the riverman-第2节
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blue eyes and a humorously quirked mouth redeemed his countenance
from commonplaceness。
He spread his feet apart and surveyed the scene。
〃Well； boys；〃 he remarked at last in a rollicking big voice； 〃I'm
glad to see the situation hasn't spoiled your appetites。〃
At this they looked up with a spontaneous answering grin。 Tom North
laid aside his plate and started to arise。
〃Sit still； Tom；〃 interposed the newcomer。 〃Eat hearty。 I'm going
to feed yet myself。 Then we'll see what's to be done。 I think
first thing you'd better see to having this wind turned off。〃
After the meal was finished； North and his principal sauntered to
the water's edge； where they stood for a minute looking at the logs
and the ruffled expanse of water below。
〃Might as well have sails on them and be done with it；〃 remarked
Jack Orde reflectively。 〃Couldn't hold 'em any tighter。 It's a
pity that old mossback had to put in a mill。 The water was slack
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 de
