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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 even a moment's breathing spell would bring the deluge。 Piles
quivered； bent slowly outwardimmediately； before the logs behind
them could stir； the pile…driver must do its work。 Back and forth
darted the SPRITE and her sister…tug the SPRAY towing the pile…
drivers or the strings of piles。 Under the frowning destruction
that a breath might loosen； the crews had to do their work。 And if
ever that breath should come； there would be no chance for escape。
Crushed and buried； the men and their craft alike would be borne
with the breaking jam to an unknown grave in the Lake。 Every man
knew it。
Darkness came。 No one stopped for food。 By the light of lanterns
the struggle went on； doubly terrifying in the mystery of night。 By
day the men； practised in such matters； could at least judge of the
probabilities of a break。 At night they had to work blindly；
uncertain at what moment the forces they could not see would cut
loose to overwhelm them。
Morning found no change in the situation。 The water rose steadily；
the logs grew more and more restive； the defences weaker and more
inadequate。 Orde brought out steaming pails of coffee which the men
gulped down between moments。 No one thought of quitting。 They were
afire with the flame of combat； and were set obstinately on winning
even in the face of odds。 About ten o'clock they were reinforced by
men from the mills downstream。 The Owners of those mills had no
mind to lose their logs。 Another pile…driver was also sent up from
the Government work。 Without this assistance the jam must surely
have gone out。 Spectators marvelled how it held as it did。 The
mass seemed constantly to quiver on the edge of motion。 Here and
there over the surface of the jam single logs could be seen popping
suddenly into the air； propelled as an apple seed is projected from
between a boy's thumb and forefinger。 Some of the fifteen…inch
cables stretched to the shore parted。 One； which passed once around
an oak tree before reaching its shore anchorage； actually buried
itself out of sight in the hard wood。 Bunches of piles bent；
twisted； or were cut off as though they had been but shocks of
Indian corn。 The current had become so swift that the tugs could
not hold the drivers against it； and as a consequence； before
commencing operations； special mooring piles had to be driven。 Each
minute threatened to bring an end to the jam； yet it held； and
without rest the dogged little insects under its face toiled to gain
an inch on the waters。
XXXIX
All that day and the next night the fight was hand to hand； without
the opportunity of a breathing space。 Then Orde； bareheaded and
dishevelled； strung to a high excitement； but cool as a veteran
under fire； began to be harassed by annoyances。 The piles provided
for the drivers gave out。 Newmark left； ostensibly to purchase
more。 He did not return。 Tom North and Jim Denning； their eyes
burning deep in their heads for lack of sleep； came to Orde holding
to him symbolically their empty hands。
〃No more piles；〃 they said briefly。
〃Get 'em；〃 said Orde with equal brevity。 〃Newmark will have enough
here shortly。 In the meantime； get them。〃
North and his friend disappeared； taking with them the crews of the
drivers and the two tugs。 After an interval they returned towing
small rafts of the long timbers。 Orde did not make any inquiries；
nor until days later did he see a copy of the newspaper telling how
a lawless gang of rivermen had driven away the railroad men and
stolen the railroad's property。 These piles lasted five or six
hours。 Tom North placed and drove them accurately and deliberately；
quite unmindful of the constant danger。 A cold fire seemed to
consume the man； inflaming his courage and his dogged obstinacy。
Once a wing of the jam broke suddenly just as his crew had placed a
pile in the carrier。 The scow was picked up； whirled around；
carried bodily a hundred feet； and deposited finally with a crash。
The instant the craft steadied and even before any one could tell
whether or no the danger was past； Tom cut loose the hammer and
drove that pile！
〃I put you in that carrier to be DROVE！〃 he shouted viciously； 〃and
drove you'll be； if we ARE goin' to hell！〃
When the SPRAY shouldered the scow back to position that one pile
was left standing upright in the channel； a monument to the blind
determination of the man。
Fortunately the wing break carried with it but a few logs； but it
sufficed to show； if demonstration were needed； what would happen if
any more serious break should occur。
Orde was everywhere。 Long since he had lost his hat； and over his
forehead and into his eyes the strands of his hair whipped tousled
and unkempt。 Miles and miles he travelled； running along the tops
of the booms； over the surface of the jam； spying the weakening
places； and hurrying to them a rescue。 He seemed tireless；
omnipresent； alive to every need。 It was as though his personality
alone held in correlation these struggling forces； as though were he
to relax for an instant his effort they would burst forth with the
explosion of long…pent energies。
Toward noon the piles gave out again。
〃Where in HELL is Newmark！〃 exploded Orde； and immediately was
himself again； controlled and resourceful。 He sent North and a crew
of men to cut piles from standing timber in farm wood lots near the
river。
〃Haul them out with your winch；〃 said he。 〃If the owners object；
stand them off with your peavies。 Get them anyway。〃
About three of the afternoon the LUCY BELLE splattered up stream
from the village； carrying an excursion to see the jam。 Captain
Simpson brought her as close in as possible。 The waves raised by
her awkward paddle…wheel and her clumsy lines surged among the logs
and piles。 Orde looked on this with distrust。
〃Go tell him to pull out of that；〃 he instructed Jimmy Powers 〃The
confounded old fool ought to know better than that。 Tell him it's
dangerous。 If the jam goes out； it'll carry him to Kingdom Come。〃
Jimmy Powers returned red…faced from his interview。
〃He told me to go to hell；〃 he said shortly。
〃Oh； he did；〃 snapped Orde。 〃I should think we had enough without
that old idiot！〃
With the short nervous leaps of a suppressed anger he ran down to
where the SPRITE had just towed the Number One driver into a new
position。
〃Lay me alongside the LUCY BELLE；〃 he told Marsh。
But Simpson； in a position of importance at last； was disinclined to
listen。 He had worn his blue clothes and brass buttons for a good
many years in charge only of boxes and barrels。 Now at a stroke he
found himself commander over tenscore people。 Likewise； at fifty
cents a head； he foresaw a good thing as long as high water should
last。 He had risen nobly to the occasion； for he had even hoisted
his bunting and brought with him the local brass band。 Orde；
brusque in his desire to hurry through an affair of minor
importance； rubbed the man the wrong way。
〃I reckon I've some rights on this river；〃 Captain Simpson concluded
the argument； 〃and I ain't agoin' to be bulldozed out of them。〃
The excursionists； typical 〃trippers〃 from Redding； Holland；
Monrovia and Muskegon； cheered this sentiment and jeered at Orde。
Orde nodded briefly。
〃Marsh；〃 said he to his captain in a low voice； 〃get a crew and take
them in charge。 Run 'em off。〃
As soon as the tug touched the piling； he was off and away； paying
no further attention to a matter already settled。 Captain Marsh
called a dozen rivermen to him； laid the SPRITE alongside the LUCY
BELLE； and in spite of Simpson's scandalised protests and an
incipient panic among the passengers； thrust a