Ordereceivedallthiswithsatisfaction，butwithaslightscepticism。
\"It’safloatingjam；anditgetsapushfromunderneath，\"hepointedout。\"It’sprobablysafe；butanotherfloodmightsenditout。\"
\"Thefloodsaregoingdown，\"saidNorth。
\"GoodLord；Ihopeso！\"saidOrde。
Newmarksentwordthatasuddenfitofsicknesshadconfinedhimtothehouse。
\"Didn’tthinkofalittlethinglikepiles，\"saidOrdetohimself。
\"Well，that’shardlyfair。Joecouldn’thaverealisedwhenheleftherejusthowbadthingswere。\"
Fortwodays，ashasbeensaid，nothinghappened。ThenOrdedecidedtobreakoutachannelthroughthejamitself。Thiswasanecessarypreliminarytogettingthelogsinshapefordistribution。Anopeningwasmadeinthepiles，andtherivermen，withpike—poleandpeavy，begancautiouslytodigtheirwaythroughthetangledtimbers。TheGovernmentpile—driver，whichhadfinallybeensentupfrombelow，beganplacingfiveextraboomsatintervalsdownstreamtocapturethedriftasfastasitwasturnedloose。Fromthemillsandprivateboomscrewscametoassistinthelabour。Thetroublesappearedtobequiteover，whenwordcamefromReddingthatthewaterswereagainrising。TenminuteslaterLeopoldLincolnBunn，thelocalreporter，cameflappinginonRandall’soldwhitehorse，likeasecondPaulRevere，cryingthattheironbridgehadgone，andthelogswereracingdownrivertowardthebooms。
\"Itjustwentout！\"heansweredtheeagerexclamationsofthemenwhocrowdedaroundhim。\"That’sallIknow。Itwentout！Andtheotherbridges！Sure！AllbuttheLakeShore！Don’tknowwhythatdidn’tgoout。No；thelogsdidn’tjamthere；justslidrightunder！\"
\"Thatsettlesit，\"saidWelton，turningaway。
\"Youaren’tgoingtoquit！\"criedOrde。
\"Certainly。You’recrazy！\"saidWeltonwithsomeasperity。\"Iftheycan’tstopalittlejamwithiron，whatareyourwoodendefencesgoingtoamounttoagainstthewholeaccumulation？Whenthoselogshitthetailofthisjam，she’llgooutbeforeyoucanwink。\"
Herefusedtolistentoargument。
\"It’ssuredeath，\"saidhe，\"andI’mnotgoingtosacrificemymenfornothing，evenifthey’dstay。\"
Otherownersamongthebystanderssaidthesamething。Anairofprofounddiscouragementhadfallenonthemall。Thestrainofthefightwasnowtelling。Theutmostthathumanfleshandbloodwascapableofhadbeenaccomplished；ahard—wonvictoryhadbeengainedbythenarrowestofnarrowmargins。Inthisnewstruggletheoldoddswerestillagainstthem，andinadditionthestrengththathadpushedasideRedding’sbesteffort，augmentedbythemomentumofapowerfulcurrent。Itwassmallwondertheygaveup。
Alreadythenewswasspreadingamongtheworkersonthejams。Asmanshoutedtoman，eachshoulderedhispeavyandcamerunningashore，eagerquestiononhislips。OrdesawtheGovernmentdriverbelowcastingloosefromhermoorings。AmomentlaterhertugtowedherawaytosomesidebayouofsafetyoutoftheexpectedrushtotheLake。
\"Butwecanholdher！\"criedOrdeindesperation。\"Havealittlenervewithyou。Youaren’tgoingtoquitlikethat！\"
Hesweptthemwithhiseye；thenturnedawayfromthemwithagestureofdespair。Theywatchedhimgravelyandsilently。
\"It’snouse，boy，\"saidoldCarlin；\"it’ssuredeath。\"
\"Suredeath！\"Ordelaughedbitterly。\"Allright；suredeath，then。
Isn’tthereamaninthiscrowdthatwilltacklethissortofsuredeathwithme？\"
\"I’mwithyou。\"
\"Andme，\"saidNorthandtheRoughRedinabreath。
\"Good！\"criedOrde。\"You，too，JohnnySims？andPurdy？andJimmyPowers？Bullyboys！\"
\"Ireckonyou’llneedthetug，\"saidMarsh。
AdozenmoreofOrde’spersonalfollowingvolunteered。Atoncehisgoodhumourreturned；andhiseasyleisurelyconfidenceinhimself。
\"We’vegottoclosethatopening，firstthing，\"saidhe。\"Marsh，towthepile—driverupthere。\"
Hecausedaheavylinetoberunfromatree，situatedaroundthebenddownstream，tothesternofthedriver。
\"Nowifyouhaveto，\"hetoldNorth，whohadcharge，\"letgoallholds，andthelinewillprobablyswingyouaroundoutofdanger。
Weonthetugwillgetoutasbestwecan。\"
Theopeningwastobeclosedbypilesdriveningroupsofsixteenboundtogetherbychains。Theclumpswereconnectedonetotheotherbyasystemofboomlogsandropestointerposeacontinuousbarrier。Thepile—driverplacedtheclumps；whilethetugattendedtotheconnectingdefences。
\"Now，boys，\"saidOrdeashislastword，\"ifshestartstogo，saveyourselvesthebestwayyoucan。Nevermindthedriver。STAYON
TOP！\"
Slowlythetugandherconsortnosedupthroughtheboilingwater。
\"She’srisingalready，\"saidOrdetoMarsh，watchingthewateraroundthepiles。
\"Yes，andthatjam’sgoingoutbeforemanyminutes，\"supplementedthetugboatcaptaingrimly。
Boththesestatementswereonlytootrue。Althoughnotfifteenminutesbefore，thejamhadlainlockedinperfectsafety，nowtheslightriseofthewatershadliftedandloosenedthemassuntilitrosefairlyonthequiver。
\"Workfast！\"Ordecalledtothemenonthepile—driver。\"IfwecanclosetheopeningbeforethoseReddinglogshitus，wemaybeabletoturnthemintoournewchannel。\"
Hedidnotaddthatiftheopeningwerenotclosedbeforethejambroke，asbreakitwouldinaveryfewmoments，theprobabilitieswerethatbothpile—driverandtugwouldbedestroyed。Everymanknewthatalready。
TomNorthorderedapileplacedinthecarriage；thehammerdescended。Atonce，likebatteringramslogsbegantoshootupfromthedepthsoftheriverendforemostallaboutthem。Thesetimberswereprojectedwithtremendousforce，leapingsometimeshalftheirlengthabovethesurfaceofthewater。Ifanyofthemhadhiteitherthetugorthepile—driversquarely，itwouldhavestoveandsunkthecraft。Fortunatelythisdidnothappen；butMarshhastilytowedthescowbacktoabetterposition。Thepilehadevidentlybeendrivenintothefootofthejamitself，thuslooseningtimberslyingatthebottomoftheriver。
Theworkwentforwardasrapidlyaspossible。Fourtimesthejamshruggedandsettled；butfourtimesitpausedonthebrinkofdischarge。Threeoftheclumpshadbeenplacedandbound；andfifteenpilesofthelastclumphadbeendriven。
\"Onemorepile！\"breathedOrde，hisbreathquickeningatrifleasheglancedupstream。
Thehammerinthehighderrickransmoothlytothetop，paused，andfell。Ahalfdozentimesmoreitripped。Thenwithoutdelaytheheavychainswerethrownaroundthewinch，andthesteampowerbegantodrawtheclumpstogether。
\"Done！\"criedTomNorth，straighteninghisback。
\"Andajobintime，too，\"saidJohnnySims，indicatingthecreakingandtotteringjam。
Northunmoored，andthedriverdroppedbackwiththecurrentandaroundthebendwhereshewassnubbedbythesafetylinealreadymentioned。
Immediatelythetugchurnedforwardtoaccomplishthelastduty，thatofbindingthedefencestogetherbymeansofchainsandcables。
Twomenleapedtothefloatingboomsandmovedherforeandaft。
OrdeandtheRoughRedsetaboutthetask。Methodicallytheyworkedfromeitherendtowardthemiddle。Whentheymetfinally，Ordedirectedhisassistanttogetaboardthetug。
\"I’lltiethisone，Jimmy，\"saidhe。
Aboardthetugallwastensepreparation。Marshgraspedalertlythespokesofthewheel。Intheengine—roomHarvey，hishandonthethrottle，stoodreadytothrowherwideopenatthesignal。ArmedwithsharpaxestwomenpreparedtocutthemooringlinesonasignfromtheRoughRed。Theywatchedhisupraisedhand。Whenitshoulddescend，theiraxesmustfall。
\"Lookout，\"theRoughRedwarnedOrde，whowasmethodicallytyingthelastcumbersomeknot，\"she’sgettingready！\"
Ordefoldedtheknotoverwithoutreply。Upstreamthejamcreaked，groaned，settleddeliberatelyforward，cuttingaclumpofpileslikestraw。
\"She’scoming！\"criedtheRoughRed。
\"Givemeeverysecondyoucan，\"saidOrde，withoutlookingup。Hewasjustmakingthelastturns。
Themasstoppledslowly，fellintotheswiftcurrent，andleapedwitharoar。TheRoughRedwatchedwithcat—likeattention。rewworkedasthoughmad。Exceptingthem，nooneventuredontheriver，fortobecaughtintheimminentbreakmeanttodie。Oldspars，refusetimbersofallsorts——anythingandeverythingwasrequisitionedthatmighthelpformanobstructionaboveorbelowwater。Pilesweretakenwheretheycouldbefound。Farmer’streeswerecutdown。Pinesbelongingtodiversandprotestingownerswerefelledandsharpened。Somewerebroughtinbyrail。EventheinviolateGovernmentsupplywascommandeered。TheRailroadCompanyhadafinelotwhich，withremarkableshortsightednessandlackofpublicspirit，theyrefusedtosellatanyprice。Thecrewtookthembyforce。OnceCaptainMarshwasfounduptohiswaistinwater，himselffellingthetreesofawood，anddraggingthemtotheriverbyacableattachedtothewinchofhistug。Nightfollowedday；andda\"Jump！\"hecriedatlast，andhisrightarmdescended。
Withtheshoutandthemotionseveralthingshappenedsimultaneously。Ordeleapedblindlyfortherail，wherehewasseizedanddraggedaboardbytheRoughRed；theaxesfell，Marshwhirledoverthewheel，Harveythrewopenhisthrottle。Thetugsprangfromitsleashlikeahound。Andbehindthebarrierthelogs，tossingandtumbling，thewhitesprayflyingbeforetheironslaught，beatinvainagainstthebarrier，likeragingwildbeastswhosepreyhasescaped。
\"Closecall，\"saidOrdebriefly。
\"Betyou，\"repliedMarsh。
Neitherreferredtothetug’sescape；buttothefortunateclosingoftheopening。
XLI
OrdenowtookstepstodeflectintothechannelrecentlydredgedtoStearn’sBayouthemassofthelogsracingdownstreamfromRedding。
Heestimatedthathehadstilltwohoursorsoinwhichtodothework。Inthistimehesucceededbytheseveresteffortsinestablishingaroughshuntintothenewchannel。Thelogswouldcomedownrunningfree。Onlytheshockoftheirimpactagainstthetailofthejamalreadyformedwastobefeared。Ordehopedtobeabletoturnthebulkofthemaside。
Thisatfirsthesucceededindoing；andverysuccessfullyasaffectingthepressureonthejambelow。Thefirstlogscamescattering。Theninalittlewhilethesurfaceoftheriverwascoveredwiththem；theyshoulderedeachotherasideintheireagernesstooutstriptherushingwater；finallytheycrowdeddownmoreslowly，hardlyabletomaketheirwayagainstthechokingoftheriverbanks，butputtingforthintheveryefforttoproceedatremendouspower。TothecrewworkinginthechanneldredgedthroughtoSteam’sBayoutheaffairwasthatofdrivingarathernarrowandswiftstream，onlyexaggerated。Byquickandskilfulworktheysucceededinkeepingthelogsinmotion。Alargeproportionofthetimbersfoundtheirwayintothebayou。Thosethatcontinuedondowntherivercouldhardlyhavemucheffectonthejam。
Theworkwasbreathlessinitsspeed。Fromonetoanothersweat—
bathed，pantingmanthelogswerehandedon。Asyetonlytheadvanceofthebigjamhadarrivedatthedredgedchannel。
Ordelookedabouthimandrealisedthis。
\"Wecan’tkeepthisupwhenthemainbodyhitsus，\"hepantedtohisneighbour，JimDenning。\"We’llhavetodosomemorepile—driverwork。\"
Hemadearapidexcursiontotheboomcamp，whencehereturnedwiththirtyorfortyofthemenwhohadgivenupworkonthejambelow。
\"Here，boys，\"saidhe，\"youcanatleastkeeptheselogsmovinginthischannelforacoupleofhours。Thisisn’tdangerous。\"
Hespokequitewithoutsarcasticintent；buttherivermen，alreadyovertheirfirstpanic，lookedateachotheratrifleshamefacedly。
\"I’lltieintoherwhereveryousay，\"saidonebigfellow。Ifyoufellowsaregoingbacktothejam，I’mwithyou。\"
Twoorthreemorevolunteered。Theremaindersaidnothing，butinsilencetookchargeofthedredgedchannel。
Ordeandhismennowreturnedtothejamwhere，onthepile—driver，thetugs，andthebooms，theysetmethodicallytostrengtheningthedefencesaswellastheywereable。
\"She’sholdingstronganddandy，\"saidOrdetoTomNorth，examiningcriticallytheclumpsofpiles。\"Thatchannelhelpsalotinmorewaysthanone。Ittakesanawfullotofwateroutoftheriver。Aslongasthosefellowskeepthelogsmoving，Ireallybelievewe’reallright。\"
Butshortlythewaterbegantoriseagain，thistimefairlybyleaps。Inimmediateresponsethejamincreaseditspressure。Forthehundredthtimethefrailwoodendefencesopposedtomillionsofpoundsweretestedtotheveryextremeoftheirendurance。Theclumpsofpilessaggedoutward；thenetworkofchainsandcablestightenedandtightenedagain，drawingevernearerthesnappingpoint。Suddenly，almostwithoutwarning，thesituationhadbecomedesperate。
AndforthefirsttimeOrdecompletelylosthispoiseandbecamefluentlyprofane。Heshookhisfistagainstthemenacinglogs；heapostrophisedtheriver，thehighwater，thejam，thedeserters，Newmarkandhisillness，endingfinallyinageneralanathemaagainstanyandallstreams，logs，andfloods。Thenhestormedawaytoseeifanythinghadgonewrongatthedredgedchannel。
\"Well，\"saidTomNorth，\"they’vegottheoldmanrealgoodandmadthistime。\"
Thecrewwentondrivingpiles，stringiynightagain。Noneofthecrewsrealisedthefact。Themenwerecaughtinthetoilsofalabourceaselessandeternal。
Neverwoulditend，justasneverhaditbegun。Alwaysweretheytohandlepiles，steamhammengcables，bindingchains，although，nowthattheinspirationofOrde’scombativespiritwaswithdrawnthelaboursseemeduseless，futile，amerefillinginofthetimebeforethesuprememomentwhentheywouldbecalledupontopaythesacrificetheirpersistenceandloyaltyhadprofferedforthealtarofself—respectandtheinvincibilityofthehumanSoul。
AtthedredgedchannelOrdesawtherivermenstandingidle，and，half—blindwithangerheburstuponthemdemandingbythis，thatandtheotherwhattheymeant。Thenbestoppedshortandstared。
Squareacrossthedredgedchannelandcompletelyblockingitlayasinglespanofanironbridge。Althoughtwistedandmisshapen，itwasstillintact，theframeworkofitsoverheadtruss—workretainingitscage—likeshape。Behinditthelogshadofcoursepiledupinajam，which，sinkingrapidlytothebedofthechannel，haddammedbackthewater。
\"Whereinhelldidthatdropfrom？\"criedOrde。
\"Comedownontopthejam，\"explainedariverman。MusthavecomewayfromRedding。Wejustcouldn’tSCAREheroutofhere。\"
Orde，suddenlyfallenintoacoldrage，staredattheobstruction，bothfistsclenchedathisside。
\"Toobad，boy，\"saidWeltonathiselbow。\"Butdon’ttakeittoohard。You’vedonemorethananyoftherestofuscould。Andwe’reallloserstogether。\"
Ordelookedathimstrangely。
\"Thataboutsettlesit，\"repeatedWelton。
\"Settle！\"criedOrde。\"Ishouldthinknot。\"
Weltonsmiledquaintly。
\"Don’tyouknowwhenyou’relicked？\"
\"Licked，hell！\"saidOrde。\"We’vejustbeguntofight。\"
\"Whatcanyoudo？\"
\"Getthatbridgespanoutofthere，ofcourse。\"
\"How？\"
\"Can’tweblowherupwithpowder？\"
\"Evertrytoblowupiron？\"
\"Theremustbesomeway。\"
\"Oh，thereis，\"repliedWelton。\"Ofcourse——takeherapartboltbyboltandnutbynut。\"
\"Sendforthewrenches，then，\"snappedOrde。
\"Butitwouldtaketwoorthreedays，evenworkingnightandday。\"
\"Whatofit？\"
\"Butitwouldbetoolate——itwoulddonogood——\"
\"Perhapsnot，\"interruptedOrde；\"butitwillbedoingsomething，anyway。Lookhere，Welton，areyougame？Ifyou’llgetthatbridgeoutintwodaysI’llholdthejam。\"
\"Youcan’tholdthatjamtwohours，letalonetwodays，\"saidWeltondecidedly。
\"That’smybusiness。You’rewastingtime。Willyousendforlanternsandwrenchesandkeepthiscrewworking？\"
\"Iwill，\"saidWelton。
\"Thendoit。\"
Duringthenexttwodaystheoldsceneswereallrelived，withbackofthemtheweightofthestrugglethathadgonebefore。Thelittlecrsandtheimplementsoftheirtrade，menacedbyajamonthepointofbreaking，wetbyaswollenandangryflood，over—archedbyaclearcalmskyorbythetwinklingpeacefulstars。Longsincehadtheyceasedtoreckonwiththeresultsofwhattheydid，theconsequenceseithertothemselvesortothejam。Mechanicallytheyperformedtheirlabour。Perhapsthelogswouldkillthem。Perhapstheselong，black，drippingpilestheydrovewerehavingsomeeffectonthesituation。Neitherpossibilitymattered。
Thenallatonce，asthoughafaucethadbeenturnedoff，thefloodsslackened。
\"They’veopenedthechannel，\"saidOrdedully。Hisvoicesoundedtohimselfveryfaraway。Suddenlytheexternalworld，too，seemedremovedtoadistance，farfromhiscentreofconsciousness。Hefelthimselfmovinginstrangeanddistortedsurroundings；heheardhimselfrepeatingtoeachofanumberofwavering，giganticfiguresthetalismanicwordsthathadaccomplishedthedissolutionoftheearthforhimself：\"They’veopenedthechannel。\"Atlasthefelthardplanksbeneathhisfeet，and，shakinghisheadwithaneffort，hemadeoutthepilot—houseoftheSPRITEandahollow—eyedmanleaningagainstit。\"They’veopenedthechannel，Marsh，\"herepeated。\"Iguessthat’llbeall。\"Thenquiteslowlyhesanktothedeck，soundasleep。
Welton，returningfromhislabourswiththeironbridgeandthejam，foundthemthus。Mensleptonthedeckofthetug，aboardthepile—
driver。Twoorthreehadevencurledupinthecrevicesofthejam，restinginthearmsofthemonstertheyhadsubdued。
XLII
WhenNewmarkleft，intheeathebooms，unlesscuriosityshouldtakeher。
Astheteamleftthemarshroadforthecountyturnpikepastthemillsyouare。rlystagesofthejam，hegavescantthoughttotheerrandonwhichhehadostensiblydeparted。WhetherornorOrdegotasupplyofpileswastohimamatterofindifference。Hishope，orratherpreferencewasthatthejamshouldgoout；buthesawclearlywhatOrde，blindedbytheswiftactionofthestruggle，wasasyetunabletoperceive。Evenshouldtherivermansucceedinstoppingthejam，theextraordinaryexpensesincidentaltothedefenceandtothesubsequentsalvaging，untanglingandsortingwouldmorethaneatuptheprofitsofthedrive。Ordewouldthenbeforcedtoaskforanextensionoftimeonhisnotes。
OnarrivinginMonrovia，hedrovetohisownhouse。ToMallockheissuedorders。
\"GototheofficeandtellthemIamill，\"saidhe，\"andthenhuntupMr。Heinzman，whereverheis，andtellhimIwanttoseehimimmediately。\"
HedidnottroubletosendworddirectlytoOrde，upriver；butlefthimtobeinformedbytheslowprocessoffiltrationthroughthebookkeepers。TheinterimofseveralhoursbeforeHeinzmanappearedhespentverycomfortablyinhiseasychair，dippingintoasmallvolumeofMontaigne。
AtlengththeGermanwasannounced。Heenteredratherredandbreathless，obviouslysurprisedtofindNewmarkathome。
\"Dotwasaterriblejam，\"saidhe，moppinghisbrowandsinkingintoachair。\"Igotlotsoflogsinit。\"
Newmarkdismissedthesubjectwithanabruptflipofhisunlightedcigar。
\"Heinzman，\"saidhe，\"inthreeweeksatthelatestOrdewillcometoyouaskingforarenewalofthenotesyouholdagainstourfirm。
Youmustrefusetomakesucharenewal。\"
\"Allrighdt，\"agreedHeinzman。
\"He’llprobablyofferyouhigherinterest。Youmustrefusethat。
Thenwhenthenotesareoverdueyoumustbeginsuitinforeclosure。\"
\"Allrighdt，\"repeatedHeinzmanalittlerestlessly。\"Doyouthinkhevillholdthatjam？\"
Newmarkshruggedhisshouldersswiftly。
\"Igotlotsoflogsinthatjam。IfthatjamgoesoutIvillloseaheapofmoney。\"
\"Well，you’llmakequiteaheaponthisdeal，\"saidNewmarkcarelessly。
\"Supposeheholdsit，\"saidHeinzman，pausing。\"Ihatelikethemischieftojoomponhim。\"
\"Rot！\"saidNewmarkdecisively。\"That’swhathe’stherefor。\"HelookedattheGermansharply。\"Isupposeyouknowjusthowdeepyou’reinthis？\"
\"Oh，Iain’tbackingoudt，\"negativedHeinzman。\"Notabit。\"
\"Well，then，youknowwhattodo，\"saidNewmark，terminatingtheinterview。
XLIII
Littlebylittlethewaterwentdown。Thepressure，alreadyconsiderablyrelievedbythechannelintoStearn’sBayou，slackenedeveryhour。Orde，stillhalfdazedwithhislong—delayedsleep，drovebackalongthemarshroadtotown。
Hisfacultieswerestillinthetorporthatfollowsrestafterexhaustion。ThewarmJulysun，thebreezefromtheLake，theflashoflightfromtheroadsidewater，thesewereallhehadroomforamonghisperceptions。Hewascontenttoenjoythem，andtoanticipatedrowsilythekeenpleasureofseeingCarrollagain。Intherushofthejamhehadheardnothingfromher。ForallheknewsheandBobbymighthavebeenamongthespectatorsonthebank；hehadhardlyoncelefttheriver。ItdidnotseemtohimstrangethatCarrollshouldnothavebeentheretowelcomehimafterthestrugglewasover。Rarelydidshegettotheboomsinordinarycircumstances。Thisepisodeofthebigjamwas，afterall，nothingbutpartoftheday’sworktoOrde；acrisis，exaggerateditistrue，butlikemanyothercrisesamanmustmeetandcopewithontheriver。TherewasnoreasonwhyCarrollshoulddrivethetwelvemilesbetweenMonroviaandsandlumberyards，Ordeshookhimselffullyawake。
Hebegantoreviewthesituation。AsNewmarkhadaccuratelyforeseen，hecamealmostimmediatelytoarealisationthatthefirmwouldnotbeabletomeetthenotesgiventoHeinzman。Ordehaddependedontheprofitsfromtheseason’sdrivetoenablehimtomakeupthenecessaryamount。Thoseprofitswouldbegreatlydiminished，ifnotwipedoutentirely，bytheexpenses，bothregularandirregular，incurredinholdingthejam；bythedamagesuitssurelytobebroughtbytheownersofthepiles，trees，pile—driversandothersuppliesandmaterialsrequisitionedintheheatofthecampaign；
andbytheextralabournecessarytobreakoutthejamandtosortthelogsaccordingtotheirvariousdestinations。
\"I’llhavetogetanextensionoftime，\"saidOrdetohimself。\"OfcourseJoewillletmehavemoretimeonmyownpersonalnotetothefirm。AndHeinzmansurelyoughtto——Isavedalotofhislogsinthatjam。Andifhedoesn’twantto，Iguessanofferofalittlehigherinterestwillfetchhim。\"
Ordinarilythestateofaffairswouldhaveworriedhim，foritwasexactl\"
\"Wherewassheexposed？\"
\"DownatHeinzman’s。Youknow——orperhapsyoudon’t——thatoldHeinzmanistheworstsortofanti—vaccinationcrank。Well，he’sreapedthereward。\"
\"Hashesmallpox？\"askedOrdethatyouwouldtakethemuppersonally。Ourresourcesarealltiedup。\"
\"Can’tweraiseanythingmoreontheNorthernPeninsulatimber？\"
askedOrde。
\"Yououghttoknowwecan’t，\"criedNewmark，withanappearanceofgrowingexcitement。\"Thelastseventy—fivethousandweborrowedformefinishesthat。\"
\"Can’tyoutakeuppartofyournote？\"
\"Mynotecomesduein1885，\"rejoinedNewmarkwithcolddisgust。\"I
expecttotakeitupthen。ButIcan’tuntilthen。Ihadn’texpectedanythinglikethis。\"
\"Well，don’tgethot，\"saidOrdevaguely。\"IonlythoughtthatNorthernPeninsuythesituationhehadfoughtagainstsohard。Butnowhewastooweariedinsoulandbody。Hedismissedthesubjectfromhismind。Thehorses，leftalmosttothemselves，lapsedintoasleepyjog。Afteralittletheypassedthebridgeandenteredthetown。
Warmspicyodoursofpinedisengagedthemselvesfromthebrokenshinglesandsawdustoftheroadway，andfloatedupwardthroughthehotsunshine。Thebeautifulmapleswiththeirdenseshadowsthrewthesidewalksintocoolness。Uponestreetanddownanotherthehorsestooktheiraccustomedway。FinallytheypulledupoppositetheOrdehouse。Ordehitchedthehorses，and，hisstepquickeninginanticipation，sprangupthewalkandintothefrontdoor。
\"Hullo，sweetheart！\"hecalledcheerily。
Theechoesaloneansweredhim。Hecriedagain，andyetagain，withagrowingfeelingofdisappointmentthatCarrollshouldhappentobefromhome。Finallyadooropenedandshutinthebackpartofthehouse。AmomentlaterMary，theIrishservantgirl，camethroughthedining—room，caughtsightofOrde，threwherapronoverherhead，andburstintooneofthoseextravagantdemonstrationsofgriefpeculiartothewarm—heartedofherclass。
Ordestoppedshort，asinkingathisheart。
\"Whatisit，Mary？\"heaskedveryquietly。
Butthegirlonlyweptthelouder，rockingbackandforthinafreshparoxysmofgrief。BesidehimselfwithanxietyOrdesprangforwardtoshakeherbythearm，toshowerherwithquestions。Theseelicitednothingbutbrokenandincoherentfragmentsconcerning\"themissus，\"\"oh，thesadday！\"\"andmeliftallalonewithBobby，meheartthatheavy，\"andthelike，whichservedmerelytoincreaseOrde’sbewildermentandanxiety。AtthismomentBobbyhimselfappearedfromthedirectionofthekitchen。Orde，franticwithalarm，felluponhisson。Bobby，muchbewilderedbyallthispother，couldonlymumblesomethingabout\"smallpox，\"and\"tookmammaawaywithdoctor。\"
\"Where？where，Bobby？\"criedOrde，fairlyshakingthesmallboybytheshoulder。Hefeltlikeamaninabaddream，tryingtoreachagoalthatconstantlyeludedhim。
Atthismomentacalm，dryvoicebrokethroughtheturmoilofquestionsandexclamations。Ordelookeduptoseethetall，angularformofDoctorMcMullenstandinginthedoorway。
\"It’sallright，\"saidthedoctorinanswertoOrde’sagonisedexpression。\"Yourwifewasexposedtosmallpoxandisatmyhousetoavoidthedangerofspreadingcontagion。Sheisnotill。\"
HavingthusinoneswiftdecisivesentencecoveredthegroundofOrde’sanxiety，heturnedtothesnifflingservant。
\"Mary，\"saidhesternly，\"lastuffmightbeworthsavinganywaywecouldfigureit。\"