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The Riverman
by Stewart Edward White
I
The time was the year 1872； and the place a bend in the river above
a long pond terminating in a dam。 Beyond this dam； and on a flat
lower than it； stood a two…story mill structure。 Save for a small；
stump…dotted clearing； and the road that led from it； all else was
forest。 Here in the bottom…lands； following the course of the
stream； the hardwoods grew dense； their uppermost branches just
beginning to spray out in the first green of spring。 Farther back；
where the higher lands arose from the swamp； could be discerned the
graceful frond of white pines and hemlock； and the sturdy tops of
Norways and spruce。
A strong wind blew up the length of the pond。 It ruffled the
surface of the water； swooping down in fan…shaped； scurrying cat's…
paws； turning the dark…blue surface as one turns the nap of velvet。
At the upper end of the pond it even succeeded in raising quite
respectable wavelets； which LAP LAP LAPPED eagerly against a barrier
of floating logs that filled completely the mouth of the inlet
river。 And behind this barrier were other logs； and yet others； as
far as the eye could see； so that the entire surface of the stream
was carpeted by the brown timbers。 A man could have walked down the
middle of that river as down a highway。
On the bank； and in a small woods…opening； burned two fires； their
smoke ducking and twisting under the buffeting of the wind。 The
first of these fires occupied a shallow trench dug for its
accommodation； and was overarched by a rustic framework from which
hung several pails； kettles； and pots。 An injured…looking； chubby
man in a battered brown derby hat moved here and there。 He divided
his time between the utensils and an indifferent youthhis
〃cookee。〃 The other； and larger； fire centred a rectangle composed
of tall racks； built of saplings and intended for the drying of
clothes。 Two large tents gleamed white among the trees。
About the drying…fire were gathered thirty…odd men。 Some were half…
reclining before the blaze； others sat in rows on logs drawn close
for the purpose； still others squatted like Indians on their heels；
their hands thrown forward to keep the balance。 Nearly all were
smoking pipes。
Every age was represented in this group； but young men predominated。
All wore woollen trousers stuffed into leather boots reaching just
to the knee。 These boots were armed on the soles with rows of
formidable sharp spikes or caulks； a half and sometimes even three
quarters of an inch in length。 The tight driver's shoe and
〃stagged〃 trousers had not then come into use。 From the waist down
these men wore all alike； as though in a uniform； the outward symbol
of their calling。 From the waist up was more latitude of personal
taste。 One young fellow sported a bright…coloured Mackinaw blanket
jacket； another wore a red knit sash； with tasselled ends； a third's
fancy ran to a bright bandana about his neck。 Head…gear； too；
covered wide variations of broader or narrower brim； of higher or
lower crown； and the faces beneath those hats differed as everywhere
the human countenance differs。 Only when the inspection； passing
the gradations of broad or narrow； thick or thin； bony or rounded；
rested finally on the eyes； would the observer have caught again the
caste…mark which stamped these men as belonging to a distinct order；
and separated them essentially from other men in other occupations。
Blue and brown and black and gray these eyes were； but all steady
and clear with the steadiness and clarity that comes to those whose
daily work compels them under penalty to pay close and undeviating
attention to their surroundings。 This is true of sailors； hunters；
plainsmen； cowboys； and tugboat captains。 It was especially true of
the old…fashioned river…driver； for a misstep； a miscalculation； a
moment's forgetfulness of the sullen forces shifting and changing
about him could mean for him maiming or destruction。 So； finally；
to one of an imaginative bent； these eyes； like the 〃cork boots；〃
grew to seem part of the uniform； one of the marks of their caste；
the outward symbol of their calling。
〃Blow； you son of a gun！〃 cried disgustedly one young fellow with a
red bandana； apostrophising the wind。 〃I wonder if there's ANY side
of this fire that ain't smoky！〃
〃Keep your hair on； bub；〃 advised a calm and grizzled old…timer。
〃There's never no smoke on the OTHER side of the firewhichever
that happens to be。 And as for windshe just makes holiday for the
river…hogs。〃
〃Holiday； hell！〃 snorted the younger man。 〃We ought to be down to
Bull's Dam before now〃
〃And Bull's Dam is half…way to Redding；〃 mocked a reptilian and red…
headed giant on the log； 〃and Redding is the happy childhood home
of〃
The young man leaped to his feet and seized from a pile of tools a
peavya dangerous weapon； like a heavy cant…hook； but armed at the
end with a sharp steel shoe。
〃That's about enough！〃 he warned； raising his weapon； his face
suffused and angry。 The red…headed man； quite unafraid； rose slowly
from the log and advanced； bare…handed； his small eyes narrowed and
watchful。
But immediately a dozen men interfered。
〃Dry up！〃 advised the grizzled old…timerTom North by name。 〃You；
Purdy； set down； and you； young squirt； subside！ If you're going to
have ructions； why； have 'em； but not on drive。 If you don't look
out； I'll set you both to rustling wood for the doctor。〃
At this threat the belligerents dropped muttering to their places。
The wind continued to blow； the fire continued to flare up and down；
the men continued to smoke； exchanging from time to time desultory
and aimless remarks。 Only Tom North carried on a consecutive； low…
voiced conversation with another of about his own age。
〃 Just the same； Jim；〃 he was saying； 〃 it is a little tough on the
boysthis new sluice…gate business。 They've been sort of expectin'
a chance for a day or two at Redding； and now； if this son of a gun
of a wind hangs out； I don't know when we'll make her。 The shallows
at Bull's was always bad enough； but this is worse。〃
〃Yes； I expected to pick you up 'way below；〃 admitted Jim； whose
〃turkey；〃 or clothes…bag； at his side proclaimed him a newcomer。
〃Had quite a tramp to find you。〃
〃This stretch of slack water was always a terror；〃 went on North；
〃and we had fairly to pike…pole every stick through when the wind
blew； but now that dam's backed the water up until there reely ain't
no current at all。 And this breeze has just stopped the drive dead
as a smelt。〃
〃Don't opening the sluice…gates give her a draw？〃 inquired the
newcomer。
〃Not against this windand not much of a draw； anyway； I should
guess。〃
〃How long you been hung？〃
〃Just to…day。 I expect Jack will be down from the rear shortly。
Ought to see something's wrong when he runs against the tail of this
jam of ours。〃
At this moment the lugubrious； round…faced man in the derby hat
stepped aside from the row of steaming utensils he had been
arranging。
〃Grub pile；〃 he remarked in a conversational tone of voice。
The group arose as one man and moved upon the heap of cutlery and of
tin plates and cups。 From the open fifty…pound lard pails and
kettles they helped themselves liberally； then retired to squat in
little groups here and there near the sources of supply。 Mere
conversation yielded to an industrious silence。 Sadly the cook
surveyed the scene； his arms folded across the dirty white apron； an
immense mental reservation accenting the melancholy of his
countenance。 After some moments of contemplation he mixed a
fizzling concoction of vinegar and soda； which he drank。 His
rotundity to the contrary notwithstanding； he was ravaged by a
gnawing dyspepsia； and the sight of six eggs eaten as a side dish to
substantials carried consternation to his interior。
So busily engaged was each after his own fashion that nobody
observed the approach of a solitary figure down the highway of the
river。 The man appeared tiny around the upper bend； momently
growing larger as he approached。 His progress was jerky and on an
uneven zigzag； according as the logs lay； by leaps； short runs；
brief pauses； as a riverman goes。 Finally he stepped ashore just
below the camp； stamped his feet vigorously free of water； and
approached the group around the cooking…fire。
No one saw him save the cook； who vouchsafed him a stately and
lugubrious inclination of the head。
The newcomer was a man somewhere about thirty years of age； squarely
built； big of bone； compact in bulk。 His face was burly； jolly； and
reddened rather than tanned by long exposure。 A pair of twinkling
blue eyes and a humorously quirked mouth red