　unto　yourselves　the　kingdoms　of　the　yearth　and　all　the　

fruits　thereof；　let　me　tell　you　you　can't　override　Simeon　Reed！　　I'm　

engaged　here　in　a　peaceful　and　fittin'　operation；　which　is　to　feed　

the　hungry　by　means　of　this　grist…mill；　not　to　rampage　and　bring　

destruction　to　the　noble　forests　God　has　planted！　　I've　give　you　

what　the　law　gives　you；　and　nothin'　more！〃



Somewhat　astonished　at　this　outbreak；　the　two　rivermen　stood　for　a　

moment　staring　at　the　old　man。　　Then　a　steely　glint　crept　into　

Orde's　frank　blue　eye　and　the　corners　of　his　mouth　tightened。



〃We　want　no　trouble　with　you；　Mr。　Reed；〃　said　he；　〃and　I'm　no　lawyer　

to　know　what　the　law　requires　you　to　do　and　what　it　requires　you　not　

to　do。　　But　I　do　know　that　this　is　the　only　dam　on　the　river　with　

sluices　built　up　that　way；　and　I　do　know　that　we'll　never　get　those　

logs　out　if　we　don't　get　more　draw　on　the　water。　　Good…day。〃



Followed　by　the　reluctant　North　he　walked　away；　leaving　the　gaunt　

figure　of　the　dam　owner　gazing　after　them；　his　black　garments　

flapping　about　him；　his　hands　clasped　behind　his　back；　his　ruffled　

plug　hat　thrust　from　his　forehead。



〃Well！〃　burst　out　North；　when　they　were　out　of　hearing。



〃Well！〃　mimicked　Orde　with　a　laugh。



〃Are　you　going　to　let　that　old　high…banker　walk　all　over　you？〃



〃What　are　you　going　to　do　about　it；　Tom？　　It's　his　dam。〃



〃I　don't　know。　　But　you　ain't　going　to　let　him　bang　us　up　here　all　

summer〃



〃Sure　not。　　But　the　wind's　shifting。　　Let's　see　what　the　weather's　

like　to…morrow。　　To…day's　pretty　late。〃







II





The　next　morning　dawned　clear　and　breathless。　　Before　daylight　the　

pessimistic　cook　was　out；　his　fire　winking　bravely　against　the　

darkness。　　His　only　satisfaction　of　the　long　day　came　when　he　

aroused　the　men　from　the　heavy　sleep　into　which　daily　toil　plunged　

them。　　With　the　first　light　the　entire　crew　were　at　the　banks　of　the　

river。



As　soon　as　the　wind　died　the　logs　had　begun　to　drift　slowly　out　into　

the　open　water。　　The　surface　of　the　pond　was　covered　with　the　

scattered　timbers　floating　idly。　　After　a　few　moments　the　clank　of　

the　bars　and　ratchet　was　heard　as　two　of　the　men　raised　the　heavy　

sluice…gate　on　the　dam。　　A　roar　of　water；　momently　increasing；　

marked　the　slow　rise　of　the　barrier。　　A　very　imaginative　man　might　

then　have　made　out　a　tendency　forward　on　the　part　of　those　timbers　

floating　nearest　the　centre　of　the　pond。　　It　was　a　very　sluggish　

tendency；　however；　and　the　men　watching　critically　shook　their　

heads。



Four　more　had　by　this　time　joined　the　two　men　who　had　raised　the　

gate；　and　all　together；　armed　with　long　pike　poles；　walked　out　on　

the　funnel…shaped　booms　that　should　concentrate　the　logs　into　the　

chute。　　Here　they　prodded　forward　the　few　timbers　within　reach；　and　

waited　for　more。



These　were　a　long　time　coming。　　Members　of　the　driving　crew　leaped　

shouting　from　one　log　to　another。　　Sometimes；　when　the　space　across　

was　too　wide　to　jump；　they　propelled　a　log　over　either　by　rolling　

it；　paddling　it；　or　projecting　it　by　the　shock　of　a　leap　on　one　end。　　

In　accomplishing　these　feats　of　tight…rope　balance；　they　stood　

upright　and　graceful；　quite　unconscious　of　themselves；　their　bodies　

accustomed　by　long　habit　to　nice　and　instant　obedience　to　the　almost　

unconscious　impulses　of　the　brain。　　Only　their　eyes；　intent；　

preoccupied；　blazed　out　by　sheer　will…power　the　unstable　path　their　

owners　should　follow。　　Once　at　the　forefront　of　the　drive；　the　men　

began　vigorously　to　urge　the　logs　forward。　　This　they　accomplished　

almost　entirely　by　main　strength；　for　the　sluggish　current　gave　them　

little　aid。　　Under　the　pressure　of　their　feet　as　they　pushed　against　

their　implements；　the　logs　dipped；　rolled；　and　plunged。　　

Nevertheless；　they　worked　as　surely　from　the　decks　of　these　unstable　

craft　as　from　the　solid　earth　itself。



In　this　manner　the　logs　in　the　centre　of　the　pond　were　urged　forward　

until；　above　the　chute；　they　caught　the　slightly　accelerated　current　

which　should　bring　them　down　to　the　pike…pole　men　at　the　dam。　　

Immediately；　when　this　stronger　influence　was　felt；　the　drivers　

zigzagged　back　up　stream　to　start　a　fresh　batch。　　In　the　meantime　a　

great　many　logs　drifted　away　to　right　and　left　into　stagnant　water；　

where　they　lay　absolutely　motionless。　　The　moving　of　them　was　

deferred　for　the　〃sacking　crew；〃　which　would　bring　up　the　rear。



Jack　Orde　wandered　back　and　forth　over　the　work；　his　hands　clasped　

behind　his　back；　a　short　pipe　clenched　between　his　teeth。　　To　the　

edge　of　the　drive　he　rode　the　logs；　then　took　to　the　bank　and　

strolled　down　to　the　dam。　　There　he　stood　for　a　moment　gazing　

aimlessly　at　the　water　making　over　the　apron；　after　which　he　

returned　to　the　work。　　No　cloud　obscured　the　serene　good…nature　of　

his　face。　　Meeting　Tom　North's　troubled　glance；　he　grinned　broadly。



〃Told　you　we'd　have　Johnson　on　our　necks；〃　he　remarked；　jerking　his　

thumb　up　river　toward　a　rapidly　approaching　figure。



This　soon　defined　itself　as　a　tall；　sun…reddened；　very　blond　

individual　with　a　choleric　blue　eye。



〃What　in　hell's　the　matter　here？〃　he　yelled；　as　soon　as　he　came　

within　hearing　distance。



Orde　made　no　reply；　but　stood　contemplating　the　newcomer　with　a　

flicker　of　amusement。



〃What　in　hell's　the　matter？〃　repeated　the　latter　violently。



〃Better　go　there　and　inquire；〃　rejoined　Orde　drolly。　　〃What　ails　

you；　Johnson？〃



〃We're　right　at　your　rear；〃　cried　the　other；　〃　and　you　ain't　even　

made　a　start　gettin'　through　this　dam！　　We'll　lose　the　water　next！　　

Why　in　hell　ain't　you　through　and　gone？〃



〃Keep　your　shirt　on；〃　advised　Orde。　　〃We're　getting　through　as　fast　

as　we　can。　　If　you　want　these　logs　pushed　any　faster；　come　down　and　

do　it　yourself。〃



Johnson　vouchsafed　no　reply；　but　splashed　away　over　the　logs；　

examining　in　detail　the　progress　of　the　work。　　After　a　little　he　

returned　within　hailing　distance。



〃If　you　can't　get　out　logs；　why　do　you　take　the　job？〃　he　roared；　

with　a　string　of　oaths。　　〃If　you　hang　my　drive；　damn　you；　you'll　

catch　it　for　damages！　　It's　gettin'　to　a　purty　pass　when　any　old　

highbanker　from　anywheres　can　get　out　and　play　jackstraws　holdin'　up　

every　drive　in　the　river！　　I　tell　you　our　mills　need　logs；　and　

what's　more　they're　agoin'　to　GIT　them！〃



He　departed　in　a　rumble　of　vituperation。



Orde　laughed　humorously　at　his　foreman。



〃Johnson　gets　so　mad　sometimes；　his　skin　cracks；〃　he　remarked。　　

〃However；〃　he　went　on　more　seriously；　〃there's　a　heap　in　what　he　

means；　if　there　ain't　so　much　in　what　he　says。　　I'll　go　labour　with　

our　old　friend　below。〃



He　regained　the　bank；　stopped　to　light　his　pipe；　and　sauntered；　with　

every　appearance　of　leisure；　down　the　bank；　past　the　dam；　to　the　

mill　structure　below。



Here　he　found　the　owner　occupying　a　chair　tilted　back　against　the　

wall　of　the　building。　　His　ruffled　plug　hat　was　thrust；　as　usual；　

well　away　from　hi