Theboomerangworkedlikeacharm。Themenhadbeengrumblingatanapparentlypeacefulyieldingofthepointatissue，andwouldhavesackedoutmanyoftheblazedlogsifOrdehadnotheldthemrigidlytoit。Nowtheirspiritsflamedintojoyagain。Thesortingwentlikeclockwork。Orde，inpersonalcharge，watchedthatthroughthedifferentopeningsinhis"boomerang"the"H"logswereshuntedintotheriver。Shortlythechannelwasfulloflogsfloatingmerrilyawaydownthelittlebluewavelets。AfterawhileOrdehandedoverhisjobtoTomNorth。
　　"Can’tstanditanylonger，boys，"saidhe。"I’vegottogodownandseehowtheDutchmanismakingit。"
　　"Comebackandtellus！"yelledoneofthecrew。
　　"YoubetIwill！"Ordeshoutedback。
　　HedrovetheteamandbuckboarddownthemarshroadtoHeinzman’smill。Therehefoundevidencesofthewildestexcitement。Themillhadbeencloseddown，andallthementurnedintorescuelogs。
　　Boatspliedinalldirections。Atugdartedbackandforth。
　　Constantlythenumberoffloatinglogsaugmented，however。Manyhadalreadygoneby。
　　"Ifyouthinkyou’rebusynow，"saidOrdetohimselfwithachuckle，"justwaituntilyoubegintogetLOGS。"
　　Hewatchedforafewmomentsinsilence。
　　"What’shedoingwiththattug？"thoughthe。"O—ho！He’sstringingboomsacrosstherivertoholdthewholeoutfit。"
　　Helaughedaloud，turnedhisteamabout，anddrovefranticallybacktothebooms。Everyfewmomentshechuckled。Hiseyesdanced。
　　Hardlycouldhewaittogetthere。Onceatthecamp，heleapedfromthebuckboard，withashouttothestableman，andranrapidlyoutovertheboomstowherethesortingof"H"logswasgoingmerrilyforward。
　　"He’sshutdownhismill，"shoutedOrde，"andhe’sgotallthatgangofhighbankersout，andeveryoldrum—blossominMonrovia，andIbetifyousay’logs’tohim，he’dchasehistailincircles。"
　　"Wantthisjob？"Northaskedhim。
　　"No，"saidOrde，suddenlyfallensolemn，"haven’ttime。I’mgoingtotakeMarshandtheSPRITEandgototown。OldHeinzman，"headdedasanafterthought，"isstringingboomsacrosstheriver——
　　obstructingnavigation。"
　　Herandownthelengthofthewholeboomtowherelaythetwotugs。
　　"Marsh，"hecalledwhenstillsomedistanceaway，"gotupsteam？"
　　Thereappearedashort，square，blue—cladman，withhardbrowncheeks，aheavybleachedflaxenmoustache，andeyessteady，unwavering，andasblueasthesky。
　　"Upintwominutes，"heanswered，anddescendedfromthepilothousetoshoutdownalowdoorleadingfromthedeckintotheengineroom。
　　"Harvey，"hecommanded，"fireherup！"
　　Atall，good—naturednegroreachedtheupperhalfofhisbodyfromthelowdoortoseizeanarmfuloftheslabspiledalongthenarrowdeck。TenminuteslatertheSPRITE，acloudofwhitesmokepouringfromherfunnel，wascareeningdownthestretchoftheriver。
　　CaptainMarshguidedhisenergeticchargeamongthelogsfloatinginthestreamwiththemarvelloussecondinstinctoftheexperttugboatman。Awhirlofthewheeltotheright，aturntotheleft——thecraftheeledstronglyundertheforcingofherpowerfulruddertoavoidbyanarm’s—lengthsometimbersfairlyflungasidebythewash。Thedisplacementoftherapidrunningseemedalmosttopressthewaterabovethelevelofthedeckoneithersideandabouttenfeetfromthegunwale。Asthelowmarshesandcat—tailsflewpast，Ordenotedwithsatisfactionthatmanyofthelogs，urgedonesidebythebreeze，hadfoundlodgmentamongthereedsandinthebayousandinlets。Oneatatime，andpainfully，thesewouldhavetobesalvaged。
　　Inashorttimethemills’tallsmokestacksloomedinsight。ThelogsthickeneduntilitwaswithdifficultythatCaptainMarshcouldthreadhiswayamongthematall。ShortlyOrde，standingbythewheelinthepilot—house，couldseedownthestretchesoftheriveracrowdofmenworkingantlike。
　　"They’vegot’emstopped，"commentedOrde。"Lookatthatgangworkingfromboats！Theyhaven’tadozen’corkboots’among’em。"
　　"Whatdoyouwantmetodo？"askedCaptainMarsh。
　　"Thisisanavigableriver，isn’tit？"repliedOrde。"Runthrough！"
　　Marshrangforhalf—speedandbegantonosehiswaygentlythroughthelooselyfloatinglogs。Soonthetughadreachedthesceneofactivity，andheadedstraightfortheslenderlineofboomshitchedendtoendandstretchingquiteacrosstheriver。
　　"I’mafraidwe’lljustrideoverthemifwehitthemtooslow，"
　　suggestedMarsh。
　　Ordelookedathiswatch。
　　"We’llbelateforthemailunlesswehurry，"saidhe。Marshwhirledthespokesofhiswheeloverandrangtheengine—roombell。
　　Thewaterchurnedwhitebehind，thetugcareened。
　　"Vatyoudo！Stop！"criedHeinzmanfromoneoftheboatse，hisheadstilloutthedoor，lookedback。"Slowdown，Marsh，"
　　saidhe。"Let’sseetheshow。"Alreadythelogscaughtbytheboomshadtakentheirmotionandhadsweptpasttheopening。
　　AlthoughthelonesometugHeinzmanhadontheworkimmediatelypickeduponeendofthebrokenboom，andwithitstartedoutintotheriver，shefounddifficultyinmakingheadwayagainstthesweepofthelogs。Afteralongstruggleshereachedthemiddleoftheriver，whereshewasabletoholdherown。
　　"Wonderwhatnext？"speculatedOrde。"Howaretheygoingtogettheotherendoftheboomsoutfromtheotherbank？"
　　CaptainMarshhadreversedtheSPRITE。Thetuglaynearlymotionlessamidstream，herpropellerslowlyrevolving。
　　Upriverallthesmallboatsgatheredinaline，connectedonetotheotherbyarope。Thetugpassedovertothemthecableattachedtotheboom。Evidentlythecombinedeffortsoftherowboatswerecou。
　　Ordestuckhisheadfromthepilot—housedoor。
　　"You’reobstructingnavigation！"heyelled。"I’vegottogototowntobuyapostage—stamp。"
　　Theprowofthetug，accuratelyaimedbyMarsh，hitsquareinthejunctionoftwoofthebooms。Immediatelythewaterwasagitatedonbothsidesandforahundredfeetorsobythepressureofthelongpolessidewise。Thereensuedamomentofstrain；thenthelinkssnapped，andtheSPRITEplungedjoyouslythroughtheopening。Thebooms，sweptasidebythecurrent，floatedtoeithershore。Theriverwasopen。
　　Ordntedontoholdthehalf—boomacrossthecurrentwhilethetugbroughtouttheotherhalf。Whenthetugdroppedthecable，Ordelaughed。
　　"NobodybutaDutchmanwouldhavethoughtofthat！"hecried。"Nowforthefun！"
　　Immediatelytheweightfellonthesmallboats，theyweredraggedirresistiblybackward。EvenfromadistancethethreemenontheSPRITEcouldmakeoutthewhite—waterastheoarssplashedandchurnedandfranticallycaughtcrabsinavainefforttoholdtheirown。Marshloweredhistelescope，thetearsstreamingdownhisface。
　　"It’sbetterthanagoatfight，"saidhe。
　　Futilelyprotesting，therowboatsweredraggedbackward，turnedasawhipissnapped，andstrungoutalongthebankbelow。
　　"They’llhavetohavetwotugsbeforetheycanclosethebreakthatway，"commentedOrde。
　　"Surething，"repliedCaptainMarsh。
　　Butatthatmomentablacksmokerolledupoverthemarshes，andshortlyaroundthebendfromabovecametheLUCYBELLE。
　　TheLUCYBELLEwasthemainexcuseforcallingtherivernavigable。
　　ShemadetripsasoftenasshecouldbetweenReddingandMonrovia。
　　Inluck，shecouldcoverthefortymilesinaday。Itwasnounusualthing，however，fortheLUCYBELLEtohangupindefinitelyonsomeoneofthenumerousshiftingsandbars。Forthatreasonshecarriedmoreimperishablefreightthanpassengers。Inappearanceshewastwo—storied，withtwinsmokestacks，anironIndianonhertop，anda"splutter—bmysteriousheralwaysfathomlesseyes。ToOrdesheseemedfragile，aloof，enshrinedamongherlacesanddaintyribbons。
　　Hardlydaredhetouchherwhensheheldherhandouttohimweakly，butfellonhiskneesbesidethebedandburiedhisfaceintheclothes。Sheplacedagentlehandcaressioappreciatesyou！"shecried，possessingherselfoftheinfant。"He’sabeautifulbaby；oneofthebest—lookingnew—bornbabiesIeversaw！"
　　Ordeescapedtotheopenair。Hehadtogototheofficetoattendtosomedetailsofthebusiness。Witheverystephiselationincreased。Attheofficehethrewopenhisdeskwithaslam。
　　Newmarkjumpednervouslyandfrowned。Orde’sbig，open，andbrusquemannersbotheredhimastheywouldhavebotheredacat。
　　"Gotasonandheiroveratmyplace，"calledOrdeinhisbigvoice。
　　"Thisoldfirm’sgottorustlenow，Itellyou。"
　　"Congratulateyou，I’msure，"saidNewmarkehind"paddle—wheel。
　　"Therecomeshishelp，"saidOrde。"OldSimpsonwouldstoptopickupabogusthree—centpiece。"
　　Sureenough，onhailfromoneoftherowboats，theLUCYBELLEsloweddownandstopped。Afterashortconference，shesteamedclumsilyovertogetholdofoneendofthebooms。Thetugtooktheother。
　　Intime，andbydintofmuchsplashing，somecollisions，andseveralattempts，theendsoftheboomswereunited。
　　Bythistime，however，nearlyallthelogshadescaped。Thetug，towingastringofrowboats，setoutinpursuit。
　　TheSPRITEcontinuedonherwayuntilbeyondsight。Thenshesloweddownagain。TheLUCYBELLEchurnedaroundthebend，andturnedintowardthetug。
　　"She’sgoingtospeakus，"marvelledOrde。"Iwonderwhatthedickensshewants。"
　　"Tugahoy！"bellowedared—facedindividualfromtheupperdeck。Hewasdressedinblueandbrassbuttons，carriedatelescopeinonehand，andwasliberallyfestoonedwithgoldbraidandembroideredanchors。
　　"Answerhim，"OrdecommandedMarsh。
　　"Hullothere，commodore！whatisit？"repliedthetugcaptain。
　　Thered—facedfigureglareddownforamoment。
　　"TheywantatugupthereatHeinzman’s。Canyougo？"
　　"Sure！"criedMarsh，choking。
　　TheLUCYBELLEsheeredoffmagnificently。
　　"Whatdoyouthinkofthat？"MarshaskedOrde。
　　"Thecommodorealwaysactsasifthatoldraftwasasixty—gunfrigate，"wasOrde’snon—committalanswer。"Headupstreamagain。"
　　HeinzmansawtheSPRITEcoming，androwedoutfrantically，splashingateverystrokeandyellingwitheverybreath。
　　"Don’tyougothroughthere！Vaitaminute！Stop，Itellyou！"
　　"Holdup！"saidOrdetoMarsh。
　　Heinzmanrowedalongside，droppedhisoarsandmoppedhisbrow。
　　"Vatyoudo？"hedemandedheatedly。
　　"Iforgotthemoneytobuymystampwith，"saidOrdesweetly。"I’mgoingbacktogetit。"
　　"Notthroughmypooms！"criedHeinzman。
　　"Mr。Heinzman，"saidOrdeseverely，"youareobstructinganavigablestream。Iamdoingbusiness，andIcannotbeinterferedwith。"
　　"Butmylogs！"criedtheunhappymillman。
　　"Ihavenothingtodowithyourlogs。Youaredrivingyourownlogs，"Orderemindedhim。
　　Heinzmanvituperatedandpoundedthegunwale。
　　"Goahead，Marsh！"saidOrde。
　　Thetuggatheredway。SoonHeinzmanwasforcedtoletgo。Forasecondtimethechainsweresnapped。OrdeandMarshlookedbackoverthechurningwakeleftbytheSPRITE。Theseveredendsoftheboomswereswingingbacktowardeithershore。Betweenthemfloatedarowboat。Intherowboatgesticulatedapudgyman。Theriverwaswellsprinkledwithlogs。Evidentlythesortingwasgoingonwell。
　　"Mayaswellgobacktotheworks，"saidOrde。"Hewon’tstringthemtogetheragainto—day——notifhewaitsforthattughesentSimpsonfor。"
　　Accordingly，theyreturnedtothebooms，whereworkwassuspendedwhileOrdedetailedtoanappreciativeaudiencethehappeningsbelow。Thistickledthemenimmensely。
　　"Why，wehain’tsortedoutmore’namillionfeetofhislogs，"criedRollwayCharlie。"Hehain’tSEENnologsyet！"
　　Theyturnedwithnewenthusiasmtotheworkofshunting"H"logsintothechannel。
　　Intenminutes，however，thestablemanpickedhiswayoutovertheboomswithamessageforOrde。
　　Mr。Heinzman’sashore，andwantstoseeyou，"saidhe。
　　OrdeandJimDenningexchangedglances。
　　"’Coon’scomedown，"saidthelatter。
　　Ordefoundthemillmanpacingrestlesslyupanddownbeforeasteamingpairofhorses。Newmark，perchedonastump，wassurveyinghimsardonicallyandchewingtheendofanunlightedcigar。
　　"Hereyoupothare！"burstoutHeinzman，whenOrdesteppedashore。
　　"Now，thismuststop。Imustnotlosemylogs！Vatisyourprobosition？"
　　NewmarkbrokeinquicklybeforeOrdecouldspeak。
　　"I’vetoldMr。Heinzman，"saidhe，"thatwewouldsortanddelivertherestofhislogsfortwodollarsathousand。"
　　"Thatwillbeaboutit，"agreedOrde。
　　"But，"explodedHeinzman，"thatisasmuchasyouagreettodriveanddeliffermywholecut！"
　　"Precisely，"saidNewmark。
　　"PutIhafalltheeggspenceofdrivingthelogsmyself。WhyshoultIpayyoufordoingwhatIhafalrettypaidtohafdone？"
　　Ordechuckled。
　　"Heinzman，"saidhe，"ItoldyouI’dmakeyouscratchgravel。Nowit’stimetotalkbusiness。Youthoughtyouwereboringwithamightyauger，butit’stimetorevise。Wearen’tforcedtobotherwithyourlogs，andyou’reluckytogetoutsoeasy。IfIturnyourwholedriveintotheriver，you’lllosemorethanhalfofitoutright，andit’llcostyouaheaptosalvagetherest。Andwhat’smore，I’llturn’eminbeforeyoucangetholdofapile—driver。
　　I’llsortnightandday，"hebluffed，"andbyto—morrowmorningyouwon’thaveastickoftimberabovemybooms。"Helaughedagain。
　　"Youwanttogetdowntobusinessalmightysudden。"
　　WhenfinallyHeinzmanhaddrivensadlyaway，andthewholedrive，"H"logsincluded，waspouringintothemainboom，Ordestretchedhisarmsoverhisheadinaluxuryofsatisfaction。
　　"Thatjustaboutsettlesthatcampaign，"hesaidtoNewmark。
　　"Oh，no，itdoesn’t，"repliedthelatterdecidedly。
　　"Why？"askedOrde，surprised。"Youdon’timaginehe’lldoanythingmore？"
　　"No，butIwill，"saidNewmark。
　　XXVII
　　Earlyinthefallthebabywasborn。Itprovedtobeaboy。Orde，nervousasacataftertheordealofdoingnothing，tiptoedintothedarkenedroom。Hefoundhiswifeweakandpale，herdarkhairframingherface，anewlookofraptinnercontemplationrenderingevenmorenglyonhishead。
　　Sotheyremainedforsometime。Finallyheraisedhiseyes。Sheheldherlipstohim。Hekissedthem。
　　"Itseemssortofmake—believeevenyet，sweetheart，"shesmiledathimwhimsically，"thatwehaveareal，livebabyallofourown。"
　　"Likeotherpeople，"saidOrde。
　　"Notlikeotherpeopleatall！"shedisclaimed，withashowofindignation。
　　GrandmaOrdebroughtthenewcomerinforOrde’sinspection。Helookedgravelydownonthepuckered，discolouredbitofhumanitywithsomefeelingofdisappointment，andperhapsafaintuneasiness。
　　Afteramomenthevoicedthelatter。
　　"Is——doyouthink——thatis——"hehesitated，"doesthedoctorsayhe’sgoingtobeallright？"
　　"Allright！"criedGrandmaOrdeindignantly。"I’dliketoknowifheisn’tallrightnow！Whatintheworlddoyouexpectofanew—
　　bornbaby？"
　　ButCarrollwaslaughingsoftlytoherselfonthebed。Sheheldoutherarmsforthebaby，andcuddleditclosetoherbreast。
　　"He’salittledarling，"shecrooned，"andhe’sgoingtogrowupbigandstrong，justlikehisdaddy。"Sheputhercheekagainstthesleepingbabe’sandlookedupsidewiseatthetwostandingaboveher。"ButIknowhowyoufeel，"shesaidtoherhusband。"Whentheyfirstshowedhimtome，Ithoughthelookedlikeapeanutathousandyearsold。"
　　GrandmaOrdefairlysnortedwithindignation。
　　"Cometoyouroldgrandmother，whrathershortly。"Mrs。
　　Ordeisdoingwell，Ihope？"
　　"Fine，fine！"criedOrde。
　　Newmarkdroppedthesubjectandplungedintoabusinessmatter。
　　Orde’sattention，however，wasflighty。Afteralittlewhileheclosedhisdeskwithanotherbang。
　　"Nouse！"saidhe。"Gottomakeitavacation。I’mgoingtorunovertoseehowthefamilyis。"
　　Strangelyenough，theyoungcouplehadnotdiscussedbeforethequestionofaname。Oneeveningattwilight，whenOrdewasperchedatthefootofthebed，Carrollbroughtupthesubject。
　　"Heoughttobenamedforyou，"shebegantimidly。"Iknowthat，Jack，andI’dlovetohaveanotherJackOrdeinthefamily；but，dear，I’vebeenthinkingaboutfather。He’sapoor，forlornoldman，whodoesn’tgetmuchoutoflife。Anditwouldpleasehimso——
　　oh，morethanyoucanimaginesuchathingcouldpleaseanybody！"
　　Shelookedupathimdoubtfully。Ordesaidnothing，butwalkedaroundthebedtowherethebabylayinhislittlecradle。Heleanedoverandtooktheinfantupinhisgingerlyawkwardfashion。
　　"Howareyouto—day，BobbyOrde？"heinquiredoftheblinkingmite。
　　XXVIII
　　ThefirstseasonoftheBoomCompanywasmostsuccessful。Itsprospectsforthefuturewerebright。Thedrivehadbeendeliveredtoitsvariousownersatapricebelowwhatithadcostthemseverally，andwithoutthenecessaryattendantbother。Therefore，theloggerswereonlytoowillingtorenewtheircontractsforanotheryear。ThisdidnotsatisfyNewmark，however。
　　"Whatwewant，"hetoldOrde，"isachartergivingusexclusiverightsontheriver，andauthorisingustoasktoll。I’mgoingtotryandgetoneoutofthelegislature。"
　　HedepartedforLansingassoonastheAssemblyopened，andalmostimmediatelybecamelostinoneofthosefiercestrugglesofpoliticsnotlessbitterbecauseconcealed。Heinzmanwasalreadyontheground。
　　Newmarkhadtheshadowofrightonhisside，forheappliedforthecharteronthebasisoftheriverimprovementsalreadyputinbyhisfirm。Heinzman，however，possessedmuchpoliticalinfluence，adeepknowledgeofthesubterraneanworkingsofplotandcounterplot，anda"barrel。"Althougharmedwithanapparentlyincontestablelegalright，Newmarksoonfoundhimselffightingonthedefensive。
　　Heinzmanwantedtheimprovementsalreadyexistingcondemnedandsoldasapublicutilitytothehighestbidder。Heofferedfurtherguaranteesastofutureimprovements。Inadditionwereotherandmorepotentargumentsprofferedbehindcloseddoors。Manycasesresolvedthemselvesintoabaldquestionofcash。Othersdemandeddiplomacy。Jobs，fatcontracts，businessfavours，influencewereallflungoutfreely——bribesasabsoluteasthoughstampedwiththedollarmark。NewspapersallovertheStatewerepressedintoservice。These，boughtupbyHeinzmanandhisprospectivepartnersinalucrativebusiness，spokevirtuouslyofprivatepiracyofwhatarenowcalledpublicutilities，theexploitingofthepeople’snaturalwealths，andalltherestofaspeciousreasoningthemoreconvincinginthatitwasinmanyothercasesonlytootrue。Theindependentjournals，uninformedoftherightsofthecase，eitherremainedsilentonthematter，orgropedinapuzzledandundecidedmanneronbothsides。
　　AgainstthissecretbuteffectiveorganisationNewmarkmostunexpectedlyfoundhimselfpitted。Hehadanticipatedbeingabsentbutaweek；hebecameinvolvedinanaffairofmonths。
　　Withdecisionheappliedhimselftotheproblem。Hetookroomsatthehotel，sentforOrde，andbeganatoncetosetinmotionthemachineryofopposition。Therefreshedresourcesofthecompanywerestrainedtothebreakingpointinordertoraisemoneyforthisnewcampaignopeningbeforeit。Orde，returningtoLansingafteratripdevotedtothecarryingoutofNewmark’sdirectionsastofinances，wasdismayedatthetangleofstrategyandcross—strategy，innuendo，vagueandformlesscobwebforcesbywhichhewassurrounded。Hecouldmakenothingofthem。Theybrushedhisface，hefelttheirinfluence，yethecouldplacehisfingeronnotangibleandcomprehensiblesolidity。Amongthesedelicateandcomplicatedcross—currentsNewmarkmovedsilent，cold，secret。Heseemedtounderstandthem，toplaywiththem，tomanipulatethemaselementsofthegame。Abovethemwasthehollowshockoftheostensiblebattle——thespeeches，theloudtalkinlobbies，thenewspapervirtue，indignation，accusations；buttherealstrugglewashereinthefurtiveways，inwhisperedwordsdeliveredhastilyaside，inhotelhallsonthewaytoandfromthestairs，behindcloseddoorsofroomswithoutopentransoms。
　　Ordeincomicdespairacknowledgedthatitwasall"toodeepforhim。"Nevertheless，itwassoonborneinonhimthatthenewcompanywasstrugglingforitsveryrighttoexistence。Ithadbeendoingthatfromthefirst；butnow，toOrdethefight，theexistence，hadanewimportance。Thecompanyuptothispointhadbeenaschememerely，anexperimentthatmightwinorlose。Now，withthehistoryofadrivebehindit，ithadbecomealivingentity。Ordewouldhavefoughtagainstitsdissolutionashewouldhavefoughtagainstamurder。Yethehadpracticallytostandoneside，watchingNewmark’sslender，gray—clad，tensefigureglidinghereandthere，moresilent，morereserved，morewatchfuleveryday。
　　Thefightenduredthroughmostofthefirsthalfofthesession。
　　WhenfinallyitbecameevidenttoHeinzmanthatNewmarkwouldwin，hemadetheissueoftollratestheditchofhislastresistance，tryingtoforcelegalchargessolowastoeatuptheprofits。Atthelast，however，thebillpassedtheboard。Thecompanyhaditscharter。
　　AtwhatpriceonlyNewmarkcouldhavetold。Hehadfoughtwiththetenseearnestnessofthenervoustemperamentthatfightstowinwithoutcountofthecost。Thefirmwasestablished，butitwasasheavilyindebtasitscreditwouldstand。Newmarkhimself，thoughascalmandreservedandpreciseasever，seemedtohaveturnedgray，andoneofhiseyelidshadacquiredaslightnervoustwitchwhichpersistedforsomemonths。Hetookhisseatatthedesk，however，ascalmlyasever。Inthreedaysthescandalisedhowlsofbriberyandcorruptionhadgivenplaceinthenewspaperstosomeothersensation。
　　"Joe，"saidOrdetohispartner，"howaboutallthistalk？Istherereallyanythinginit？Youhaven’tgoneinforthatbusiness，haveyou？"
　　Newmarkstretchedhisarmswearily。
　　"Pressboughtup，"hereplied。"IknowforafactthatoldStanfordgotfivehundreddollarsfromsomeoftheHeinzmaninterests。I
　　couldhaveswunghimbackforanextrahundred，butitwasn’tworthwhile。Theyhowlbriberyatustodistractattentionfromtheirownperformances。"
　　WiththisevasivereplyOrdecontentedhimself。Whetheritsatisfiedhimorwhetherhewasloathtopursuethesubjectfurtheritwouldbeimpossibletosay。
　　"It’scostusplenty，anyway，"hesaid，afteramoment。"Theproposition’sgotaloadonit。Itwilltakeusalongtimetogetoutofdebt。Theriverdrivingwon’tpayquitesobigaswethoughtitwould，"heconcluded，witharuefullittlelaugh。
　　"Itwillpayplentywellenough，"repliedNewmarkdecidedly，"anditgivesusavantagepointtoworkfrom。Youdon’tsupposewearegoingtoquitatriverdriving，doyou？Wewanttolookaroundforsometimberofourown；there’swherethebigmoneyis。Andperhapswecanbuyaschoonerortwoandgointothecarryingtrade——thecountry’salivewithopportunity。NewmarkandOrdemeanssomethingtothesefellowsnow。Wecanhaveanythingwewant，ifwejustreachoutforit。"
　　Histhinfigure，ordinarilyslightlyaskew，hadstraightened；hissteel—gray，impersonaleyeshadlitupbehindthebowedglassesandwereseeingthingsbeyondthewallatwhichtheygazed。Ordelookedupathimwithasuddenadmiration。
　　"You’rethebrainsofthisconcern，"saidhe。
　　"We’llgeton，"repliedNewmark，thefiredyingfromhiseyes。
　　XXIX
　　InthecourseofthenexteightyearsNewmarkandOrdefloatedhighonthatfloodofapparentprosperitythatattendsabusinesswellconceivedandpassablywellmanaged。TheBoomandDrivingCompanymademoney，ofcourse，forwiththemarginoffiftypercentorthereaboutsnecessitatedbythetemporaryvalueoftheimprovements，goodyearscouldhardlyfailtobringgoodreturns。This，itwillberemembered，wasastockcompany。Withtheprofitsfromthatbusinessthetwomenembarkedonaseparatecopartnership。Theymademoneyatthis，too，buttheburdenofdebtnecessitatedbynewventures，constantlyweightedbytheheavyinterestdemandedatthattime，keptaffairsontheraggededge。
　　Inaddition，bothOrdeandNewmarkweremoreinclinedtoextensionofintereststhanto"playingsafe。"Theassetsgainedinoneventurewerepromptlypledgedtoanother。Theramificationsofdebt，property，mortgages，andexpectationsoverlappedeachotherinacobwebofinterests。
　　Ordelivedateaseinanewhouseofsomesizesurroundedbygrounds。Hekepttwoservants：abloodedteamofhorsesdrewthesuccessortotheoriginalbuckboard。Newmarkownedasailyachtoffiveorsixtons，inwhich，quitesolitary，hetookhisonlypleasure。Bothwereconsideredmenofsubstanceandproperty，asindeedtheywere。Only，theyriskeddollarstogainthousands。A
　　successionofbadyears，apanic—contractionofmoneymarkets，anyoneofadozenpossible，thoughnotprobable，contingencieswouldrenderitdifficulttomeettheobligationswhichconstantlycamedue，andwhichNewmarkkeptbusydevisingwaysandmeansofmeeting。
　　Ifthingswentwell——anditmayberemarkedthatlegitimatelytheyshould——NewmarkandOrdewouldsomedayberatedamongthemillionairefirms。Ifthingswentill，bankruptcycouldnotbeavoided。Therewasnomiddleground。NorwereOrdeandhispartneruniqueinthis；practicallyeveryfirmthendevelopingorexploitingthenaturalresourcesofthecountryfounditselfinthesamecase。
　　ImmediatelyafterthegrantingofthechartertodrivetheriverthepartnershadofferedthemanopportunityofacquiringaboutthirtymillionfeetoftimberremainingfromMorrisonandDaly’soriginalholdings。ThatfirmwasveryanxioustobegindevelopmentonalargescaleofitsBeesonLakepropertiesintheSaginawwaters。
　　DalyproposedtoOrdethathetakeovertheremnant，andhavingconfidenceintheyoungman’sabilities，agreedtolethimhaveitonlong—timenotes。AfterseveralconsultationswithNewmark，Ordefinallycompletedthepurchase。Belowtheboomstheyerectedamill，themachineryforwhichtheyhadalsoboughtofDaly，atRedding。ThefollowingwinterOrdespentinthewoods。Byspringhehadbanked，readytodrive，aboutsixmillionfeet。