\"TheKingofFranceandtwicetenthousandmenMarchedupthehill，andthenmarcheddownagain，\"
herecited；thenburstintohisdeeproaroflaughter。
\"Nowyousee，boys，\"hesaid，digginghisfistsintohiseyes，\"ifyou’dputuparow，whatwe’dhavegotinto。Noblue—coatsinmine，thankyou。Well，pushthegrubpile，andthengetatthoselogs。
It’sacaseofflood—waternow。\"
ButReed，havingrecoveredfromhisastonishment，hadstillhissay。
\"Itellye，I’mnotdonewithyeyet，\"hethreatened，shakinghisbonyforefingerinOrde’sface。\"I’llsueyefordamages，andI’llGIT’em，too。\"
\"Seehere，youoldmossback，\"saidOrde，thrustinghisbulkyformtothefore，\"yousuejustassoonasyouwantto。Youcan’tgetatitanytooquicktosuitus。Butjustnowyougetoutofthiscamp，andyoustayout。You’reanoldman，andwedon’twanttoberoughwithyou，butyou’rebitingoffmorethanyoucanchew。Skedaddle！\"
Reedhesitated，wavinghislongarmsabout，flail—like，asthoughtobeginaneworation。
\"Now，dohopalong，\"urgedOrde。\"We’llpayyouanylegitimatedamages，ofcourse，butyoucan’texpecttohangupariverfuloflogsjustonanotion。Andwe’resickofyou。Oh，hell，then！Seehere，youtwo；justseethatthismanleavescamp。\"
Ordeturnedsquareonhisheel。Reed，afteraglanceatthetwohugerivermenapproaching，beataretreattohismill，mutteringandwrathfulstill。
\"Well，good—bye，boys，\"saidDaly，pullingonhisovercoat；\"I’lljustgetalongandbailtheboysoutofthatvillagecalaboose。I
reckonthey’vehadagoodnight’srest。Begood！\"
Thefringeoftreestoeastwardshowedclearlyagainstthewhiteningsky。Hundredsofbirdsofallkindssanginanecstasy。Anotherdayhadbegun。Alreadymenwithpike—poleswereguidingthesullentimberstowardthesluice—way。
IV
WhenNewmarkawokeoncemoretointerestinaffairs，themorningwaswellspent。Ontherivertheworkwasgoingforwardwiththeprecisionofclockwork。Thesix—footloweringofthesluice—wayhadproducedafinecurrent，whichsuckedthelogsdownfromabove。Menwerebusilyengagedin\"sacking\"themfromthesidesofthepondtowarditscentre，lesttheloweringwatershouldleavethemstranded。Belowthedamthejamcrewwasfindingplentytodoinkeepingthemmovinginthewhite—waterandtheshallows。Afinesun，temperedwithapropheticwarmthoflaterspring，animatedthescene。Reedhadwithdrawntotheinteriorofhismill，andappearedtohavegivenupthecontest。
Someofthelogsshotawaydownthecurrent，runningfreely。Tothesethecrewswerenotrequiredtopayanyattention。Withluck，afewoftheindividualtimberswouldfloatten，eventwenty，milesbeforesomechanceeddyorfortuitousobstructionwouldbringthemtorest。Sucheddiesandobstructions，however，drewaconstanttollfromtheranksofthefree—movinglogs，sothatalwaysthevolumeoftimbersfloatingwiththecurrentdiminished，andalwaysthenumberoflogscaughtandstrandedalongthesidesoftheriverincreased。Torestorethesetothefasterwaterwastheespecialprovinceofthelastandmostexpertcrew——therear。
Ordediscoveredaboutnoonthatthejamcrewwashavingitstroubles。ImmediatelybelowReed’sdamranalongchutestrewnwithboulders，whichwasalternatelyashalloworastretchofwhite—
wateraccordingasthestreamroseorfell。Ordinarilythelogswereflushedoverthisdeclivitybyopeningthegate，behindwhichaheadofwaterhadbeenaccumulated。Now，however，theefficiencyofthegatehadbeendestroyed。Ordeearlydiscoveredthathewaslikelytohavetroubleinpreventingthelogsrushingthroughthechutefromgroundingintoabadjamontherapidsbelow。
Foratimethejamcrewsucceededinkeepingthe\"wings\"clear。Inthecentreofthestream，however，asmalljamformed，likeapier。
Alongthebankslogsgrounded，andwererolledoverbytheirownmomentumintoplacessoshallowastodiscourageanyhopeofrefloatingthemunlessbymainstrength。Asthesluicingofthenineortenmillionfeetthatconstitutedthisparticulardrivewentforward，thesituationrapidlybecameworse。
Tom，we’vegottogetflood—waterunlesswewanttorunintoanawfuljobthere，\"saidOrdetotheforeman。\"Iwonderifwecan’tdropthatgate’waydowntogetsomethingforahead。\"
Thetwomenexaminedthechuteandthesluice—gateattentivelyforsometime。
\"Ifwecouldclearoutthesplintersandrubbish，wemightspikeacoupleofsaplingsoneachsideforthegatetoslidedowninto，\"
speculatedNorth。\"Mighttryheron。\"
Thelogswereheldupinthepond，andacrewofmensettoworktocutaway，aswellastheymightintherushofwater，thesplinteredendsoftheoldsillandapron。Itwashardwork。Newmark，watching，thoughtitimpracticable。Thecurrentrenderedfootingimpossible，soalltheworkhadtobedonefromabove。Wetwoodgrippedthelongsawsvice—like，sothataman’sutmoststrengthcouldscarcelybudgethem。Thewaterdeadenedtheforceofaxe—
blows。Nevertheless，withthesurepersistenceoftheriverman，theyheldtoit。Orde，watchingthemafewmoments，satisfiedhimselfthattheywouldsucceed，andsodeparteduprivertotakechargeoftherear。
Thiscrewhefoundworkingbusilyamongsomeoverflowedwoods。Theywereherdingthelaggardsoftheflock。Thesubsidenceofthewaterconsequentupontheopeningofthesluice—gatehadleftstrandedandinshallowsmanyhundredsofthelogs。Thesethemensometimes，waistdeepintheicywater，owingtotheextremeinequalityofthebottom，wererollingoverandoverwiththeirpeaviesuntiloncemoretheyfloated。Somefewtherivermenwereforcedtocarrybodily，tenmentoaside，thepeaviesclampedinashandles。Whenoncetheywereafloat，thetaskbecameeasier。Fromtheadvantageofdeadwood，stumps，orotherlogsthe\"sackers\"pushedtheunwieldytimbersforward，leaping，splashing，heaving，shoving，untilatlastthesteadycurrentofthemainriverseizedthelogsandborethemaway。Withmarvellousskilltheytoppedthedripping，bobby，rollingtimbers，treadingthemoverandover，backandforth，inunconsciouspreservationofequilibrium。
Therewasagooddealofnoiseandfunattherear。Thecrewhadbeendivided，andahalfworkedoneithersidetheriver。Arivalrydevelopedastowhichsideshouldadvancefastestinthesacking。
Itbecamearace。Momentarysuccessingettingaheadoftheotherfellowwasoccasionforexultantcrowing，whileamishapcalledforthironiccheersandcatcallsfromtherivalcamp。JustasOrdecametrampingupthetrail，oneoftherivermen’scaulksfailedto\"bite\"onanunusuallysmooth，barkedsurface。Hisfootslipped；
thelogrolled；hetriedinvaintoregainhisbalance，andfinallyfellinwithaheavysplash。
Theentireriversuspendedworktosendupahowlofdelight。Astheunfortunatecrawledout，drippingfromheadtofoot，hewasgreetedbyafloodofsarcasmandprofaneinquirythatleftnoroomforevenhisacknowledgedtalentsofrepartee。Cursingandashamed，hemadehiswayashoreoverthelogs，spirtingwaterateverystep。
Therehewrungouthiswoollenclothesasdryashecould，andresumedwork。
HardlyhadOrdetheopportunitytolookaboutattheprogressmaking，however，beforeheheardhisnameshoutedfromthebank。
Lookingup，tohissurprisehesawthesolemncookwavingafranticdish—towelathim。Nothingcouldinducethecooktoattemptthelogs。
\"Whatisit，Charlie？\"askedOrde，leapingashoreandstampingtheloosewaterfromhisboots。
\"It’salloff，\"confidedthecookpessimistically。\"It’snogood。
He’sstoppedusnow。\"
\"What’soff？Who’sstoppedwhat？\"
\"Reed。He’sdruvthemenfromthedamwithashotgun。Wemightaswellquit。\"
\"Shotgun，hey！\"exclaimedOrde。\"Well，theoldsonofagun！\"Hethoughtamoment，hislipspuckeredasthoughtowhistle；then，asusual，helaughedamusedly。\"Let’sgotakealookatthearmy，\"
saidhe。
Heswungawayataroundpace，followedratherbreathlesslybythecook。Thetrailledthroughthebrushacrossalittleflatpoint，upoverahighbluffwheretheriverswungin，downtoanotherpoint，andacrossapoletrailaboveamarshtocamp。
Apoletrailconsistsofsaplingslaidendtoend，andsupportedthreeorfourfeetabovewetplacesbymeansofsawbuck—likestructuresattheirextremities。Toariver—manoratight—ropedancertheyareeasywalks。Allothersmustproceedcautiouslyincontritememoryoftheirsins。
Ordemarchedacrossthefirsttwolengthsconfidentlyenough。Thenheheardasplashandlamentations。Turning，heperceivedCharlie，coveredwithmud，intheactofclamberinguponeofthesmalltrestles。
\"Ain’tgotnocaulks！\"ranthelamentations。\"The————ofa————ofapole—trail，anyways！\"
Hewalkedaheadgingerly，threwhishandsaloft，bentforward，thensuddenlyprotrudedhisstomach，heldoutonefootinfrontofhim，spasmodicallyhalfturned，andthen，realisingthecasehopeless，wiltedlikeawetrag，toclaspthepoletrailbothbyarmandleg。
Thissavedhimfromfallingoffaltogether，butswunghimunderneath，wherehehungliketheslothsinthepicture—books。A
seriesofviolentwrigglesbroughthim，red—facedandpanting，astridethepole，whence，hisfeelingsbeyondmerespeech，hesadlyeyedhispreciousderby，whichlay，crownup，inthemudbelow。
Ordecontemplatedthespectacleseriously。
\"SorryIhaven’tgottimetoenjoyyoujustnow，Charlie，\"heremarked。\"I’dtakeitslower，ifIwereyou。\"
Hedeparted，catchingfragmentsofvowsanentnevergoingonanymoreerrandsfornobody，andgettinghistimeifeveragainhewentawayfromhiswanigan。
Ordestoppedshortoutsidethefringeofbrushtoutteranotherirrepressiblechuckleofamusement。
ThecentreofthedamwasoccupiedbyReed。Theoldmanwasstillinfullregalia，hisplughatfuzzierthanever，andthrustevenfartherbackonhishead，hiscoat—tailsandloosetrousersflappingathiseverymovementashepacedbackandforthwithmilitaryprecision。Overhisshoulderhecarriedalongpercussion—lockshotgun。Notthirtyfeetaway，perchedalongthebank，foralltheworldlikearowofcormorants，sattherivermen，watchinghimsolemnlyandinsilence。
\"What’sthematter？\"inquiredOrde，approaching。
Theoldmansurveyedhimwithasnortofdisgust。
\"Ifthelawofthelanddon’tprotectme，I’llprotectmyself，sir，\"
heproclaimed。\"Igiveyefairwarning！Iain’ta—goingtohavemypropertyinterferedwithnomore。\"
\"Butsurely，\"saidOrde，\"wehavearighttorunourlogsthrough。
It’sanopenriver。\"
\"Andhevyebeenrunningyourlogsthrough？\"criedtheoldmanexcitedly。\"Hevye？Firstoffyebegintoteardownmydam；andthen，whentheriverbeginsa—roarin’anda—ragin’through，thenyoutamperwithmyimprovementsfurthermore，a—lowerin’thegateandotherwisea—modifyin’mystructure。\"
Ordesteppedforwardtosaysomethingfurther。ImmediatelyReedwheeled，histhumbonthehammer。
\"Allright，oldSpiritof’76，\"repliedOrde。\"Don’tshoot；I’llcomedown。\"
Hewalkedbacktothewaitingrow，smilingquizzically。
\"Well，youcalamityhowlers，whatdoyouthinkofit？\"
Nobodyanswered，buteverybodylookedexpectant。
\"Thinkhe’dshoot？\"inquiredOrdeofTomNorth。
\"Iknowhewould，\"repliedNorthearnestly。\"Thatcrazy—headedkindarejustthefellerstoriploose。\"
\"Ithinkmyselfheprobablywould，\"agreedOrde。
\"Surely，\"spokeupNewmark，\"whateverthestatusofthedamagesuits，youhavethelegalrighttorunyourlogs。\"
Orderolledaquizzicaleyeinhisdirection。
\"Per—fect—lycorrect，son，\"hedrawled，\"butwe’reengagedinthehappyoccupationofgettingoutlogs。Bythetimethelawwasalladjustedandaheadofsteamup，thewater’dbedown。Inthisgame，yougetoutlogsfirst，andthinkaboutlawafterward。\"
\"Howaboutlegaldamages？\"insistedNewmark。
\"Legaldamages！\"scoffedOrde。\"Legaldamages！Why，wecountlegaldamagesaspartofourregularexpenses——likepotatoes。It’sluckyit’sso，\"headded。\"Ifanybodypaidanyattentiontolegaltechnicalities，there’dneverbealogdelivered。Amanalwayshasenemies。
\"Well，whatareyougoingtodo？\"persistedNewmark。
Ordethrustbackhisfelthatandranhisfingersthroughhisshort，crisphair。
\"Thereyou’vegotme，\"heconfessed，\"but，ifnecessary，we’llpiletheoldwarrior。\"
Hewalkedtotheedgeofthedamandstoodlookingdowncurrent。
Forperhapsafullminuteheremainedtheremotionless，hishatclingingtooneside，hishandinhishair。Thenhereturnedtothegrimlysilentrivermen。
\"Boys，\"hecommandedbriefly，\"getyourpeaviesandcomealong。\"
Heledthewaypastthemilltotheshallowsbelow。
\"There’satrifleofwadingtodo，\"heannounced。Bringdowntwologs——fairlybig——andholdthembythatoldsnag，\"heordered。
\"Whoa—up！Easy！Holdthemendon——no，pointingupstream——fix’emabouttenfootapart——that’sit！George，driveacoupleofstakeseachsideofthemtohold’em。Correct！Now，rundownacoupledozenmoreandpilethemacrossthosetwo——sideontothestream，ofcourse。Roll’emup——that’stheticket！\"
Ordehadbeensplashingaboutintheshallowwater，showingwhereeachtimberwastobeplaced。Hedrewback，eyeingtheresultwithsatisfaction。Itlookedratherlikeasmallandbristlypier。
Nexthecasthiseyeaboutanddiscoveredapartiallysubmergedboulderonalinewiththenewlycompletedstructure。Againstthishebracedtheendsoftwomorelogs，onwhichheoncemorecausedtobeloadedatrightanglesmanytimbers。Anoldstubnearshorefurnishedhimthebasisofathirdpier。Hestakedathirty—inchbuttforafourth；andsoon，untilthepiers，inconjunctionwiththesmallcentrejamalreadymentioned，extendedquiteacrosstheriver。
Allthiswasaccomplishedinaveryshorttime，andimmediatelybelowthemill，butbeyondsightfromthesluice—gateofthedam。
\"Now，boys，\"commandedOrde，\"shoveoffsomeshorelogs，andletthemcomedown。\"
\"We’llhaveajamsure，\"objectedPurdystupidly。
\"No，myson，wouldwe？\"mockedOrde。\"Isurelyhopenot！\"
Thestraylogsfloatingdownwiththecurrenttherivermencaughtandarrangedtothebestpossibleadvantageabouttheimprovisedpiers。Agoodrivermanunderstandsthecorrelationofforcesrepresentedbysaw—logsandwater—pressure。Heknowshowtolookforthekey—loginbreakingjams；andbytheinversereasoning，whenneedariseshecanformajamasexpertlyasKoosy—oonekhimself——
thatbadlittlegodwhobringsabout。\"DonQuixoteandthewindmills！\"Thenheaddedvindictively，\"Theoldfool！\"although，ofcourse，thedrivewasnothispersonalconcern。
OnlyOrdeseemedtoseetheotherside。AndonOrdetheresponsibility，uncertainty，andvexationhadbornemostheavily，forthesuccessoftheundertakingwasinhishands。Withafewquickleapshehadgainedtheoldman’sside。
\"Lookhere，Reed，\"hesaidkindly，\"youcan’tbreakthisjam。Comeashorenow，andleies。ItwasmanagedbyCharlieandhistwocookeesbymeansofpike—polesandalongsweepateitherend。Thepike—polesassuredprogresswhenthecurrentslacked；thesweepskeptherhead—
onwhendriftingwiththestreamthedisagreeableandundesired——
\"whohidesourpipes，stealsourlastmatch，andbringsrainonthejustwhentheywanttogofishing。\"
Sointensecondsaftertheshorelogsbegandriftingdownfromabove，thejamwastakingshape。Slowlyitformed，lowandbroad。
Then，asthewatergatheredpressure，thelogsbegantoslipoveroneanother。Theweightofthetopmostsunkthosebeneathtothebedofthestream。Thistoacertainextentdammedbackthewater。
Immediatelythepressureincreased。Morelogswerepiledontop。
Thepierslockedthestructure。Belowtheimproviseddamthewaterfellalmosttonothing，andaboveit，swirlingineddies，grumblingfiercely，bubbling，gurgling，searchingbusilyforanopening，theriver，turnedbackonitself，gathereditsswollenandangryforces。
\"Thatwilldo，boys，\"saidOrdewithsatisfaction。
Heledthewaytothebankandsatdown。Themenfollowedhisexample。Everymomentthewaterrose，andeachinstant，asmorelogscamedownthecurrent，thejambecamemoreformidable。
\"Nothingcanstandthatpressure，\"breathedNewmark，fascinated。
\"Thebiggerthepressurethetightershelocks，\"repliedOrde，lightinghispipe。
Thehighbankwherethemensatlaywellabovethereachofthewater。NotsotheflatonwhichstoodReed’smill。Inordertotakefulladvantageofthewater—powerdevelopedbythedam，theoldmanhadcausedhisstructuretobebuiltnearlyatalevelwiththestream。Nowtheriver，backingup，rapidlyoverflowedthisflat。
Asthejamtightenedbyitsownweightandtheaccumulationoflogs，thewaterfairlyjumpedfromthelowestfloorofthemilltotheoneabove。
OrdehadnotlongtowaitforReed’sappearance。Inlessthanfiveminutestheoldmandescendedonthegroup，somewhatofhismartialairabated，andsomethingofavagueanxietymanifestinhiseye。
\"What’sthematterhere？\"hedemanded。
\"Matter？\"inquiredOrdeeasily。\"Oh，nothingmuch，justalittlejam。\"
\"Butit’sfloodingmymill！\"
\"SoIperceive，\"repliedOrde，strikingamatch。
\"Well，whydon’tyoubreakit？\"
\"Notinterested。\"
Theoldwarriorranupthebanktowherehecouldgetagoodviewofhisproperty。Thewaterwaspouringintothefirst—floorwindows。
\"Here！\"hecried，runningback。\"I’vealotofgrainup—stairs。
It’llberuined！\"
\"Notinterested，\"repeatedOrde。
Reedwasrapidlylosingcontrolofhimself。
\"ButI’vegotalotofmoneyinvestedhere！\"heshouted。\"Youmiserableblackguard，you’reruiningme！\"
Ordereplacedhispipe。
Reedranbackandforthfrantically，disappeared，returnedbearinganantiquatedpike—pole，andsingle—handedandaloneattackedthejam！
Astonishmentanddelightheldtherivermenbreathlessforamoment。
Thenaroaroflaughterdrownedeventhenoiseofthewaters。Menpoundedeachotherontheback，rolledoverandover，clutchinghandfulsofearth，struggledweakandred—facedforbreathastheysawagainstthesky—lineofthebristlingjamthelank，flappingfigurewiththeoldplughatpushingfranticallyagainsttheimmovablestaticsofamightypower。Theexasperationofdelay，theanxietylestsuccessbelostthroughthemulishandnarrow—mindedobstinacyofoneman，theresentmentagainstanotherobstaclenottobeforeseenandnottobeexpectedinataskredundantlysuppliedwithobstaclesofitsown——thesefoundreliefatlast。
\"ByJove！\"breathedNewmarksoftlytohimselftup。You’llkillyourself。\"
Reedturnedtohim，awildlightinhiseye。
\"Breakit！\"hepleaded。\"You’reruiningme。I’vegotallmymoneyinthatmill。\"
\"Well，\"saidOrde，\"we’vegotalotofmoneyinourlogstoo。Youhaven’ttreatedusquiteright。\"
Reedglancedfranticallytowardthefloodupstream。
\"Come，\"saidOrde，takinghimgentlybythearm。\"There’snoreasonyouandIshouldn’tgetalongtogetherallright。Maybewe’rebothalittlehard—headed。Let’stalkitover。\"
Heledtheoldmanashore，andoutofearshotoftherivermen。
Attheendoftenminuteshereturned。
\"War’sover，boys！\"heshoutedcheerfully。\"Getinandbreakthatjam。\"
Atoncethecrewswarmedacrossthelogbarriertoapointabovethecentrepier。Thistheyattackedwiththeirpeavies，。
Charlie’stemperamentwaspessimisticatbest。Whenthewaniganwastobemoved，herosefairlytotheheightsofwhatmightbecalleddestructiveprophecy。
Thepackingbeganbeforethemenhadfinishedbreakfast。Shortlyafterdaylightthewanigan，pushedstronglyfromshorebythepike—
poles，wasdriftingtowardthechute。Whentheheavyscowthreatenedtoturnside—on，thesweepsateitherendchurnedthewaterfranticallyinanendeavourtostraightenherout。Sometimes，byarollingthetoplogsoffintothecurrentbelow。Inlessthannotimetheyhadtornoutquiteaholeinthetoplayer。Theriverrushedthroughtheopening。Immediatelythelogsinthewingsweretumbledinfromeitherside。Atfirstthemenhadtodoallofthework，butsoontheriveritselfturnedtotheirassistance。Timberscreakedandsettled，orroseslightlybuoyantasthewaterloosenedthetangle。
Mentrodontheedgeofexpectation。Constantlythelogsshifted，andasconstantlythemenshiftedalso，avoidingtheupheavalsandgrindingstogether，waryeyesestimatingthecorrelationoftheforcesintowhosecrushingreachasinglemisstepwouldbringthem。
Themovementacceleratedeachinstant，asthemusicoftheplayhastenstotheclimax。Woodfibressmashed。Thewholemassseemedtosinkdownandforwardintoaboilingofwaters。Then，withacreakandagroan，thejammoved，hesitated，movedagain；finally，urgedbythefranticriver，wentoutinamajesticcrashingandbatteringoflogs。
AtthefirstmovementNewmarkexpectedtherivermentomaketheirescape。Instead，theystoodatattention，theirpeaviespoised，watchingcat—eyedthesymptomsofthebreak。Twiceorthriceseveralofthemen，observingsomethingnotevidenttoNewmark’sunpractisedeye，ranforward，usedtheirpeaviesvigorouslyforamomentorso，andstoodbacktowatchtheresult。Onlyattheverylast，whenitwouldseemthatsomeofthemmustsurelyhecaught，didtheriver—jacks，usingtheirpeavy—shaftsasbalancingpoles，zigzagcalmlytoshoreacrosstheplunginglogs。Newmarkseemedimpressed。
\"Thatwasacloseshave，\"saidhetothelastmanashore。
\"What？\"inquiredtheriverman。\"Didn’tseeit。Somebodyfalldown？\"
\"Why，no，\"explainedNewmark；\"gettinginoffthoselogswithoutgettingcaught。\"