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territory。
Orde set his men to digging a channel through this bank。 It was no
slight job； from one point of view； as the slope down into the swamp
began only at a point forty or fifty feet inland； but on the other
hand the earth was soft and free from rocks。 When completed the
channel gave passage to a rather feeble streamlet from the outer
fringe of the river。 The men were puzzled； but Orde； by the strange
freak of his otherwise frank and open nature； as usual told nothing
of his plans； even to Tom North。
〃He can't expect to turn that river；〃 said Tim Nolan； who was once
more with the crew。 〃He'd have to dig a long ways below that level
to catch the main currentand then some。〃
〃Let him alone；〃 advised North； puffing at his short pipe。 〃He's
wiser than a tree full of owls。〃
Next Orde assigned two men to each of the queer…shaped sawhorses；
and instructed them to place the horses in a row across the
shallowest part of the river； and broadside to the stream。 This was
done。 The men； half…way to their knees in the swift water； bore
down heavily to keep their charges in place。 Other men immediately
began to lay the heavy planks side by side； perpendicular to and on
the up…stream side of the horses。 The weight of the water clamped
them in place； big rocks and gravel shovelled on in quantity
prevented the lower ends from rising； the wide slant of the legs
directed the pressure so far downward that the horses were prevented
from floating away。 And slowly the bulk of the water； thus raised a
good three feet above its former level； turned aside into the new
channel and poured out to inundate the black…ash swamp beyond。
A good volume still poured over the top of the temporary dam and
down to the fall； but it was by this expedient so far reduced that
work became possible。
〃Now； boys！〃 cried Orde。 〃Lively； while we've got the chance！〃
By means of blocks and tackles and the team horses the twenty…six…
foot logs were placed side by side； slanting from a point two feet
below the rim of the fall to the ledge below。 They were bolted
together top and bottom through the four holes bored for that
purpose。 This was a confusing and wet business。 Sufficient water
still flowed in the natural channel of the river to dash in spray
over the entire work。 Men toiled； wet to the skin； their garments
clinging to them； their eyes full of water； barely able to breathe；
yet groping doggedly at it； and arriving at last。 The weather was
warm with the midsummer。 They made a joke of the difficulty； and
found inexhaustible humour in the fact that one of their number was
an Immersion Baptist。 When the task was finished； they pried the
flash…boards from the improvised dam； piled them neatly beyond reach
of high water； rescued the sy they took up their long； painstaking journey back
down the river。
Travel down the river was at times very pleasant； and at times very
disagreeable。 The ground had now hardened so that a wanigan boat
was unnecessary。 Instead； the camp outfit was transported in
waggons； which often had to journey far inland； to make
extraordinary detours； but which always arrived somehow at the
various camping places。 Orde and his men； of course； took the river
trail。
The river trail ran almost unbroken for over a hundred miles of
meandering way。 It climbed up the high banks at the points； it
crossed the bluffs along their sheer edges； it descended to the
thickets in the flats； it crossed the swamps on pole…trails； it
skirted the great； solemn woods。 Sometimes； in the lower reaches；
its continuity was broken by a town； but always after it recovered
from its confusion it led on with purpose unvarying。 Never did it
desert for long the river。 The cool； green still reaches； or the
tumbling of the white…water； were always within its sight； sometimes
beneath its very tread。 When occasionally it cut in across a very
long bend； it always sent from itself a little tributary trail which
traced all the curves； and returned at last to its parent；
undoubtedly with a full report of its task。 And the trail was
beaten hard by the feet of countless men； who； like Orde and his
crew； had taken grave； interested charge of the river from her birth
to her final rest in the great expanses of the Lake。 It is there
to…day； although the life that brought it into being has been gone
from it these many years。
In midsummer Orde found the river trail most unfamiliar in
appearance。 Hardly did he recognise it in some places。 It
possessed a wide； leisurely expansiveness； an indolent luxury； a
lazy invitation born of broad green leaves； deep and mysterious
shadows； the growth of ferns； docks； and the like cool in the shade
of the forest； the shimmer of aspens and poplars through the heat；
the green of tangling vines； the drone of insects； the low…voiced
call of birds； the opulent splashing of sun…gold through the woods；
quite lacking to the hard； tight season in which his river work was
usually performed。 What； in the early year； had been merely a whip
of brush； now had become a screen through whose waving； shifting
interstices he caught glimpses of the river flowing green and cool。
What had been bare timber amongst whose twigs and branches the full
daylight had shone unobstructed； now had clothed itself in foliage
and leaned over to make black and mysterious the water that flowed
beneath。 Countless insects hovered over the polished surface of
that water。 Dragon…flies cruised about。 Little birds swooped
silently down and fluttered back； intent on their tiny prey。 Water…
bugs skated hither and thither in apparently purposeless diagonals。
Once in a great while the black depths were stirred。 A bass rolled
lazily over； carrying with him his captured insect； leaving on the
surface of the water concentric rings which widened and died away。
The trail led the crew through many minor labours； all of which
consumed time。 At Reed's Mill Orde entered into diplomatic
negotiations with Old Man Reed； whom he found singularly amenable。
The skirmish in the spring seemed to have taken all the fight out of
him； or perhaps； more simply； Orde's attitude toward him at that
time had won him over to the young man's side。 At any rate； as soon
as he understood that Orde was now in business for himself； he
readily came to an agreement。 Thereupon Orde's crew built a new
sluiceway and gate far enough down to assure a good head in the pond
above。 Other dam owners farther down the stream also signed
agreements having to do with supplying water over and above what the
law required of them。 Above one particularly shallow rapid Orde
built a dam of his own。
All this took time； and the summer months slipped away。 Orde had
fallen into the wild life as into a habit。 He lived on the river or
the trail。 His face took on a ruddier hue than ever； his clothes
faded to a nondescript neutral colour of their own； his hair below
his narrow felt hat bleached three shades。 He did his work； and
figured on his schemes； and smoked his pipe； and occasionally took
little trips to the nearest town； where he spent the day at the
hotel desks reading and answering his letters。 The weather was
generally very warm。 Thunder…storms were not infrequent。 Until the
latter part of August； mosquitoes and black flies were bad。
About the middle of September the crew had worked down as far as
Redding； leaving behind them a river tamed； groomed； and harnessed
for their uses。 Remained still the forty miles between Redding and
the Lake to be improved。 As； however； navigation for light draught
vessels extended as far as that city； Orde here paid off his men。 A
few days' work with a pile driver would fence the principal shoals
from the channel。
He stayed over night with his parents； and at once took the train
for Monrovia。 There he made his way immediately to the little
office the new firm had rented。 Newmark had just come down。
〃Hullo； Joe；〃 greeted Orde； his teeth flashing in contrast to the
tan of his face。 〃I'm done。 Anything new since you wrote last？〃
Newmark had acquired his articles of incorporation and sold his
stock。 How many excursions； demonstrations； representations； and
arguments that implied； only one who has undertaken the floating of
a new and untried scheme can imagine。 Perhaps his task had in it as
much of difficulty as Orde's taming of the river。 Certainly he
carried it to as successful a conclusion。 The bulk of the stock he
sold to the log…owners themselves； the rest he scattered here and
there and everywhere in small lots； as he was able。 Some five
hundred and thousand dollar blocks even went to Chicago。 His own
little fortune of twenty thousand he paid in for the shares that
represented his half of the ma