I
　　Thetimewastheyear1872，andtheplaceabendintheriverabovealongpondterminatinginadam。Beyondthisdam，andonaflatlowerthanit，stoodatwo—storymillstructure。Saveforasmall，stump—dottedclearing，andtheroadthatledfromit，allelsewasforest。Hereinthebottom—lands，followingthecourseofthestream，thehardwoodsgrewdense，theiruppermostbranchesjustbeginningtosprayoutinthefirstgreenofspring。Fartherback，wherethehigherlandsarosefromtheswamp，couldbediscernedthegracefulfrondofwhitepinesandhemlock，andthesturdytopsofNorwaysandspruce。
　　Astrongwindblewupthelengthofthepond。Itruffledthesurfaceofthewater，swoopingdowninfan—shaped，scurryingcat’s—
　　paws，turningthedark—bluesurfaceasoneturnsthenapofvelvet。
　　Attheupperendoftheponditevensucceededinraisingquiterespectablewavelets，whichLAPLAPLAPPEDeagerlyagainstabarrieroffloatinglogsthatfilledcompletelythemouthoftheinletriver。Andbehindthisbarrierwereotherlogs，andyetothers，asfarastheeyecouldsee，sothattheentiresurfaceofthestreamwascarpetedbythebrowntimbers。Amancouldhavewalkeddownthemiddleofthatriverasdownahighway。
　　Onthebank，andinasmallwoods—opening，burnedtwofires，theirsmokeduckingandtwistingunderthebuffetingofthewind。Thefirstofthesefiresoccupiedashallowtrenchdugforitsaccommodation，andwasoverarchedbyarusticframeworkfromwhichhungseveralpails，kettles，andpots。Aninjured—looking，chubbymaninabatteredbrownderbyhatmovedhereandthere。Hedividedhistimebetweentheutensilsandanindifferentyouth——his"cookee。"Theother，andlarger，firecentredarectanglecomposedoftallracks，builtofsaplingsandintendedforthedryingofclothes。Twolargetentsgleamedwhiteamongthetrees。
　　Aboutthedrying—fireweregatheredthirty—oddmen。Somewerehalf—
　　recliningbeforetheblaze；otherssatinrowsonlogsdrawncloseforthepurpose；stillotherssquattedlikeIndiansontheirheels，theirhandsthrownforwardtokeepthebalance。Nearlyallweresmokingpipes。
　　Everyagewasrepresentedinthisgroup，butyoungmenpredominated。
　　Allworewoollentrousersstuffedintoleatherbootsreachingjusttotheknee。Thesebootswerearmedonthesoleswithrowsofformidablesharpspikesorcaulks，ahalfandsometimeseventhreequartersofaninchinlength。Thetightdriver’sshoeand"stagged"trousershadnotthencomeintouse。Fromthewaistdownthesemenworeallalike，asthoughinauniform，theoutwardsymboloftheircalling。Fromthewaistupwasmorelatitudeofpersonaltaste。Oneyoungfellowsportedabright—colouredMackinawblanketjacket；anotherworearedknitsash，withtasselledends；athird’sfancyrantoabrightbandanaabouthisneck。Head—gear，too，coveredwidevariationsofbroaderornarrowerbrim，ofhigherorlowercrown；andthefacesbeneaththosehatsdifferedaseverywherethehumancountenancediffers。Onlywhentheinspection，passingthegradationsofbroadornarrow，thickorthin，bonyorrounded，restedfinallyontheeyes，wouldtheobserverhavecaughtagainthecaste—markwhichstampedthesemenasbelongingtoadistinctorder，andseparatedthemessentiallyfromothermeninotheroccupations。
　　Blueandbrownandblackandgraytheseeyeswere，butallsteadyandclearwiththesteadinessandclaritythatcomestothosewhosedailyworkcompelsthemunderpenaltytopaycloseandundeviatingattentiontotheirsurroundings。Thisistrueofsailors，hunters，plainsmen，cowboys，andtugboatcaptains。Itwasespeciallytrueoftheold—fashionedriver—driver，foramisstep，amiscalculation，amoment’sforgetfulnessofthesullenforcesshiftingandchangingabouthimcouldmeanforhimmaimingordestruction。So，finally，tooneofanimaginativebent，theseeyes，likethe"corkboots，"
　　grewtoseempartoftheuniform，oneofthemarksoftheircaste，theoutwardsymboloftheircalling。
　　"Blow，yousonofagun！"crieddisgustedlyoneyoungfellowwitharedbandana，apostrophisingthewind。"Iwonderifthere’sANYsideofthisfirethatain’tsmoky！"
　　"Keepyourhairon，bub，"advisedacalmandgrizzledold—timer。
　　"There’snevernosmokeontheOTHERsideofthefire——whicheverthathappenstobe。Andasforwind——shejustmakesholidayfortheriver—hogs。"
　　"Holiday，hell！"snortedtheyoungerman。"WeoughttobedowntoBull’sDambeforenow——"
　　"AndBull’sDamishalf—waytoRedding，"mockedareptilianandred—
　　headedgiantonthelog，"andReddingisthehappychildhoodhomeof——"
　　Theyoungmanleapedtohisfeetandseizedfromapileoftoolsapeavy——adangerousweapon，likeaheavycant—hook，butarmedattheendwithasharpsteelshoe。
　　"That’saboutenough！"hewarned，raisinghisweapon，hisfacesuffusedandangry。Thered—headedman，quiteunafraid，roseslowlyfromthelogandadvanced，bare—handed，hissmalleyesnarrowedandwatchful。
　　Butimmediatelyadozenmeninterfered。
　　"Dryup！"advisedthegrizzledold—timer——TomNorthbyname。"You，Purdy，setdown；andyou，youngsquirt，subside！Ifyou’regoingtohaveructions，why，have’em，butnotondrive。Ifyoudon’tlookout，I’llsetyoubothtorustlingwoodforthedoctor。"
　　Atthisthreatthebelligerentsdroppedmutteringtotheirplaces。
　　Thewindcontinuedtoblow，thefirecontinuedtoflareupanddown，themencontinuedtosmoke，exchangingfromtimetotimedesultoryandaimlessremarks。OnlyTomNorthcarriedonaconsecutive，low—
　　voicedconversationwithanotherofabouthisownage。
　　"Justthesame，Jim，"hewassaying，"itisalittletoughontheboys——thisnewsluice—gatebusiness。They’vebeensortofexpectin’
　　achanceforadayortwoatRedding，andnow，ifthissonofagunofawindhangsout，Idon’tknowwhenwe’llmakeher。TheshallowsatBull’swasalwaysbadenough，butthisisworse。"
　　"Yes，Iexpectedtopickyouup’waybelow，"admittedJim，whose"turkey，"orclothes—bag，athissideproclaimedhimanewcomer。
　　"Hadquiteatramptofindyou。"
　　"Thisstretchofslackwaterwasalwaysaterror，"wentonNorth，"andwehadfairlytopike—poleeverystickthroughwhenthewindblew；butnowthatdam’sbackedthewaterupuntiltherereelyain’tnocurrentatall。Andthisbreezehasjuststoppedthedrivedeadasasmelt。"
　　"Don’topeningthesluice—gatesgiveheradraw？"inquiredthenewcomer。
　　"Notagainstthiswind——andnotmuchofadraw，anyway，Ishouldguess。"
　　"Howlongyoubeenhung？"
　　"Justto—day。IexpectJackwillbedownfromtherearshortly。
　　Oughttoseesomething’swrongwhenherunsagainstthetailofthisjamofours。"
　　Atthismomentthelugubrious，round—facedmaninthederbyhatsteppedasidefromtherowofsteamingutensilshehadbeenarranging。
　　"Grubpile，"heremarkedinaconversationaltoneofvoice。
　　Thegrouparoseasonemanandmovedupontheheapofcutleryandoftinplatesandcups。Fromtheopenfifty—poundlardpailsandkettlestheyhelpedthemselvesliberally；thenretiredtosquatinlittlegroupshereandtherenearthesourcesofsupply。Mereconversationyieldedtoanindustrioussilence。Sadlythecooksurveyedthescene，hisarmsfoldedacrossthedirtywhiteapron，animmensementalreservationaccentingthemelancholyofhiscountenance。Aftersomemomentsofcontemplationhemixedafizzlingconcoctionofvinegarandsoda，whichhedrank。Hisrotunditytothecontrarynotwithstanding，hewasravagedbyagnawingdyspepsia，andthesightofsixeggseatenasasidedishtosubstantialscarriedconsternationtohisinterior。
　　Sobusilyengagedwaseachafterhisownfashionthatnobodyobservedtheapproachofasolitaryfiguredownthehighwayoftheriver。Themanappearedtinyaroundtheupperbend，momentlygrowinglargerasheapproached。Hisprogresswasjerkyandonanunevenzigzag，accordingasthelogslay，byleaps，shortruns，briefpauses，asarivermangoes。Finallyhesteppedashorejustbelowthecamp，stampedhisfeetvigorouslyfreeofwater，andapproachedthegrouparoundthecooking—fire。
　　Noonesawhimsavethecook，whovouchsafedhimastatelyandlugubriousinclinationofthehead。
　　Thenewcomerwasamansomewhereaboutthirtyyearsofage，squarelybuilt，bigofbone，compactinbulk。Hisfacewasburly，jolly，andreddenedratherthantannedbylongexposure。Apairoftwinklingblueeyesandahumorouslyquirkedmouthredeemedhiscountenancefromcommonplaceness。
　　Hespreadhisfeetapartandsurveyedthescene。
　　"Well，boys，"heremarkedatlastinarollickingbigvoice，"I’mgladtoseethesituationhasn’tspoiledyourappetites。"
　　Atthistheylookedupwithaspontaneousansweringgrin。TomNorthlaidasidehisplateandstartedtoarise。
　　"Sitstill，Tom，"interposedthenewcomer。"Eathearty。I’mgoingtofeedyetmyself。Thenwe’llseewhat’stobedone。Ithinkfirstthingyou’dbetterseetohavingthiswindturnedoff。"
　　Afterthemealwasfinished，Northandhisprincipalsaunteredtothewater’sedge，wheretheystoodforaminutelookingatthelogsandtheruffledexpanseofwaterbelow。
　　"Mightaswellhavesailsonthemandbedonewithit，"remarkedJackOrdereflectively。"Couldn’thold’emanytighter。It’sapitythatoldmossbackhadtoputinamill。Thewaterwasslackenoughbefore，butnowthereseemstobenocurrentatall。"
　　"Caseofwaitforthewind，"agreedTomNorth。"OldDalywillbered—headed。Hemustbeaboutoutoflogsatthemill。Theflood—
　　water’sgoingdowneveryminute，andit’llmaketherifflesaboveReddingaholyfright。AndIexpectJohnson’sdrivewillbedownonourrearmostanytime。"
　　"It’stherealready。Let’sgotakealook，"suggestedOrde。
　　Theypickedtheirwayaroundtheedgeofthepondtothesiteofthenewmill。
　　"Sluiceopenallright，"commentedOrde。"Thoughtshemightbeclosed。"
　　"Isawtothat，"rejoinedNorthinaninjuredtone。
　　"’Course，"agreedOrde，"buthemighthavedroppedhershutonyoubetweentimes，whenyouweren’tlooking。"
　　Hewalkedoutonthestructureandlookeddownonthesmoothwaterrushingthrough。
　　"Oughttomakeadraw，"hereflected。Thenhelaughed。"Tom，lookhere，"hecalled。"Climbdownandtakeasquintatthis。"
　　Northclamberedtoapositionbelow。
　　"Thesonofagun！"heexclaimed。
　　Thesluice，insteadofbeddingatthenaturalchanneloftheriver，hadbeenbuiltagoodsixfeetabovethatlevel；sothat，evenwiththegateswideopen，a"head"ofsixfeetwasretainedintheslackwaterofthepond。
　　"Nowonderwecouldn’tgetadraw，"saidOrde。"Let’shuntupoldWhat’s—his—nameandhaveapow—wow。"
　　"HisnameisplainReed，"explainedNorth。"Therehecomesnow。"
　　"Saintedcats！"criedOrde，withoneofhisbig，rollickingchuckles。"Wheredidyoucatchit？"
　　Theownerofthedamflappedintoviewasalankandlengthyindividualdressedinloose，longclothesandwearinga—topabatteredold"plug"hat，thenapofwhichseemedalltohavebeenrubbedoffthewrongway。
　　Asheboredownontheintruderswithtremendous，nervousstrides，theyperceivedhimtobeanoldman，whiteofhair，cadaverousofcountenance，withthin，straightlips，andburning，fanaticeyesbeneathstiffandbushybrows。
　　"Good—morning，Mr。Reed，"shoutedOrdeabovethenoiseofthewater。
　　"Good—morning，gentlemen，"repliedtheapparition。
　　"Nicedamyougothere，"wentonOrde。
　　Reednodded，hisfieryeyesfixedunblinkingontheriverman。
　　"Butyouhaven’tbeenquitesquaretous，"saidOrde。Youaren’tgivingusmuchshowtogetourlogsout。"
　　"Howso？"snappedtheowner，histhinlipstightening。
　　"Oh，Iguessyouknow，allright，"laughedOrde，clamberingleisurelybacktothetopofthedam。"Thatsluiceisagoodsixfoottoohigh。"
　　"Isthatso！"criedtheoldman，plungingsuddenlyintoacrazeofexcitement。"Well，letmetellyouthis，Mr。Man，I’mgivingyouallthelawgivesyou，andthat’sthenaturalflowoftheriver，andnotathingmorewillyouget！Youthatcomestowasteanddestroy，toarrogateuntoyourselvesthekingdomsoftheyearthandallthefruitsthereof，letmetellyouyoucan’toverrideSimeonReed！I’mengagedhereinapeacefulandfittin’operation，whichistofeedthehungrybymeansofthisgrist—mill，nottorampageandbringdestructiontothenobleforestsGodhasplanted！I’vegiveyouwhatthelawgivesyou，andnothin’more！"
　　Somewhatastonishedatthisoutbreak，thetworivermenstoodforamomentstaringattheoldman。ThenasteelyglintcreptintoOrde’sfrankblueeyeandthecornersofhismouthtightened。
　　"Wewantnotroublewithyou，Mr。Reed，"saidhe，"andI’mnolawyertoknowwhatthelawrequiresyoutodoandwhatitrequiresyounottodo。ButIdoknowthatthisistheonlydamontheriverwithsluicesbuiltupthatway，andIdoknowthatwe’llnevergetthoselogsoutifwedon’tgetmoredrawonthewater。Good—day。"
　　FollowedbythereluctantNorthhewalkedaway，leavingthegauntfigureofthedamownergazingafterthem，hisblackgarmentsflappingabouthim，hishandsclaspedbehindhisback，hisruffledplughatthrustfromhisforehead。
　　"Well！"burstoutNorth，whentheywereoutofhearing。
　　"Well！"mimickedOrdewithalaugh。
　　"Areyougoingtoletthatoldhigh—bankerwalkalloveryou？"
　　"Whatareyougoingtodoaboutit，Tom？It’shisdam。"
　　"Idon’tknow。Butyouain’tgoingtolethimbangusuphereallsummer——"
　　"Surenot。Butthewind’sshifting。Let’sseewhattheweather’sliketo—morrow。To—day’sprettylate。"
　　II
　　Thenextmorningdawnedclearandbreathless。Beforedaylightthepessimisticcookwasout，hisfirewinkingbravelyagainstthedarkness。Hisonlysatisfactionofthelongdaycamewhenhearousedthemenfromtheheavysleepintowhichdailytoilplungedthem。Withthefirstlighttheentirecrewwereatthebanksoftheriver。
　　Assoonasthewinddiedthelogshadbeguntodriftslowlyoutintotheopenwater。Thesurfaceofthepondwascoveredwiththescatteredtimbersfloatingidly。Afterafewmomentstheclankofthebarsandratchetwasheardastwoofthemenraisedtheheavysluice—gateonthedam。Aroarofwater，momentlyincreasing，markedtheslowriseofthebarrier。Averyimaginativemanmightthenhavemadeoutatendencyforwardonthepartofthosetimbersfloatingnearestthecentreofthepond。Itwasaverysluggishtendency，however，andthemenwatchingcriticallyshooktheirheads。
　　Fourmorehadbythistimejoinedthetwomenwhohadraisedthegate，andalltogether，armedwithlongpikepoles，walkedoutonthefunnel—shapedboomsthatshouldconcentratethelogsintothechute。Heretheyproddedforwardthefewtimberswithinreach，andwaitedformore。
　　Thesewerealongtimecoming。Membersofthedrivingcrewleapedshoutingfromonelogtoanother。Sometimes，whenthespaceacrosswastoowidetojump，theypropelledalogovereitherbyrollingit，paddlingit，orprojectingitbytheshockofaleapononeend。
　　Inaccomplishingthesefeatsoftight—ropebalance，theystooduprightandgraceful，quiteunconsciousofthemselves，theirbodiesaccustomedbylonghabittoniceandinstantobediencetothealmostunconsciousimpulsesofthebrain。Onlytheireyes，intent，preoccupied，blazedoutbysheerwill—powertheunstablepaththeirownersshouldfollow。Onceattheforefrontofthedrive，themenbeganvigorouslytourgethelogsforward。Thistheyaccomplishedalmostentirelybymainstrength，forthesluggishcurrentgavethemlittleaid。Underthepressureoftheirfeetastheypushedagainsttheirimplements，thelogsdipped，rolled，andplunged。
　　Nevertheless，theyworkedassurelyfromthedecksoftheseunstablecraftasfromthesolidearthitself。
　　Inthismannerthelogsinthecentreofthepondwereurgedforwarduntil，abovethechute，theycaughttheslightlyacceleratedcurrentwhichshouldbringthemdowntothepike—polemenatthedam。
　　Immediately，whenthisstrongerinfluencewasfelt，thedriverszigzaggedbackupstreamtostartafreshbatch。Inthemeantimeagreatmanylogsdriftedawaytorightandleftintostagnantwater，wheretheylayabsolutelymotionless。Themovingofthemwasdeferredforthe"sackingcrew，"whichwouldbringuptherear。
　　JackOrdewanderedbackandforthoverthework，hishandsclaspedbehindhisback，ashortpipeclenchedbetweenhisteeth。Totheedgeofthedriveherodethelogs，thentooktothebankandstrolleddowntothedam。Therehestoodforamomentgazingaimlesslyatthewatermakingovertheapron，afterwhichhereturnedtothework。Nocloudobscuredtheserenegood—natureofhisface。MeetingTomNorth’stroubledglance，hegrinnedbroadly。
　　"Toldyouwe’dhaveJohnsononournecks，"heremarked，jerkinghisthumbuprivertowardarapidlyapproachingfigure。
　　Thissoondefineditselfasatall，sun—reddened，veryblondindividualwithacholericblueeye。
　　"Whatinhell’sthematterhere？"heyelled，assoonashecamewithinhearingdistance。
　　Ordemadenoreply，butstoodcontemplatingthenewcomerwithaflickerofamusement。
　　"Whatinhell’sthematter？"repeatedthelatterviolently。
　　"Bettergothereandinquire，"rejoinedOrdedrolly。"Whatailsyou，Johnson？"
　　"We’rerightatyourrear，"criedtheother，"andyouain’tevenmadeastartgettin’throughthisdam！We’lllosethewaternext！
　　Whyinhellain’tyouthroughandgone？"
　　"Keepyourshirton，"advisedOrde。"We’regettingthroughasfastaswecan。Ifyouwanttheselogspushedanyfaster，comedownanddoityourself。"
　　Johnsonvouchsafednoreply，butsplashedawayoverthelogs，examiningindetailtheprogressofthework。Afteralittlehereturnedwithinhailingdistance。
　　"Ifyoucan’tgetoutlogs，whydoyoutakethejob？"heroared，withastringofoaths。"Ifyouhangmydrive，damnyou，you’llcatchitfordamages！It’sgettin’toapurtypasswhenanyoldhighbankerfromanywherescangetoutandplayjackstrawsholdin’upeverydriveintheriver！Itellyouourmillsneedlogs，andwhat’smorethey’reagoin’toGITthem！"
　　Hedepartedinarumbleofvituperation。
　　Ordelaughedhumorouslyathisforeman。
　　"Johnsongetssomadsometimes，hisskincracks，"heremarked。
　　"However，"hewentonmoreseriously，"there’saheapinwhathemeans，ifthereain’tsomuchinwhathesays。I’llgolabourwithouroldfriendbelow。"
　　Heregainedthebank，stoppedtolighthispipe，andsauntered，witheveryappearanceofleisure，downthebank，pastthedam，tothemillstructurebelow。
　　Herehefoundtheowneroccupyingachairtiltedbackagainstthewallofthebuilding。Hisruffledplughatwasthrust，asusual，wellawayfromhishighandnarrowforehead；thelongbroadclothcoatfellbacktorevealanunbuttonedwaistcoattheflappingblacktrouserswerehitchedupfarenoughtodisplaywoollensockswrinkledaboutbonyshanks。Hewaswhittlingapinestick，whichheheldpointingdownbetweenhisspreadknees，andconversinganimatedlywithayoungfellowoccupyinganotherchairathisside。
　　"Andtherecomesoneof’emnow，"declaimedtheoldmandramatically。
　　Ordenoddedbrieflytothestranger，andcameatoncetobusiness。
　　"Iwanttotalkthismatteroverwithyou，"hebegan。"Wearen’tmakingmuchprogress。Wecan’taffordtohangupthedrive，andthewaterisgoingdowneveryday。We’vegottohavemorewater。I’lltellyouwhatwe’lldo：Ifyou’llletuscutdownthenewsill，we’llreplaceitingoodshapewhenwegetallourlogsthrough。"
　　"No，sir！"promptlyvetoedtheoldman。
　　"Well，we’llgiveyousomethingfortheprivilege。Whatdoyouthinkisfair？"
　　"ItellyeI’llgiveyouyourlegalrights，andnotacentmore，"
　　repliedtheoldman，stillquietly，butwithquiveringnostrils。
　　"Whatisyourname？"askedOrde。
　　"MynameisReed，sir。"
　　"Well，Mr。Reed，stopandthinkwhatthismeans。It’samoreseriousmatterthanyouthink。Inalittlewhilethewaterwillbesolowintheriverthatitwillbeimpossibletotakeoutthelogsthisyear。Thatmeansalargeloss，ofcourse，asyouknow。"
　　"Idon’tknownothin’aboutthepeskybusiness，andIdon’twanto，"
　　snortedReed。
　　"Well，there’sborers，foronething，tospoilagoodmanyofthelogs。Andthinkwhatitwillmeantothemills。Nologsmeansnolumber。Thatisbankruptcyforagoodmanywhohavecontractstofulfil。Andnologsmeansthemillsmustclose。Thousandsofmenwillbethrownoutoftheirjobs，andagoodmanyofthemwillgohungry。Andwiththestreamfulloftheoldcutting，thatmeanslesstodonextwinterinthewoods——morementhrownout。Gettingoutaseason’scutwiththeflood—waterisaprettyseriousmattertoagreatmanypeople，andifyouinsistonholdingusuphereinthisslackwaterthesituationwillsoonbecomealarming。"
　　"Yefinished？"demandedReedgrimly。
　　"Yes，"repliedOrde。
　　Theoldmancastfromhimhishalf—whittledpieceofpine。Heclosedhisjack—knifewithasnapandthrustitinhispocket。Hebroughttoearththefrontlegsofhischairwithathump，andjammedhisruffledplughattoitsproperplace。
　　"Andifthewholekitandkaboodleofyestarvedout—right，"saidhe，"itwouldbutbethefulfillin’ofthewordoftheprophetwhosays，’SowillIsenduponyoufamineandevilbeasts，andtheyshallbereavethee，andpestilenceandbloodshallpassthroughthee；andIwillbringthesworduponthee。ItheLordhavespokenit！’"
　　"That’syourlastword？"inquiredOrde。
　　"That’smylastword，andmyfirst。YethatmakeofGod’ssmilin’
　　landwasteplacesandawilderness，byyourownfollyshallyeperish。"
　　"Good—day，"saidOrde，whirlingonhisheelwithoutfurtherargument。
　　Theyoungman，whohadduringthiscolloquysataninterestedandsilentspectator，aroseandjoinedhim。Ordelookedathisnewcompanionalittlecuriously。liewasaveryslenderyoungman，taut—muscled，taut—nerved，butimpassiveindemeanour。Hepossessedashrewd，thinface，steel—gray，inscrutableeyesbehindglasses。
　　Hiscostumewasquitesimplyanoldgraysuitofbusinessclothesandagrayfelthat。Atthemomentheheldinhismouthanunlightedandbadlychewedcigar。
　　"Nice，amiableoldparty，"volunteeredOrdewithachuckle。
　　"Seemstobe，"agreedtheyoungmandrily。
　　"Well，Ireckonwe’lljusthavetoworryalongwithouthim，"
　　remarkedOrde，strikinghissteelcaulksintothefirstlogandpreparingtocrossoutintotheriverwheretheworkwasgoingon。
　　"Waitaminute，"saidtheyoungfellow。"Haveyouanyobjectionstomyhangingaroundalittletowatchthework？MynameisNewmark——
　　JosephNewmark。I’moutinthiscountryagooddealformyhealth。
　　Thisthinginterestsme。"
　　"Sure，"repliedOrde，puzzled。"Lookallyouwantto。Thescenery’sfree。"
　　"Yes。Butcanyouputmeup？CanIgetachancetostaywithyoualittlewhile？"
　　"Oh，asfarasI’mconcerned，"agreedOrdeheartily。"But，"hesupplementedwithoneofhiscontagiouschuckles，"I’monlyriver—
　　boss。You’llhavetofixitupwiththedoctor——thecook，Imean，"
　　heexplained，asNewmarklookpuzzled。"You’llfindhimatcampupbehindthatbrush。He’saslim，handsomefellow，withajollyexpressionofcountenance。"
　　Heleapedlightlyoutoverthebobbingtimbers，leavingNewmarktofindhisway。
　　Inthecentreofthestreamtheworkhadbeengraduallyslowingdowntoastandstillwiththesubsidenceofthefirstrushofwaterafterthesluice—gatewasopened。TomNorth，leaninggracefullyagainsttheshaftofapeavy，lookedupeagerlyashisprincipalapproached。
　　"Well，Jack，"heinquired，"isittobepeaceorwar？"
　　"War，"repliedOrdebriefly。