\"Oh！\"saidthemanindifferently，turningaway。
Thegoingoutofthejamdrainedthewaterfromthelowerfloorsofthemill；theupphaven’tlostmuch。Nowgetamoveonyouandbailout。You’vegottogetovertheshallowswhilethisheadison。\"
\"That’sallthethanksyouget，\"grumbledCharlietohimselfandtheotherthreeasOrdemovedaway。\"Work，slave，getupinthenight，drowndyourself——\"
Hehappilydiscoveredthatthepailsundertheforwardthwarthadnotbeencarriedaway，andallstartedintobail。Itwasaback—
breakingjob，andconsumedthegreaterpartoftwohoursedbelowthegunwale。Zekeandhiscompanionpulledspasmodicallyonthesweeps。Charlie，havingregaineerstoriesandthegrainwerestillsafe。
Byeveningthesluice—gatehadbeenroughlyprovidedwithpoleguidesdownwhichtoslidetothebedoftheriver。Thefollowingmorningsawtheworkgoingonasmethodicallyasever。Duringthenightaverygoodheadofwaterhadgatheredbehindtheloweredgate。Therearcrewbroughtdowntheafterguardoflogstothepond。Thesluicerswiththeirlongpike—polesthrustthelogsintothechute。Thejamcrew，scatteredformanymilesalongthelowerstretches，keptthedrivegoing；runningoutoverthesurfaceoftheriverlikewater—bugstothrustapartlogsthreateningtolock；
leaningforhoursontheshaftsoftheirpeavieswatchingcontemplativelytheorderlyranksastheydriftedby，sleepy，onthebosomoftheriver；occasionallygathering，asthefillingoftherivergavewarning，tobreakajam。Bytheendoftheseconddaythepondwasclear，andasCharlie’swaniganwasdriftingtowardthechute，thefirstofJohnson’sdrivefloatedintotheheadofthepond。
V
Charlie’swanigan，incaseyoudonothappentoknowwhatsuchathingmaybe，wasascowabouttwentyfeetlongbytenwide。Itwasverysolidlyconstructedofhewntimbers，squareatbothends，wasinconceivablyclumsy，andweighedanunbelievablenumberofpounds。
Whenloaded，itcarriedallthebed—rolls，tents，provisions，cookingutensils，tools，andachestoftobacco，clothes，andotherminorsupplmisunderstanding，theyworkedagainsteachother。ThenCharlie，ragingfromonetotheotherofhissatellites，frothedandroaredcommandsandvituperations。Hisvoicerosetoashriek。Thecookees，bewilderedbysomuchviolence，losttheirheadscompletely。ThenCharlieabruptlyfelltoanexaggeratedcalm。Hesatdownamidshipsonapileofbags，andgazedwithostentatiousindifferenceoutoverthepond。Finally，inavoicefallenalmosttoawhisper，andwithanelaboratepoliteness，CharlieprofferedarequestthathisassistantsacquirethesenseGodgavearooster。
Newmark，whohadelectedtoaccompanythewaniganonitsvoyage，evidentlyfounditvastlyamusing，forhiseyestwinkledbehindhisglasses。Asthewanigannearedthesluicethroughwhichitmustshoottheflood—water，theexcitementmountedtofeverpitch。Thewaterboiledunderthestrokesofthelongsteeringoars。TheairswirledwiththemultitudeandvigourofCharlie’scommands。Asmanyofthedrivingcrewaswerewithindistancegatheredtowatch。
Itwasasuprememoment。AsNewmarklookedatthesmoothrimofthewatersuckingintothechute，hebegantowonderwhyhehadcome。
However，thenobleshipwaspointedrightatlast，andcaughtthefasterwaterhead—on。EvenCharliemanagedtolookcheerfulforaninstant，andtogrinathispassengerashewipedhisforeheadwithaveryold，redhandkerchief。
\"Allrightnow，\"heshouted。
Zekeandhismatetookintheoars。Thewaniganshotforwardbelowthegate——
WHACK！BUMP！BANG！andthescowstoppedsosuddenlythatitsfourmenplungedforwardinamiscellaneousheap，whileZekenarrowlyescapedgoingoverboard。Almostimmediatelythewater，backedupbehindthestern，begantooverflowintotheboat。Newmark，clearinghisvisionaswellashecouldforlackofhisglasses，sawthatthescowhadevidentlyrunherbowonanobstruction，andhadbeenbroughttoastandstillsquarebeneaththesluice—gate。Menseemedtoberunningtowardthem。Thewaterwasbeginningtoflowtheentirelengthoftheboat。Variouslighterarticlesshotpasthimanddisappearedovertheside。Charliehadgonecrazyandwasgrabbingatthese，quiteuselessly，forasfastashehadcaughtonethingheletitgoinfavourofanother。Thecookees，retainingsomesmalldegreeofcoolness，werepushinguselesslywithpike—
poles。
Newmarkhadaninspiration。Themoreimportantmatters，suchasthemen’sclothes—bags，therollsofbedding，andtheheaviersuppliesofprovisions，hadnotyetcutloosefromtheirmoorings，althoughtherapidbackingofthewaterthreatenedsoontoconvertthewaniganintoachutefornearlythefullvolumeofthecurrent。Heseizedoneofthelongoars，thrustthebladeundertheedgeofathwartasternlaidtheshaftoftheoaracrossthecargo，andbyrestinghisweightonthehandleattemptedtobringitdowntobinddhisequanimitytogetherwithhisoldbrownderby，whichhecameuponfloatingsoddeninaneddy，marchedupanddownthebroadgunwalewithhispike—pole，thrustingawaysuchlogsasthreatenedinterference。
\"Well，\"saidheatlast，\"webettermakecamp。We’llbedowninthejamprettysoon。\"
Thecookeesabandonedthesweepsinfavourofmorepike—poles。Bypushingandpullingonthelogsfloatingaboutthem，theymanagedtoworkthewaniganinclosetthecontentsofthewanigantotheirplaces。Thecookeessawwhathewasabout，andcametohisassistance。Togethertheysucceededinbendingthelonghickorysweepfarenoughtocatchitshandle—endunderanother，forward，thwart。Thesecondoarwasquicklylockedalongsidethefirst，andnotamomenttoosoon。Arushofwaterforcedthemalltoclingfortheirlives。Thepooroldwaniganwasalmostburiedbytheriver。
Butnowhelpwasathand。Twoorthreerivermenappearedattheedgeofthechute。AmomentlateroldmanReedranup，carryingarope。This，aftersomedifficulty，wasmadefasttothebowofthewanigan。Adozenmenranwiththeendofittoapositionofvantagefromwhichtheymightbeabletopullthebowawayfromthesunkenobstruction，butOrde，appearingabove，calledahalt。AfterconsultationwithReed，anotherropewasbroughtandtheendofittosseddowntotheshipwreckedcrew。Ordepointedtothesternoftheboat，revolvinghishandsinpantomimetoshowthatthewaniganwouldbeapttoupsetifallowedtogetside—onwhenfreed。Ashortropeledtothetopofthedamallowedthebowtobeliftedfreeoftheobstruction；acableasternpreventedthecurrentfromthrowingherbroadsidetotherushofwaters；anothercablefromthebowledherinthewaysheshouldgo。Tenminuteslatershewaspulledashoreoutoftheeddybelow，verymuchwater—logged，andmannedbyadrenchedanddisgruntledcrew。
ButOrdeallowedthemlittlechanceforlamentation。
\"Hardluck！\"hesaidbriefly。\"Hopeyou。Evenattheendofthattimethewanigan，thoughdryofloosewater，floatedbutsluggishly。
\"’Bouttwotonofwaterinthembed—rollsandturkeys，\"grumbledCharlie。\"Well，getatit！\"
Newmarksoondiscoveredthattheprogressofthewaniganwaslookeduponinthelightofaside—showbytherivermen。Itsappearancewassignalforshoutsofdelightedandironicencouragement；itstribulations——whichatfirst，inthewhite—water，weremany——theoccasionforunsympatheticandunholyjoy。Charlielookedonallspectatorsasenemies。Partofthetimehemerelyglowered。Partofthetimehetriedtoreplyinkind。Tohisintensedisgust，hewastakenseriouslyinneithercase。
Inacoupleofhours’runthewaniganhadovertakenandleftfarbehindtherearofthedrive。Allaboutfloatedthelogs，carominggentlyoneagainsttheother，shiftingandchangingthepatternoftheirbrownagainsttheblueofthewater。Thecurrentflowedstronglyandsmoothly，butwithoutobstruction。Everythingwentwell。Thebanksslippedbysilentlyandmysteriously，liketheunrollingofapanorama——littlestripsofmarshland，stretchesofwoodlandwherethegreattreesleanedoutovertheriver，thicketsofoverflowedswamplandwiththewaterrisinganddrainingamongrootsinastrangeregularityofitsown。Thesunshonewarm。
Therewasnowind。Newmarkwrungouthisoutergarments，andbaskothebank。
Charlie，acoilofropeinhishand，surveyedtheprospects。
\"We’llstoprightdowntherebythatlittleknoll，\"heannounced。
Heleapedashore，madeaturnaroundatree，andbracedhimselftosnubtheboat，butunfortunatelyhehadnottakenintoconsiderationthe\"twoton\"ofwatersoakedupbythecargo。Theweightofthecraftrelentlesslydraggedhimforward。Invainhebracedandstruggled。Theendoftheropecametothetree；heclungforamoment，thenletgo，andranaroundthetreetocatchitbeforeitshouldslipintothewater。
Bythistimethewaniganhadcaughtthestrongercurrentatthebendandwasgatheringmomentum。Charlietriedtosnubatasapling，andbrokethesapling；onastub，anduprootedthestub。Downthebanksandthroughthebrushhetoreattheendofhisrope，clingingdesperately，tryingateverysolidtreetostopthecareerofhisrunaway，butineveryinstancebeingforcedbythedangerofjamminghishandstoletgo。Againhelosthisderby。Thelandscapewasablur。Dimlyhemadeoutthehowlsoflaughterastheoutfitpassedagroupofrivermen。Thenabruptlyaravineyawnedbeforehim，andheletgojustintimetosavehimselfafall。Thewanigan，trailingherrope，driftedaway。
Nordidshestopuntilshehadovertakenthejam。There，hermomentumreducedbytheclosercrowdingofthelogs，shesloweddownenoughsothatNewmarkandthecookeesmanagedtoworkhertothebankandmakeherfast。
Thatevening，afterthewanigan’screwhadaccomplishedahardafternoon’sworkpitchingcampanddryingblankets，thefirstofthereardriftedinverylateafteravainsearchforcampfartherupstream。
\"ForGod’ssake，Charlie，\"growledone，\"it’sawonderyouwouldn’trunthroughtoReddingandbedonewithit。\"
WhereuponCharlie，whohadbeenpreternaturallycalmalltheafternoon，utteredashriekofrage，andwithacarving—knifechasedthatmanoutintothebrush。NorwouldhebeappeasedtothepointofgettingsupperuntilOrdehimselfhadintervened。
\"Well，\"saidOrdetoNewmarklater，aroundthecampfire，\"howdoesriver—drivingstrikeyou？\"
\"Itisextremelyinteresting，\"repliedNewmark。
\"Liketojointhewanigancrewpermanently？\"
\"No，thanks，\"returnedNewmarkdrily。
\"Well，staywithusaslongasyou’rehavingagoodtime，\"invitedOrdeheartily，butturningawayfromhisratheruncommunicativevisitor。
\"Thankyou，\"Newmarkacknowledgedthis，\"IbelieveIwill。\"
\"Well，Tommy，\"calledOrdeacrossthefiretoNorth，\"Ireckonwe’vegottorustlesomemoresupplies。Thatshipwreckofoursto—daymightynearcleanedusoutofsomethings。LuckyCharlieheldhisheadandlockedinthebeddingwiththosesweeps，orwe’dhavebeenstrapped。\"
\"Ididn’tdoit，\"grumbledCharlie。\"Itwashim。\"
\"Oh！\"OrdecongratulatedNewmark。\"Goodwork！I’mtickledtodeathyoubelongedtothatcrew。\"
\"ThatoldmossbackReedwasrightondeckwithhisrope，\"remarkedJohnnySimms。\"Thatwasprettydecentofhim。\"
\"Oldskunk！\"growledNorth。\"Helostustwodayswithhisdamnnonsense。Youlethimofftooeasy，Jack。\"
\"Oh，he’sapoorolddevil，\"repliedOrdeeasily。\"Hemeanswellenough。That’sthewaytheLordmadehim。Hecan’thelphowhe’smade。\"
VI
Duringthethirty—threedaysofthedrive，Newmark，tothesurpriseofeverybody，stayedwiththework。Someofthesedayswereverydisagreeable。Aprilrainsarecoldandpersistent——rdcook。
\"Andyouhadfiftyinyourturkey，campingwiththisoutfitofhardcitizens！\"hecried。\"Yououghttoloseit。\"
JohnnyChallanwasexplainingtohiscompanionsexactlyhowthegamewasplayed。
\"It’sacaseofkeepyoureyeonthecard，Ishouldthink，\"saidbigTimNolan。\"Ifyougotaquickenougheyetoseehimflipthecardaround，yououghttobeabletopickher。\"
\"That’swhatthissportsaid，\"agreedChallan。\"’Youreyeaginmyhand，’sayshe。\"
\"Well，I’dliketotakeatryather，\"musedTim。
ButatthispointNewmarkbrokeintothediscussion。\"Haveyouapackofcards？\"heaskedinhisdry，incisivemanner。
Somebodyrummagedinaturkeyandproducedtheremainsofanolddeck。
\"Idon’tbelievethisisafulldeck，\"saidhe，\"andIthinkthey’spartoftwodecksinit。\"
\"Iotheproverbsastoshowersweremadeforanotherlatitude。Drenchedgarmentsarebadenoughwhenamanismovingaboutandhasdaylight；butwhennightfalls，andtheworkisover，helikesadryplaceandachangewithwhichtocomforthimself。Dryplacestherewerenone。Eventheinteriorofthetentsbecamesoddenbycontinualexitsandentrancesofdrippingmen，whiledrygarmentsspeedilydampenedintheshiftingsofcampwhich，inthebroaderreachesofthelowerriver，tookplacenearlyeveryday。Menworkedinsoakedgarments，sleptindampblankets。Charliecookedonlybyvirtueofpersistence。Therivermenatestandingup，asclosetothesputtering，roaringfiresastheycouldget。Alwaystheworkwentforward。
Buttherewereothertimeswhenagoldensunroseeachmorningalittleearlieronagreenandjoyousworld。Theriverranblue。
Migratorybirdsfledbusilynorthward——robins，flute—voicedblue—
birds，warblersofmanyspecies，sparrowsofdifferentkinds，shorebirdsandducks，thesweet—songedthrushes。Littletepidbreezeswanderedupanddown，warmincontrasttothefaintsnow—chillthatevenyetlingeredintheshadows。Soundscarriedclearly，sothattheshoutsandbanteroftherivermenwereplainlyaudibleupthereachesoftheriver。Ashoremoistandaggressivegreenthingswerepushingupthroughthewateryearthfromwhich，inshade，thelastfrosthadnotyetdeparted。Atcampthefiresroaedinvitingly。
Charlie’sgrubwashotandgrateful。Thefirbedsgavedreamlesssleep。
Newmarkfollowedtheworkofthelog—drivewithgreatinterest。Alldaylonghetrampedbackandforth——onjamoneday，onrearthenext。Heneversaidmuch，butwatchedkeenly，andlistenedtothemen’sbanterbothontheworkandabouttheevening’sfireasthoughheenjoyedit。Graduallythemengotusedtohim，andceasedtotreathimasanoutsider。Histhin，eagerface，hissteel—blue，inquiringeyesbehindtheglasses，hisgrayfelthat，hislank，tensefigureinitsgray，becameafamiliarfeature。Theythrewremarkstohim，towhichherepliedbrieflyanddrily。Whenanythinginterestingwasgoingon，somebodytoldhimaboutit。Thenhehurriedtothespot，nomatterhowdistantitmightbe。Heusedalwaystherivertrail；heneverattemptedtoridethelogs。
Heseemedtodependmostonobservation，forherarelyaskedanyquestions。Whatfewquerieshehadtoproffer，hemadetoOrdehimself，waitingsometimesuntileveningtointerviewthatbusyandgood—naturedindividual。Thenhisquestionsweredirectandtothepoint。Theyrelatedgenerallytotheadvisabilityofsomethinghehadseendone；onlyrarelydidtheyaskforexplanationoftheworkitself。ThatNewmarkseemedcapableofpuzzlingoutforhimself。
Thedrive，ashasbeensaid，wentdownasfarasReddinginthirty—
threedays。Ithaditsshareoftribulation。Themenworkedfourteenandsixteenhoursattimes。Severalbadjamsrelievedthemonotony。Threedamshadtobesluicedthrough。Problemsofmechanicsarosetobesolvedonthespot；problemsthatanoldercivilisationwouldhaveattackeddeliberatelyandwithduerespectfortheseriousnessofthesituationandthedignityofengineering。
Ordesolvedthembyarough—and—readybutveryeffectiveruleofthumb。Hebuiltandabandonedstructureswhichwouldhavefurnishedopportunityforawinter’sdiscussiontosomecommittees；justas，earlierinthework，theloggershadbuiltthrougharoughcountrysomehundredsofmilesofroadbetterthanrailroadgrade，solidinfoundation，andsmoothasaturnpike，thequarterofwhichwouldhaveoccupiedtheaveragecountyboardofsupervisorsforfiveyears。Andwhilehewasatit，Ordekepthismenbusyandsatisfied。Yourwhite—waterbirlerisnotaneasycitizentohandle。Yetneveroncedidthebossappearhurriedorflustered。
Alwayshewanderedabout，hishandsinhispockets，chewingatwig，hisround，wind—reddenedfacepuckeredhumorously，hisblueeyestwinkling，hissquare，burlyformlazilyrelaxed。Heseemedtomeethismenalmostsolelyontheplaneofgood—naturedchaffing。Yettheworkwasdone，anddoneefficiently，andOrdewasthemanresponsible。
ThedriveofwhichOrdehadchargewastobedeliveredattheboomsofMorrisonandDaly，amileorsoabovethecityofRedding。
Reddingwasathrivingplaceofaboutthirtythousandinhabitants，situatedonalongrapidssomefortymilesfromLakeMichigan。Thewater—powerdevelopedfromtherapidsexplainedRedding’sexistence。
Mostofthelogsfloateddowntheriverwerecarriedthroughtothevillageatthelakecoast，where，strunguptheriverforeightortenmiles，stoodadozenorsobigsaw—mills，withconcomitantbooms，yards，andwharves。MorrisonandDaly，however，hadbuiltasawandplaningmillatRedding，wheretheysuppliedmostofthelocaltradeandthatofthesurroundingcountry—side。
Thedrive，then，wasduetobreakupassoonasthelogsshouldbesafelyimpounded。
Thelastcampwasmadesomesixoreightmilesabovethemill。Fromthatpointagoodproportionoftherivermen，eagerforatasteofthetown，trampedawaydowntheroad，toreturnearlyinthemorning，moreorlessdrunk，butfaithfultotheirjob。Oneortwodidnotreturn。
Amongtherevellerswasthecook，Charlie，commonlycalledTheDoctor。Therivermenearlyworkedofftheeffectsoftheirratherwildspree，andturnedupatnoonchipperaslarks。Notsothecook。Hemopedaboutdisconsolatelyallday；andintheevening，afterhisworkhadbeenfinished，helookedsomuchlikeachickenwiththepipthatOrde’sattentionwasattracted。
\"Gotthatdark—browntaste，Charlie？\"heinquiredwithmocksolicitude。
Thecookmournfullyshookhishead。
\"Largehead？Let’sfeelyourpulse。Stickoutyourtongue，sonny。\"
\"Iain’tbeendrinking，Itellyou！\"growledCharlie。
\"Drinking！\"expostulatedOrde，horrified。\"Ofcoursenot！IhopenoneofMYboysevertakeadrink！Butthatlemon—popdidn’tagreewithyourstomach——nowdidit，Charlie？\"
\"ItellyouIonlyhadtwoglassesofbeer！\"criedCharlie，goaded，\"andIcanproveitbyJohnnyChallan。\"
Ordeturnedtosurveythepink—cheeked，embarrassedyoungboythusdesignated。
\"HowmanyglassesdidJohnnyChallanhave？\"heinquired。
\"Hedidn’tdrinknonetospeakof，\"spokeuptheboy。
\"Thenwhythisjoylessdemeanour？\"beggedOrde。
Charliegrumbled，fiercelyinarticulate；butJohnnyChallaninterposedwithachuckleofenjoyment。
\"Hegot’bunked。’\"
\"Tellus！\"criedOrdedelightedly。
\"ItwasdownatMcNeill’splace，\"explainedJohnnyChallan；
encouragedbytheinterestofhisaudience。\"Theywasacoupleofsportstherewhothrowedoutthreecardsonthetableandbetyoucouldn’tpickthejack。Theyshowedyouwherethejackwasbeforetheythrowed，anditsurelylookedlikeapicnic，butitwasn’t。\"
\"Three—cardmonte，\"saidNewmark。
\"Howmuch？\"askedSimms。
\"Aboutfiftydollars，\"repliedtheboy。
Ordeturnedonthedisgruntlenlywantthree，\"assuredNewmark，reachinghishandforthepack。
Themencrowdedaroundclose，thoseinfrontsquatting，thosebehindlookingovertheirshoulders。
Newmarkclearedacracker—boxofdryingsocksanddrewittohim。
\"Thesethreearethecards，\"hesaid，speakingrapidly。\"Thereisthejackofhearts。Ipassmyhands——so。Pickthejack，oneofyou，\"hechallenged，leaningbackfromthecracker—boxonwhichlaythethreecards，backup。\"Anyofyou，\"heurged。\"You，North。\"
Thusdirectlysingledout，theforemanleanedforwardandratherhesitatinglylaidabluntforefingerononeofthebitsofpasteboard。
Withoutaword，Newmarkturneditover。Itwasthetenofspades。
\"Letmetry，\"interposedTimNolan，pressinghisbigshouldersforward。\"IbetIknowwhichitwasthattime；andIbetIcanpickhernexttime。\"
\"Oh，yes，youBET！\"shruggedNewmark。\"Andthat’swherethecard—
sharpsgetyoufellowseverytime。Well，pickit，\"saidhe，againdeftlyflippingthecards。
Nolan，whohadwatchedkeenly，indicatedonewithouthesitation。
Againitprovedtobethetenofspades。
\"Anybodyelseambitious？\"inquiredNewmark。Everybodywasambitious；andtheyoungman，withinexhaustiblepatience，threwoutthecards，thecornersofhismouthtwitchingsardonicallyateachwrongguess。
Atlengthhecalledahalt。
\"BythistimeI’dhavehadallyourmoney，\"hepointedout。\"Now，I’llpickthejack。\"
Forthelasttimehemadehisswiftpassesanddistributedthecards。Thenquitecalmly，withoutdisturbingthethreeonthecracker—box，heheldbeforetheireyesthejackofhearts。
Anexclamationbrokefromtheinterestedgroup。TimNolan，whowasthenearest，leanedforwardandturnedoverthethreeontheboard。
Theyweretheeightofdiamondsandtwotensofspades。
\"That’showthethingisworkedninetimesoutoften，\"announcedNewmark。\"Onceinawhileyou’llrunagainstastraightgame，butnotoften。\"
\"Butyoushowedusthejackeverytimebeforeyouthrowedthem！\"
puzzledJohnnySimms。
\"Sleightofhand，\"explainedNewmark。\"Thesimplestkindofpalming。\"
\"Well，Charlie，\"saidbigTim，\"lookstomeasifyouhadjustaboutasmuchchanceasasnowballinhell。\"
\"Where’dyougetontodoingallthat，Newmark？\"inquiredNorth。
\"Youain’tatinhornyourself？\"
Newmarklaughedbriefly。\"NotI，\"saidhe。\"Ilearnedalotofthosetricksfromatravellingmagicianincollege。\"
DuringthisdemonstrationOrdehadsatwellinthebackground，hischinproppedonhishand，watchingintentlyallthatwasgoingon。
Afterthecommentandexclamationsfollowingtheexposureofthemethodhadsubsided，hespoke。
\"Boys，\"saidhe，\"howgameareyoutogetCharlie’smoneyback——andthensome？\"
\"Tryus，\"returnedbigTim。
\"Thisgame’satMcNeill’s，andMcNeill’sisatoughhole，\"warnedOrde。\"Maybeeverythingwillgopeaceful，andmaybenot。Andyouboysthatgowithmehavegottokeepsober。Thereisn’tgoingtobeanyrowunlessIsayso，andI’mnottakinganycontracttohandlealotofdrunkenriver—hogsaswellasgoagainstagame。\"
\"Allright，\"agreedNolan，\"I’mwithyou。\"
Thethirtyorsomenoftherearcrewthenincampsignifiedtheirintentiontostaybytheprocession。
\"Youcan’tmakethosesharpsdisgorge，\"counselledNewmark。\"Atthefirstlookoftroubletheywilllightout。Theyhaveitallfixed。
Forcewon’tdoyoumuchgood——andmaygetsomeofyoushot。\"
\"I’mnotgoingtouseforce，\"deniedOrde。\"I’mjustgoingtoplaytheirgame。ButIbetIcanmakeitgo。OnlyIsortofwantthemoralsupportoftheboys。\"
\"Itellyou，youCAN’Twin！\"criedNewmarkdisgustedly。\"It’sabracegamepureandsimple。\"
\"Idon’tknowaboutit’sbeingpure，\"repliedOrdedrolly，\"butit’ssimpleenough，ifyouknowhowtomakethewheelsgo’round。Howisit，boys——willyoubackmyplay？\"
Andsuchwastheirconfidencethat，infaceofNewmark’sdemonstration，theysaidtheywould。
VII
Afterthemenhadbeenpaidoff，perhapsadozenofthemhungaroundtheyardsawaitingeveningandtherendezvousnamedbyOrde。Therestdriftedawayfullofgoodintentions，butdidnotshowupagain。Ordehimselfwasbusyuptothelastmoment，butfinallystampedoutoftheofficejustastheboarding—housebellrangforsupper。Hesurveyedwhatremainedofhisoldcrewandgrinned。
\"Well，boys，readyfortrouble？\"hegreetedthem。\"Comeon。\"
TheysetoutupthelongreachofWaterStreet，theirsteelcaulksbitingdeepintothepittedboard—walks。
Fornearlyamilethestreetwasflankedsolelybylumber—yards，smallmills，andfactories。Thencameastripofunimprovedland，followedimmediatelybythewooden，ramshacklestructuresofHell’sHalf—Mile。
IntheolddayseverytownofanysizehaditsHell’sHalf—Mile，ortheequivalent。SaginawboastedofitsCatacombs；Muskegon，Alpena，PortHuron，Ludington，hadtheir\"Pens，\"\"WhiteRows，\"\"RiverStreets，\"\"Kilyubbin，\"andsoforth。Theysupportedrowuponrowofsaloons，alikestuffyandsqualid；gamblinghellsofallsorts；