the riverman-第4章
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〃Well; I reckon we'll just have to worry along without him;〃
remarked Orde; striking his steel caulks into the first log and
preparing to cross out into the river where the work was going on。
〃Wait a minute;〃 said the young fellow。 〃Have you any objections to
my hanging around a little to watch the work? My name is Newmark
Joseph Newmark。 I'm out in this country a good deal for my health。
This thing interests me。〃
〃Sure;〃 replied Orde; puzzled。 〃Look all you want to。 The
scenery's free。〃
〃Yes。 But can you put me up? Can I get a chance to stay with you a
little while?〃
〃Oh; as far as I'm concerned;〃 agreed Orde heartily。 〃But;〃 he
supplemented with one of his contagious chuckles; 〃I'm only river…
boss。 You'll have to fix it up with the doctorthe cook; I mean;〃
he explained; as Newmark look puzzled。 〃You'll find him at camp up
behind that brush。 He's a slim; handsome fellow; with a jolly
expression of countenance。〃
He leaped lightly out over the bobbing timbers; leaving Newmark to
find his way。
In the centre of the stream the work had been gradually slowing down
to a standstill with the subsidence of the first rush of water after
the sluice…gate was opened。 Tom North; leaning gracefully against
the shaft of a peavy; looked up eagerly as his principal approached。
〃Well; Jack;〃 he inquired; 〃is it to be peace or war?〃
〃War;〃 replied Orde briefly。
III
At this moment the cook stepped into view; and; making a trumpet of
his two hands; sent across the water a long; weird; and not
unmusical cry。 The men at once began slowly to drift in the
direction of the camp。 There; when the tin plates had all been
filled; and each had found a place to his liking; Orde addressed
them。 His manner was casual and conversational。
〃Boys;〃 said he; 〃the old mossback who owns that dam has come up
here loaded to scatter。 He's built up the sill of that gate until
we can't get a draw on the water; and he refuses to give; lend; or
sell us the right to cut her out。 I've made him every reasonable
proposition; but all I get back is quotations from the prophets。
Now; we've got to get those logs outthat's what we're here for。 A
fine bunch of whitewater birlers we'd look if we got hung up by an
old mossback in a plug hat。 Johnny Sims; what's the answer?〃
〃Cut her out;〃 grinned Johnny Sims briefly。
〃Correct!〃 replied Orde with a chuckle。 〃Cut her out。 But; my son;
it's against the law to interfere with another man's property。〃
This was so obviously humourous in intent that its only reception
consisted of more grins from everybody。
〃But;〃 went on Orde more seriously; 〃it's quite a job。 We can't
work more than six or eight men at it at a time。 We got to work as
fast as we can before the old man can interfere。〃
〃The nearest sheriff's at Spruce Rapids;〃 commented some one
philosophically。
〃We have sixty men; all told;〃 said Orde。 〃We ought to be able to
carry it through。〃
He filled his plate and walked across to a vacant place。 Here he
found himself next to Newmark。
〃Hello!〃 he greeted that young man; 〃fixed it with the doctor all
right?〃
〃Yes;〃 replied Newmark; in his brief; dry manner; 〃thanks! I think
I ought to tell you that the sheriff is not at Spruce Rapids; but at
the villageexpecting trouble。〃
Orde whistled; then broke into a roar of delight。
〃Boys;〃 he called; 〃old Plug Hat's got the sheriff right handy。 I
guess he sort of expected we'd be thinking of cutting through that
dam。 How'd you like to go to jail?〃
〃I'd like to see any sheriff take us to jail; unless he had an army
with him;〃 growled one of the river…jacks。
〃Has he a posse?〃 inquired Orde of Newmark。
〃I didn't see any; but I understood in the village that the governor
had been advised to hold State troops in readiness for trouble。〃
Orde fell into a brown study; eating mechanically。 The men began an
eager and somewhat truculent discussion full of lawless and
bloodthirsty suggestion。 Some suggested the kidnapping and
sequestration of Reed until the affair should be finished。
〃How'd he get hold of his old sheriff; then?〃 they inquired with
some pertinence。
Orde; however; paid no attention to all this talk; but continued to
frown into space。 At last his face cleared; and he slapped down his
tin plate so violently that the knife and fork jumped off into the
dirt。
〃I have it!〃 he cried aloud。
But he would not tell what he had。 After the noon hour he
instructed a half…dozen men to provide themselves with saws; axes;
picks; and shovels; and all marched in the direction of the mill。
When within a hundred yards or so of that structure the advancing
riverman saw the lank; black figure of the mill owner flap into
sight; astride a bony old horse; and clatter away; coat…tails
flying; up the road and into the waiting forest。
〃Now; boys!〃 cried Orde crisply。 〃He'll be back in an hour with the
sheriff。 Lively!〃 He rapidly designated ten men of his crew。 〃You
boys get to work and make things hum。 Get as much done as you can
before the sheriff comes。〃
〃He'll have to bring all of Spruce County to get me;〃 commented one
of those chosen; spitting on his hands。
〃Me; too!〃 said others。
〃Now; listen;〃 said Orde; holding them with an impressive gesture。
〃When that sheriff comes; with or without a posse; I want you to go
peaceably。 Understand?〃
〃Cave in? Not much!〃 cried Purdy。
〃See here;〃 and Orde drew them aside to an earnest; low…voiced
conversation that lasted several minutes。 When he had finished he
clapped each of them on the back; and all moved off; laughing; to
the dam。
〃Now; boys;〃 he commanded the others; 〃no row without orders。
Understand? If there's going to be a fight; I'll give you the word
when。〃
The chopping crew descended to the bottom of the sluice; the gate of
which had been shut; and began immediately to chop away at the
apron。 As the water in the pond above had been drawn low by the
morning's work; none overflowed the gate; so the men were enabled to
work dry。 Below the apron; of course; had been filled in with earth
and stones。 As soon as the axe…men had effected an entry to this
deposit; other men with shovels and picks began to remove the
filling。
The work had continued nearly an hour when Orde commanded the fifty
or more idlers back to camp。
〃Get out; boys;〃 he ordered。 〃The sheriff will be here pretty quick
now; and I don't want any row。 Get out of sight。〃
〃And leave them to fight her out alone? Guess not!〃 grumbled a
tall; burly individual with a red face。
Orde immediately walked directly to this man。
〃Am I bossing this drive; or am I not?〃 he demanded。
The riverman growled something。
SMACK! SMACK! sounded Orde's fists。 The man; taken by surprise;
went down in a heap; but immediately rebounded to his feet as though
made of rubber。 But Orde had seized a peavy; and stood over against
his antagonist; the murderous weapon upraised。
〃Lie down; you hound; or I'll brain you!〃 he roared at the top
strength of his great voice。 〃Want fight; do you? Well; you won't
have to wait till the sheriff gets here! You make a move!〃
For a full half minute the man crouched breathless; and Orde; his
ruddy face congested; held his threatening attitude。 Then he
dropped his peavy and stepped aside。
〃March!〃 he commanded。 〃Get your turkey and hit the hay trail。
You'll get your time at Redding。〃
The man sullenly arose and slouched away; grumbling under his
breath。 Orde watched him from sight; then turned to the silent
group; a new crispness in his manner。
〃Well?〃 he demanded。
Hesitating; they turned to the river trail; leaving the ten still
working at the sluice。 When