III
　　Atthismomentthecooksteppedintoview，and，makingatrumpetofhistwohands，sentacrossthewateralong，weird，andnotunmusicalcry。Themenatoncebeganslowlytodriftinthedirectionofthecamp。There，whenthetinplateshadallbeenfilled，andeachhadfoundaplacetohisliking，Ordeaddressedthem。Hismannerwascasualandconversational。
　　"Boys，"saidhe，"theoldmossbackwhoownsthatdamhascomeuphereloadedtoscatter。He’sbuiltupthesillofthatgateuntilwecan’tgetadrawonthewater，andherefusestogive，lend，orsellustherighttocutherout。I’vemadehimeveryreasonableproposition，butallIgetbackisquotationsfromtheprophets。
　　Now，we’vegottogetthoselogsout——that’swhatwe’reherefor。A
　　finebunchofwhitewaterbirlerswe’dlookifwegothungupbyanoldmossbackinaplughat。JohnnySims，what’stheanswer？"
　　"Cutherout，"grinnedJohnnySimsbriefly。
　　"Correct！"repliedOrdewithachuckle。"Cutherout。But，myson，it’sagainstthelawtointerferewithanotherman’sproperty。"
　　Thiswassoobviouslyhumourousinintentthatitsonlyreceptionconsistedofmoregrinsfromeverybody。
　　"But，"wentonOrdemoreseriously，"it’squiteajob。Wecan’tworkmorethansixoreightmenatitatatime。Wegottoworkasfastaswecanbeforetheoldmancaninterfere。"
　　"Thenearestsheriff’satSpruceRapids，"commentedsomeonephilosophically。
　　"Wehavesixtymen，alltold，"saidOrde。"Weoughttobeabletocarryitthrough。"
　　Hefilledhisplateandwalkedacrosstoavacantplace。HerehefoundhimselfnexttoNewmark。
　　"Hello！"hegreetedthatyoungman，"fixeditwiththedoctorallright？"
　　"Yes，"repliedNewmark，inhisbrief，drymanner，"thanks！IthinkIoughttotellyouthatthesheriffisnotatSpruceRapids，butatthevillage——expectingtrouble。"
　　Ordewhistled，thenbrokeintoaroarofdelight。
　　"Boys，"hecalled，"oldPlugHat’sgotthesheriffrighthandy。I
　　guesshesortofexpectedwe’dbethinkingofcuttingthroughthatdam。How’dyouliketogotojail？"
　　"I’dliketoseeanysherifftakeustojail，unlesshehadanarmywithhim，"growledoneoftheriver—jacks。
　　"Hasheaposse？"inquiredOrdeofNewmark。
　　"Ididn’tseeany；butIunderstoodinthevillagethatthegovernorhadbeenadvisedtoholdStatetroopsinreadinessfortrouble。"
　　Ordefellintoabrownstudy，eatingmechanically。Themenbegananeagerandsomewhattruculentdiscussionfulloflawlessandbloodthirstysuggestion。SomesuggestedthekidnappingandsequestrationofReeduntiltheaffairshouldbefinished。
　　"How’dhegetholdofhisoldsheriff，then？"theyinquiredwithsomepertinence。
　　Orde，however，paidnoattentiontoallthistalk，butcontinuedtofrownintospace。Atlasthisfacecleared，andheslappeddownhistinplatesoviolentlythattheknifeandforkjumpedoffintothedirt。
　　"Ihaveit！"hecriedaloud。
　　Buthewouldnottellwhathehad。Afterthenoonhourheinstructedahalf—dozenmentoprovidethemselveswithsaws，axes，picks，andshovels，andallmarchedinthedirectionofthemill。
　　Whenwithinahundredyardsorsoofthatstructuretheadvancingrivermansawthelank，blackfigureofthemillownerflapintosight，astrideabonyoldhorse，andclatteraway，coat—tailsflying，uptheroadandintothewaitingforest。
　　"Now，boys！"criedOrdecrisply。"He’llbebackinanhourwiththesheriff。Lively！"Herapidlydesignatedtenmenofhiscrew。"Youboysgettoworkandmakethingshum。Getasmuchdoneasyoucanbeforethesheriffcomes。"
　　"He’llhavetobringallofSpruceCountytogetme，"commentedoneofthosechosen，spittingonhishands。
　　"Me，too！"saidothers。
　　"Now，listen，"saidOrde，holdingthemwithanimpressivegesture。
　　"Whenthatsheriffcomes，withorwithoutaposse，Iwantyoutogopeaceably。Understand？"
　　"Cavein？Notmuch！"criedPurdy。
　　"Seehere，"andOrdedrewthemasidetoanearnest，low—voicedconversationthatlastedseveralminutes。Whenhehadfinishedheclappedeachofthemontheback，andallmovedoff，laughing，tothedam。
　　"Now，boys，"hecommandedtheothers，"norowwithoutorders。
　　Understand？Ifthere’sgoingtobeafight，I’llgiveyouthewordwhen。"
　　Thechoppingcrewdescendedtothebottomofthesluice，thegateofwhichhadbeenshut，andbeganimmediatelytochopawayattheapron。Asthewaterinthepondabovehadbeendrawnlowbythemorning’swork，noneoverflowedthegate，sothemenwereenabledtoworkdry。Belowtheapron，ofcourse，hadbeenfilledinwithearthandstones。Assoonastheaxe—menhadeffectedanentrytothisdeposit，othermenwithshovelsandpicksbegantoremovethefilling。
　　TheworkhadcontinuednearlyanhourwhenOrdecommandedthefiftyormoreidlersbacktocamp。
　　"Getout，boys，"heordered。"Thesheriffwillbehereprettyquicknow，andIdon’twantanyrow。Getoutofsight。"
　　"Andleavethemtofightheroutalone？Guessnot！"grumbledatall，burlyindividualwitharedface。
　　Ordeimmediatelywalkeddirectlytothisman。
　　"AmIbossingthisdrive，oramInot？"hedemanded。
　　Therivermangrowledsomething。
　　SMACK！SMACK！soundedOrde’sfists。Theman，takenbysurprise，wentdowninaheap，butimmediatelyreboundedtohisfeetasthoughmadeofrubber。ButOrdehadseizedapeavy，andstoodoveragainsthisantagonist，themurderousweaponupraised。
　　"Liedown，youhound，orI’llbrainyou！"heroaredatthetopstrengthofhisgreatvoice。"Wantfight，doyou？Well，youwon’thavetowaittillthesheriffgetshere！Youmakeamove！"
　　Forafullhalfminutethemancrouchedbreathless，andOrde，hisruddyfacecongested，heldhisthreateningattitude。Thenhedroppedhispeavyandsteppedaside。
　　"March！"hecommanded。"Getyourturkeyandhitthehaytrail。
　　You’llgetyourtimeatRedding。"
　　Themansullenlyaroseandslouchedaway，grumblingunderhisbreath。Ordewatchedhimfromsight，thenturnedtothesilentgroup，anewcrispnessinhismanner。
　　"Well？"hedemanded。
　　Hesitating，theyturnedtotherivertrail，leavingthetenstillworkingatthesluice。Whenwellwithinthefringeofthebrush，Ordecalledahalt。Hiscustomarygood—humourseemedquiterestored。
　　"Now，boys，"hecommanded，"squatdownandlaylow。Yougivemeanache！Don’tyousupposeIgotthisthingallfiguredout？Iffightwoulddoanygood，youknowmightywellI’dfight。Andtheboyswon’tbeinjailanylongerthanittakestogetawiretoDalytobailthemout。Smokeup，anddon’tbother。"
　　Theyfilledtheirpipesandsettleddowntoanenjoymentofthesituation。Ordinarilyfromveryearlyinthemorninguntilverylateatnighttherivermanisbusyeveryinstantathisdangerousandabsorbingwork。Thoseaffairswhichdonotimmediatelyconcernhistask——astheswiftnessofrapids，thestateofflood，thecurvesofstreams，theheightofwater，theobstructionsofchannels，thequantitiesoflogs——passbytheouterfringeofhisconsciousness，ifindeedtheyreachhimatall。Thus，oftenheworksalldayuptohiswaistinacurrentbearingtherotteniceofthefirstbreak—up，orenduresthedrenchingofanearlyspringrain，orbattlestherigoursofabelatedsnowwithapparentindifference。YouorI
　　wouldbeexceedinglyuncomfortable；wouldrequireaneffortoffortitudetomaketheplunge。Yetthesemen，absorbedinthemightyproblemsoftheirtask，havelittleattentiontosparetosuchthings。Thecold，thewet，thediscomfort，thehunger，theweariness，allpassasshadowsonthebackground。Inlikemannerthesoftermoodsofthespringrarelypenetratethroughtheconcentrationoffacultiesonthework。Thewarmsunshines；thebirdsbythousandsflutterandtwitterandsingtheirwaynorth；thedelicategreenofspring，showeredfromthehandofthepassingSower，sprinklesthetopsofthetrees，andgraduallysiftsdownthroughthebranches；thegreat，beautifulsilvercloudssaildownthehorizonlikeshipsofastatelierage，astotallywithoutactualexistencetothesemen。Thelogs，theriver——thoseareenoughtostrainallthefacultiesamanpossesses，andmore。
　　Sowhen，asnow，achancecombinationofcircumstancesbringsthemleisuretolookaboutthem，theforestandtheworldofout—of—doorscomestothemwithafreshnessimpossibleforthecitydwellertorealise。Thesurroundingsareaccustomed，buttheybringnewmessages。Tomostofthem，theseimpressionsneverreachthepointofcoherency。Theybrood，andmuse，andexpandintheactualandfigurativewarmth，andprofferthegeneralopinionthatitisadamnfineday！
　　Anotherfullhalfhourelapsedbeforethesituationdevelopedfurther。ThenTomNorth’sfriendJim，whohadgatheredhislongfigureonthetopofastump，unclaspedhiskneesandremarkedthatoldPlugHatwasback。
　　Themenarosetotheirfeetandpeeredcautiouslythroughthebrush。
　　TheysawReed，accompaniedbyathick—setmanwhomsomerecognisedasthesheriffofthecounty，approachtheedgeofthedam。A
　　momentlatertheworkingcrewmountedtothetop，stackedtheirtoolsneatly，resumedtheircoatsandjackets，anddeparteduptheroadinconvoyofthesheriff。
　　Agaspofastonishmentbrokefromtheconcealedrivermen。
　　"Well，I’llbedamned！"ejaculatedone。"Whatarewecomin’to？
　　That’sthefirsttimeIeverseeonelonesomesheriffgatherintenriver—hogswithouttheaidofagatlin’oranambulance！What’sthematterwiththatchicken—liveredbunch，anyway？"
　　Ordewatchedthem，hiseyesexpressionless，untiltheyhaddisappearedinthefringeoftheforestThenheturnedtotheastonishedgroup。
　　"Jim，"saidhe，"andyou，Ellis，andyou，andyou，andyou，andyou，gettoworkonthatdam。Andrememberthis，ifyouarearrested，gopeaceably。Anyresistancewillspoilthewholegame。"
　　ThemenbrokeintomingledcheersandlaughterasthefullsignificanceofOrde’splanreachedthem。Theystreamedbacktothedam，wheretheyperchedprofferingadviceandencouragementtothoseabouttodescend。
　　Immediately，however，Reedwasout，hiseyesblazingeithersidehishawknose。
　　"Here！"hecried，"quitthat！I’llhaveyearrested！"
　　"Arrestahead，"repliedOrdecoldly。
　　Reedstormedbackandforthforamoment，thendepartedatfullspeeduptheroad。
　　"Now，boys，getasmuchdoneaspossible，"urgedOrde。"Webettergetbackinthebrush，orhemaytrytotakeinthewholeb’ilingofusonsomesortofablanketwarrant。"
　　"Howabouttheotherboys？"inquiredNorth。
　　"IgaveoneofthematelegramtosendtoDaly，"repliedOrde。
　　"Dalywillbeuptobailthemout。"
　　Oncemoretheyhidinthewoods；andagain，afteralongerinterval，themillownerandthesheriffreappeared。Reedappearedtobeexpostulatingviolently，andanumberoftimespointedupriver；butthesheriffwentaheadstolidlytothedam，summonedthoseworkingbelow，anddeparteduptheroadasbefore。Reedstooduncertainuntilhesawtherivermenbeginningtore—emergefromthebrush，thenfollowedtheofficerattopspeed。
　　Withoutthenecessityofcommand，ahalf—dozenmenleapeddownontheapron。Thepreviouscrewshadmadeconsiderableprogressinweakeningtheheavysupports。Assoonastheseshouldbecutoutandthebackingremoved，themeresawingthroughofthemassivesillshouldcarryawaythewholeobstruction。
　　"Nexttimewilldecideit，"remarkedOrde。"Ifthesheriffbringsaposseandsitsdowntolayforus，ofcoursewewon’tbeabletogetneartofinishthejob。"
　　"Ididn’tthinkthatofGeorgeMorris，"commentedSimsinanaggrievedway。"Hewasarivermanhimselfoncebeforehewassheriff。"
　　"He’sgottoobeyorders，andserveawarrantwhenit’sissued，ofcourse，"repliedOrdetothis。"Whatdidyouexpect？"
　　Attheendofanotherhour，whichbroughtthetimetofouro’clock，thesheriffmadehisthirdappearance——thistimeinaside—barbuggy。
　　"IwishIdaredjointhatconfab，"saidOrde，"andhearwhat’sgoingon，butI’mafraidhe’djugmesure。"
　　"Hewouldn’tjugme，"spokeupNewmark。"I’llgodown。"
　　"Bullyforyou！"agreedOrde。
　　Theyoungmandepartedinhisprecise，methodicalmanner，pickinghiswayrathermincinglyamongtheinequalitiesofthetrail。Inspiteofthewornandwrinkledconditionofhisgarments，theyretainedsomethingofacityhangandsmartnessthatsharplydifferentiatedtheirwearerfromeventhewell—dressedcitizensofasmallertown。Theyseemedtomatchtherefined，shrewd，butcoldintelligenceofhisleanandnervousface。
　　Aboutsunsethereturnedfromascenewhichthedistantspectatorshadwatchedwithbreathlessinterest。Itwasinessenceonlyarepetitionofthetwothathadprecededit，butReedhadevidentlygonealmosttothepointofviolenceinhisinsistence，andthesheriffhadshakenhimoffrudely。Finally，Morrisandhissixprisonershadtrailedaway。ThesheriffandNorth’sfriendoccupiedtheseatofthebuggy，whiletheotherfivetrudgedpeaceablyalongside。OnceagainReedclatteredawayonhisbonysteed，butthistimeaheadoftheofficialparty。
　　Withawhooptherivercrew，nowreducedtoascantdozen，rusheddowntomeetthetoodeliberateNewmark。
　　"Well？"theydemanded，crowdingabouthim。
　　"Reedwantedthesherifftostayandprotectthedam，"reportedNewmarkinhisbrief，drymanner。"Sheriffrefused。Saidhisdutywassimplytoarrestonwarrant，andasoftenasReedgotoutwarrants，he’dservethem。Reedsaid，then，heshouldgetaposseandhuntupOrdeandtherestofthem。Sheriffrepliedthatasfarashecouldsee，thetermsofhiswarrantwerecoveredbythemenhefoundworkingonthedam，Reeddemandedprotection，Sheriffsaidforhimtogetaninjunction，anditwouldbeenforced。"
　　"Well，that’sallright，"interjectedOrdewithsatisfaction。
　　"We’llhavehercutthroughbeforehegetsthatinjunction，andI
　　guessI’vegotmenenoughhereanddownrivertogetthroughbeforewe’reALLarrested。"
　　"Yes，"saidNewmark，"that’sallverywell。Butnowhe’sgonetotelegraphthegovernortosendthetroops。"
　　Ordewhistledajigtune。
　　"Kindofexpectedthat，boys，"saidhe。"Let’ssee。ThenexttrainoutfromRedding——They’llbeherebyfiveinthemorningatsoonest。
　　Hopeit’llbelater。"
　　"Whatwillyoudo？"askedNewmark。
　　"Takechances，"repliedOrde。"Allyouboysgettowork。Zeke，"hecommandedoneofthecookees，"gouproad，andreportifMorriscomesback。Ireckonthistimewe’llhavetoscatterifhecomesafterus。Ihopewewon’thaveto，though。LiketokeepeverythingsquareonaccountofthisStatetroopbusiness。"
　　Thesunhaddroppedbelowthefringeoftrees，whichimmediatelyetchedtheirdelicateoutlinesagainstapale，translucentgreensky。Twostraight，thincolumnsofsmokerosefromtheneglectedcamp—fires。Orde，glancingaroundhim，noticedthese。
　　"Doctor，"hecommandedsharply，"getatyourgrub！Makesomecoffeerightoff，andbringitdown。Getthelanternsfromthewanigan，andbringthemtothedam。Comeon，boys！"
　　Overascoreofmenattackedthesluice—way，forbynowpartoftherearcrewhadcomedownriver。Thepondabovehadrecovereditsvolume。Waterwasbeginningtotrickleoverthetopofthegate。
　　Inashorttimeprogressbecamedifficult，almostimpossible，Themenworkeduptotheirkneesinswiftwater。Theycouldnotsee，andthestrokesofaxeorpicklostmuchoftheirforceagainsttheliquid。Duskfell。Thefringeoftheforestbecamemysteriousinitsvelvetdark。Silverstreaks，ofasupernalcalm，suggestedthereachesofthepond。Above，thesky’sdaysurfaceunfoldedandrecededanddissolvedandmeltedawayuntil，throughthepaleafterglow，onesawbeyondintotheinfinities。Downbythesluiceadozenlanternsflickeredandblinkedyellowagainsttheblue—
　　blacknessofthenight。
　　AftersometimeOrdecalledhiscrewoffandopenedthesluice—
　　gates。Thewaterhadbecometoodeepforeffectivework，andahalfhour’sflowwouldreducethepressure。Thetimewasoccupiedineatingandindryingoffaboutthehugefirethesecondcookeehadbuiltcloseathand。
　　"Watercold，boys？"askedOrde。
　　"Some，"washisreply。
　　"Wanttoquit？"heinquired，withmocksolicitude。
　　"Naryquit。"
　　Orde’sshoutoflaughterbrokethenightsilenceofthewhisperingbreezeandtherushingwater。
　　"We’llstickto’emlikedeathtoadeadnigger，"washiscomment。
　　Newmark，havingextractedakindofcardiganjacketfromthebaghehadbroughtwithhimasfarasthemill，lookedatthesmooth，iron—
　　blackwaterandshivered。
　　Whenthemealwasfinished，themenlittheirpipesandwentbacktoworkphilosophically。Withentireabsorptioninthetask，theydug，chopped，andpicked。Thedullsoundofblows，thegurgleandtrickleofthewater，theoccasionalgruntorbriefcommentofarivermanalonebrokethecalmofevening。Nowthatthesluice—gatewasdownandthewaterhadceasedtemporarilytoflowoverit，theworkwentfaster。Orde，watchingwiththeeyeofanexpert，vouchsafedtothetaciturnNewmarkthathethoughtthey’dmakeit。
　　Nearmidnight，however，aswayinglanternwasseenapproaching。
　　Orde，leapingtohisfeetwithacurseattheboyonwatch，heardthesoundofwheels。Amomentlater，Daly’sbulkyformsteppedintotheilluminationofthefire。
　　Ordewanderedovertowherehisprincipalstoodpeeringabouthim。
　　"Hullo！"saidhe。
　　"Oh，thereyouare！"criedDalyangrily。"Whatinhellyouuptohere？"
　　"Runninglogs，"repliedOrdecoolly。
　　"Runninglogs！"shoutedDaly，tuggingathisovercoatpocket，andfinallyproducingamuch—foldednewspaper。"Howaboutthis？"
　　Ordeunfoldedthepaperandloweredittothecampfire。Itwasanextra，screamingwithwoodtype。Hereaditdeliberatelyover。
　　WAR！
　　theheadlineran。
　　RIOTINGANDBLOODSHEDINTHEWOODS
　　RIVERMENANDDAMOWNERSCLASH！
　　Therefollowedavagueandhighlycolouredstatementtotheeffectthataninitialskirmishhadleftthefieldinpossessionoftherivermen，inspiteofthesheriffandalargeposse，butthattroopswerebeingrushedtothespot，andthatthis"high—handeddefianceofauthority"wouldundoubtedlysoonbesuppressed。Itconcludedtruthfullywiththestatementthatthelossoflifewasasyetunknown。
　　Ordefoldedupthepaperandhandeditback。
　　"Don’tyouknowanybetterthantogetintothatkindofarowdownhere？"Dalyhadbeensaying。"Doyouwanttobringusupforgoodhere？Don’tyourealisethatthisisn’tthenorthernpeninsula？
　　Whatareyoutryingtodo，anyway？"
　　"SureIdo，"repliedOrdeplacidly。"ComealongheretillIshowyouthesituation。"
　　Tenminuteslater，Daly，relievedinhismind，wasstandingbythefiredrinkinghotcoffeeandlaughingatOrde’sdescriptionofReed’splughat。
　　ToOrde’ssatisfaction，thesheriffdidnotreappear。ReedevidentlynowpinnedhisfaithtotheStatetroops。
　　Allnighttheworkwenton，themenspellingeachotheratintervalsofeveryfewhours。Bythreeo’clockthemainabutmentshadbeenremoved。Thegatewasthenblockedtopreventitsfallwhenitsnethersupportshouldbewithdrawn，andtwomen，leaningovercautiously，beganatarm’s—lengthtodelivertheiraxe—strokesagainstthemiddleofthesill—timbersofthesluiceitself，notchingeachheavybeamdeeplythattheforceofthecurrentmightfinallybreakitintwo。Thenightwasverydark，andverystill。
　　Eventhenightcreatureshadfallenintothequietudethatprecedesthefirstmorninghours。Themuffled，spacedblowsoftheaxes，thelow—voicedcommentsordirectionsoftheworkers，thecrackleofthefireashorewerethrownbycontrastintoanundueimportance。Meninblankets，awaitingtheirturn，sleptclosetotheblaze。
　　Suddenlythevastsilenceofbeforedawnwasbrokenbyaloudandexultantyellfromoneoftheaxemen。Atoncethetwoscrambledtothetopofthedam。Theblanketedfiguresaboutthefiresprangtolife。Abriefinstantlaterthesnappingofwoodfibresbeganliketherapidexplosionsofinfantryfire；acrashandbangoftimberssmotetheair；andthentheriver，exultant，roaringwithjoy，rushedfromitspentquietudeintothenewpassageopenedforit。
　　Atthesamemoment，asthoughatthesignal，asinglebird，premonitoroftheyetdistantday，lifteduphisvoice，clearlyaudibleabovethetumult。
　　Ordestormedintothecampupstream，hiseyesbright，hisbigvoiceboomingexultantly。
　　"Rollout，youriver—hogs！"heshoutedtothosewhohadworkedouttheirshiftsearlierinthenight。"Rollout，youweb—footedsonsofguns，andhearthelittlebirdssingpraise！"
　　Newmark，whohadsatupthenightthrough，andnowshiveredsleepilybythefire，begantohuntaroundforthebed—rollhehad，earlierintheevening，dumpeddownsomewhereincamp。
　　"Isupposethat’sall，"saidhe。"Justacaseofrunlogsnow。
　　I’llturninforalittle。"
　　ButOrde，athicksliceofbreadhalf—waytohislips，hadfrozeninanattitudeofattentivelistening。
　　"Hark！"saidhe。
　　Faint，stillinthedepthsoftheforest，thewanderingmorningbreezeboretotheirearsasoundwhosedifferencefromtheloudernoisesnearerathandalonerendereditaudible。
　　"Thetroops！"exclaimedOrde。
　　Heseizedalanternandreturneddownthetrail，followedeagerlybyNewmarkandeverymanincamp。
　　"Troopscoming！"saidOrdetoDaly。
　　Themendrewalittletooneside，watchingthedimlineoftheforest，darkagainstthepalingsky。Shadowsseemedtostirinitsblackness。Theyheardquitedistinctlytheclinkofmetalagainstmetal。Amanrodeoutoftheshadowandreinedupbythefire。
　　"Halt！"commandedaharshvoice。Therivermencouldmakeoutthetroops——threeorfourscoreofthem——standingrigidatattention。
　　Reed，afootnowinfavourofthecommandingofficer，pushedforward。
　　"Whoisinchargehere？"inquiredtheofficercrisply。
　　"Iam，"repliedOrde，steppingforward。
　　"Iwishtoinquire，sir，ifyouhavegonemadtocounselyourmentoresistcivilauthority？"
　　"Ihavenotresistedcivilauthority，"repliedOrderespectfully。
　　"Ithasbeenotherwisereported。"
　　"Thereportshavebeenfalse。Thesheriffofthiscountyhasarrestedabouttwentyofmymensingle—handedandwithouttheslightesttrouble。"
　　"Mr。Morris，"criedtheofficersharply。
　　"Yes？"repliedthesheriff。
　　"Iswhatthismansaystrue？"
　　"Itsureis。Neverhadsolittlefussarrestin’rivermenbeforeinmylife。"
　　Theofficer’sfaceturnedaslowbrick—red。Foramomenthesaidnothing，thenexplodedwiththeutmostviolence。
　　"ThenwhythedevilamIdraggedupherewithmymeninthenight？"
　　hecried。"Who’sresponsibleforthisinsanity，anyway？Don’tyouknow，"heroaredatReed，whothatmomentswungwithinhisrangeofvision，"thatIhavenostandinginthepresenceofcivillaw？Whatdoyoumeangettingmeupheretoyourmiserablelittlebackwoodssquabbles？"
　　Reedstartedtosaysomething，butwasimmediatelycutshortbytheiratecaptain。
　　"I’venothingtodowiththat；settleitincourt。Andwhat’smore，you’llhavesomethingyourselftosettlewiththeState！About，face！Forward，march！"
　　Themenfadedintothegraylightasthoughdissolvedbyit。
　　Adeepandrespectfulsilencefelluponthemen，whichwasbrokenbyOrde’ssolemnanddramaticdeclamation。