"TheKingofFranceandtwicetenthousandmenMarchedupthehill，andthenmarcheddownagain，"
　　herecited；thenburstintohisdeeproaroflaughter。
　　"Nowyousee，boys，"hesaid，digginghisfistsintohiseyes，"ifyou’dputuparow，whatwe’dhavegotinto。Noblue—coatsinmine，thankyou。Well，pushthegrubpile，andthengetatthoselogs。
　　It’sacaseofflood—waternow。"
　　ButReed，havingrecoveredfromhisastonishment，hadstillhissay。
　　"Itellye，I’mnotdonewithyeyet，"hethreatened，shakinghisbonyforefingerinOrde’sface。"I’llsueyefordamages，andI’llGIT’em，too。"
　　"Seehere，youoldmossback，"saidOrde，thrustinghisbulkyformtothefore，"yousuejustassoonasyouwantto。Youcan’tgetatitanytooquicktosuitus。Butjustnowyougetoutofthiscamp，andyoustayout。You’reanoldman，andwedon’twanttoberoughwithyou，butyou’rebitingoffmorethanyoucanchew。Skedaddle！"
　　Reedhesitated，wavinghislongarmsabout，flail—like，asthoughtobeginaneworation。
　　"Now，dohopalong，"urgedOrde。"We’llpayyouanylegitimatedamages，ofcourse，butyoucan’texpecttohangupariverfuloflogsjustonanotion。Andwe’resickofyou。Oh，hell，then！Seehere，youtwo；justseethatthismanleavescamp。"
　　Ordeturnedsquareonhisheel。Reed，afteraglanceatthetwohugerivermenapproaching，beataretreattohismill，mutteringandwrathfulstill。
　　"Well，good—bye，boys，"saidDaly，pullingonhisovercoat；"I’lljustgetalongandbailtheboysoutofthatvillagecalaboose。I
　　reckonthey’vehadagoodnight’srest。Begood！"
　　Thefringeoftreestoeastwardshowedclearlyagainstthewhiteningsky。Hundredsofbirdsofallkindssanginanecstasy。Anotherdayhadbegun。Alreadymenwithpike—poleswereguidingthesullentimberstowardthesluice—way。
　　IV
　　WhenNewmarkawokeoncemoretointerestinaffairs，themorningwaswellspent。Ontherivertheworkwasgoingforwardwiththeprecisionofclockwork。Thesix—footloweringofthesluice—wayhadproducedafinecurrent，whichsuckedthelogsdownfromabove。Menwerebusilyengagedin"sacking"themfromthesidesofthepondtowarditscentre，lesttheloweringwatershouldleavethemstranded。Belowthedamthejamcrewwasfindingplentytodoinkeepingthemmovinginthewhite—waterandtheshallows。Afinesun，temperedwithapropheticwarmthoflaterspring，animatedthescene。Reedhadwithdrawntotheinteriorofhismill，andappearedtohavegivenupthecontest。
　　Someofthelogsshotawaydownthecurrent，runningfreely。Tothesethecrewswerenotrequiredtopayanyattention。Withluck，afewoftheindividualtimberswouldfloatten，eventwenty，milesbeforesomechanceeddyorfortuitousobstructionwouldbringthemtorest。Sucheddiesandobstructions，however，drewaconstanttollfromtheranksofthefree—movinglogs，sothatalwaysthevolumeoftimbersfloatingwiththecurrentdiminished，andalwaysthenumberoflogscaughtandstrandedalongthesidesoftheriverincreased。Torestorethesetothefasterwaterwastheespecialprovinceofthelastandmostexpertcrew——therear。
　　Ordediscoveredaboutnoonthatthejamcrewwashavingitstroubles。ImmediatelybelowReed’sdamranalongchutestrewnwithboulders，whichwasalternatelyashalloworastretchofwhite—
　　wateraccordingasthestreamroseorfell。Ordinarilythelogswereflushedoverthisdeclivitybyopeningthegate，behindwhichaheadofwaterhadbeenaccumulated。Now，however，theefficiencyofthegatehadbeendestroyed。Ordeearlydiscoveredthathewaslikelytohavetroubleinpreventingthelogsrushingthroughthechutefromgroundingintoabadjamontherapidsbelow。
　　Foratimethejamcrewsucceededinkeepingthe"wings"clear。Inthecentreofthestream，however，asmalljamformed，likeapier。
　　Alongthebankslogsgrounded，andwererolledoverbytheirownmomentumintoplacessoshallowastodiscourageanyhopeofrefloatingthemunlessbymainstrength。Asthesluicingofthenineortenmillionfeetthatconstitutedthisparticulardrivewentforward，thesituationrapidlybecameworse。
　　Tom，we’vegottogetflood—waterunlesswewanttorunintoanawfuljobthere，"saidOrdetotheforeman。"Iwonderifwecan’tdropthatgate’waydowntogetsomethingforahead。"
　　Thetwomenexaminedthechuteandthesluice—gateattentivelyforsometime。
　　"Ifwecouldclearoutthesplintersandrubbish，wemightspikeacoupleofsaplingsoneachsideforthegatetoslidedowninto，"
　　speculatedNorth。"Mighttryheron。"
　　Thelogswereheldupinthepond，andacrewofmensettoworktocutaway，aswellastheymightintherushofwater，thesplinteredendsoftheoldsillandapron。Itwashardwork。Newmark，watching，thoughtitimpracticable。Thecurrentrenderedfootingimpossible，soalltheworkhadtobedonefromabove。Wetwoodgrippedthelongsawsvice—like，sothataman’sutmoststrengthcouldscarcelybudgethem。Thewaterdeadenedtheforceofaxe—
　　blows。Nevertheless，withthesurepersistenceoftheriverman，theyheldtoit。Orde，watchingthemafewmoments，satisfiedhimselfthattheywouldsucceed，andsodeparteduprivertotakechargeoftherear。
　　Thiscrewhefoundworkingbusilyamongsomeoverflowedwoods。Theywereherdingthelaggardsoftheflock。Thesubsidenceofthewaterconsequentupontheopeningofthesluice—gatehadleftstrandedandinshallowsmanyhundredsofthelogs。Thesethemensometimes，waistdeepintheicywater，owingtotheextremeinequalityofthebottom，wererollingoverandoverwiththeirpeaviesuntiloncemoretheyfloated。Somefewtherivermenwereforcedtocarrybodily，tenmentoaside，thepeaviesclampedinashandles。Whenoncetheywereafloat，thetaskbecameeasier。Fromtheadvantageofdeadwood，stumps，orotherlogsthe"sackers"pushedtheunwieldytimbersforward，leaping，splashing，heaving，shoving，untilatlastthesteadycurrentofthemainriverseizedthelogsandborethemaway。Withmarvellousskilltheytoppedthedripping，bobby，rollingtimbers，treadingthemoverandover，backandforth，inunconsciouspreservationofequilibrium。
　　Therewasagooddealofnoiseandfunattherear。Thecrewhadbeendivided，andahalfworkedoneithersidetheriver。Arivalrydevelopedastowhichsideshouldadvancefastestinthesacking。
　　Itbecamearace。Momentarysuccessingettingaheadoftheotherfellowwasoccasionforexultantcrowing，whileamishapcalledforthironiccheersandcatcallsfromtherivalcamp。JustasOrdecametrampingupthetrail，oneoftherivermen’scaulksfailedto"bite"onanunusuallysmooth，barkedsurface。Hisfootslipped；
　　thelogrolled；hetriedinvaintoregainhisbalance，andfinallyfellinwithaheavysplash。
　　Theentireriversuspendedworktosendupahowlofdelight。Astheunfortunatecrawledout，drippingfromheadtofoot，hewasgreetedbyafloodofsarcasmandprofaneinquirythatleftnoroomforevenhisacknowledgedtalentsofrepartee。Cursingandashamed，hemadehiswayashoreoverthelogs，spirtingwaterateverystep。
　　Therehewrungouthiswoollenclothesasdryashecould，andresumedwork。
　　HardlyhadOrdetheopportunitytolookaboutattheprogressmaking，however，beforeheheardhisnameshoutedfromthebank。
　　Lookingup，tohissurprisehesawthesolemncookwavingafranticdish—towelathim。Nothingcouldinducethecooktoattemptthelogs。
　　"Whatisit，Charlie？"askedOrde，leapingashoreandstampingtheloosewaterfromhisboots。
　　"It’salloff，"confidedthecookpessimistically。"It’snogood。
　　He’sstoppedusnow。"
　　"What’soff？Who’sstoppedwhat？"
　　"Reed。He’sdruvthemenfromthedamwithashotgun。Wemightaswellquit。"
　　"Shotgun，hey！"exclaimedOrde。"Well，theoldsonofagun！"Hethoughtamoment，hislipspuckeredasthoughtowhistle；then，asusual，helaughedamusedly。"Let’sgotakealookatthearmy，"
　　saidhe。
　　Heswungawayataroundpace，followedratherbreathlesslybythecook。Thetrailledthroughthebrushacrossalittleflatpoint，upoverahighbluffwheretheriverswungin，downtoanotherpoint，andacrossapoletrailaboveamarshtocamp。
　　Apoletrailconsistsofsaplingslaidendtoend，andsupportedthreeorfourfeetabovewetplacesbymeansofsawbuck—likestructuresattheirextremities。Toariver—manoratight—ropedancertheyareeasywalks。Allothersmustproceedcautiouslyincontritememoryoftheirsins。
　　Ordemarchedacrossthefirsttwolengthsconfidentlyenough。Thenheheardasplashandlamentations。Turning，heperceivedCharlie，coveredwithmud，intheactofclamberinguponeofthesmalltrestles。
　　"Ain’tgotnocaulks！"ranthelamentations。"The————ofa————ofapole—trail，anyways！"
　　Hewalkedaheadgingerly，threwhishandsaloft，bentforward，thensuddenlyprotrudedhisstomach，heldoutonefootinfrontofhim，spasmodicallyhalfturned，andthen，realisingthecasehopeless，wiltedlikeawetrag，toclaspthepoletrailbothbyarmandleg。
　　Thissavedhimfromfallingoffaltogether，butswunghimunderneath，wherehehungliketheslothsinthepicture—books。A
　　seriesofviolentwrigglesbroughthim，red—facedandpanting，astridethepole，whence，hisfeelingsbeyondmerespeech，hesadlyeyedhispreciousderby，whichlay，crownup，inthemudbelow。
　　Ordecontemplatedthespectacleseriously。
　　"SorryIhaven’tgottimetoenjoyyoujustnow，Charlie，"heremarked。"I’dtakeitslower，ifIwereyou。"
　　Hedeparted，catchingfragmentsofvowsanentnevergoingonanymoreerrandsfornobody，andgettinghistimeifeveragainhewentawayfromhiswanigan。
　　Ordestoppedshortoutsidethefringeofbrushtoutteranotherirrepressiblechuckleofamusement。
　　ThecentreofthedamwasoccupiedbyReed。Theoldmanwasstillinfullregalia，hisplughatfuzzierthanever，andthrustevenfartherbackonhishead，hiscoat—tailsandloosetrousersflappingathiseverymovementashepacedbackandforthwithmilitaryprecision。Overhisshoulderhecarriedalongpercussion—lockshotgun。Notthirtyfeetaway，perchedalongthebank，foralltheworldlikearowofcormorants，sattherivermen，watchinghimsolemnlyandinsilence。
　　"What’sthematter？"inquiredOrde，approaching。
　　Theoldmansurveyedhimwithasnortofdisgust。
　　"Ifthelawofthelanddon’tprotectme，I’llprotectmyself，sir，"
　　heproclaimed。"Igiveyefairwarning！Iain’ta—goingtohavemypropertyinterferedwithnomore。"
　　"Butsurely，"saidOrde，"wehavearighttorunourlogsthrough。
　　It’sanopenriver。"
　　"Andhevyebeenrunningyourlogsthrough？"criedtheoldmanexcitedly。"Hevye？Firstoffyebegintoteardownmydam；andthen，whentheriverbeginsa—roarin’anda—ragin’through，thenyoutamperwithmyimprovementsfurthermore，a—lowerin’thegateandotherwisea—modifyin’mystructure。"
　　Ordesteppedforwardtosaysomethingfurther。ImmediatelyReedwheeled，histhumbonthehammer。
　　"Allright，oldSpiritof’76，"repliedOrde。"Don’tshoot；I’llcomedown。"
　　Hewalkedbacktothewaitingrow，smilingquizzically。
　　"Well，youcalamityhowlers，whatdoyouthinkofit？"
　　Nobodyanswered，buteverybodylookedexpectant。
　　"Thinkhe’dshoot？"inquiredOrdeofTomNorth。
　　"Iknowhewould，"repliedNorthearnestly。"Thatcrazy—headedkindarejustthefellerstoriploose。"
　　"Ithinkmyselfheprobablywould，"agreedOrde。
　　"Surely，"spokeupNewmark，"whateverthestatusofthedamagesuits，youhavethelegalrighttorunyourlogs。"
　　Orderolledaquizzicaleyeinhisdirection。
　　"Per—fect—lycorrect，son，"hedrawled，"butwe’reengagedinthehappyoccupationofgettingoutlogs。Bythetimethelawwasalladjustedandaheadofsteamup，thewater’dbedown。Inthisgame，yougetoutlogsfirst，andthinkaboutlawafterward。"
　　"Howaboutlegaldamages？"insistedNewmark。
　　"Legaldamages！"scoffedOrde。"Legaldamages！Why，wecountlegaldamagesaspartofourregularexpenses——likepotatoes。It’sluckyit’sso，"headded。"Ifanybodypaidanyattentiontolegaltechnicalities，there’dneverbealogdelivered。Amanalwayshasenemies。
　　"Well，whatareyougoingtodo？"persistedNewmark。
　　Ordethrustbackhisfelthatandranhisfingersthroughhisshort，crisphair。
　　"Thereyou’vegotme，"heconfessed，"but，ifnecessary，we’llpiletheoldwarrior。"
　　Hewalkedtotheedgeofthedamandstoodlookingdowncurrent。
　　Forperhapsafullminuteheremainedtheremotionless，hishatclingingtooneside，hishandinhishair。Thenhereturnedtothegrimlysilentrivermen。
　　"Boys，"hecommandedbriefly，"getyourpeaviesandcomealong。"
　　Heledthewaypastthemilltotheshallowsbelow。
　　"There’satrifleofwadingtodo，"heannounced。Bringdowntwologs——fairlybig——andholdthembythatoldsnag，"heordered。
　　"Whoa—up！Easy！Holdthemendon——no，pointingupstream——fix’emabouttenfootapart——that’sit！George，driveacoupleofstakeseachsideofthemtohold’em。Correct！Now，rundownacoupledozenmoreandpilethemacrossthosetwo——sideontothestream，ofcourse。Roll’emup——that’stheticket！"
　　Ordehadbeensplashingaboutintheshallowwater，showingwhereeachtimberwastobeplaced。Hedrewback，eyeingtheresultwithsatisfaction。Itlookedratherlikeasmallandbristlypier。
　　Nexthecasthiseyeaboutanddiscoveredapartiallysubmergedboulderonalinewiththenewlycompletedstructure。Againstthishebracedtheendsoftwomorelogs，onwhichheoncemorecausedtobeloadedatrightanglesmanytimbers。Anoldstubnearshorefurnishedhimthebasisofathirdpier。Hestakedathirty—inchbuttforafourth；andsoon，untilthepiers，inconjunctionwiththesmallcentrejamalreadymentioned，extendedquiteacrosstheriver。
　　Allthiswasaccomplishedinaveryshorttime，andimmediatelybelowthemill，butbeyondsightfromthesluice—gateofthedam。
　　"Now，boys，"commandedOrde，"shoveoffsomeshorelogs，andletthemcomedown。"
　　"We’llhaveajamsure，"objectedPurdystupidly。
　　"No，myson，wouldwe？"mockedOrde。"Isurelyhopenot！"
　　Thestraylogsfloatingdownwiththecurrenttherivermencaughtandarrangedtothebestpossibleadvantageabouttheimprovisedpiers。Agoodrivermanunderstandsthecorrelationofforcesrepresentedbysaw—logsandwater—pressure。Heknowshowtolookforthekey—loginbreakingjams；andbytheinversereasoning，whenneedariseshecanformajamasexpertlyasKoosy—oonekhimself——
　　thatbadlittlegodwhobringsabout。"DonQuixoteandthewindmills！"Thenheaddedvindictively，"Theoldfool！"although，ofcourse，thedrivewasnothispersonalconcern。
　　OnlyOrdeseemedtoseetheotherside。AndonOrdetheresponsibility，uncertainty，andvexationhadbornemostheavily，forthesuccessoftheundertakingwasinhishands。Withafewquickleapshehadgainedtheoldman’sside。
　　"Lookhere，Reed，"hesaidkindly，"youcan’tbreakthisjam。Comeashorenow，andleies。ItwasmanagedbyCharlieandhistwocookeesbymeansofpike—polesandalongsweepateitherend。Thepike—polesassuredprogresswhenthecurrentslacked；thesweepskeptherhead—
　　onwhendriftingwiththestreamthedisagreeableandundesired——
　　"whohidesourpipes，stealsourlastmatch，andbringsrainonthejustwhentheywanttogofishing。"
　　Sointensecondsaftertheshorelogsbegandriftingdownfromabove，thejamwastakingshape。Slowlyitformed，lowandbroad。
　　Then，asthewatergatheredpressure，thelogsbegantoslipoveroneanother。Theweightofthetopmostsunkthosebeneathtothebedofthestream。Thistoacertainextentdammedbackthewater。
　　Immediatelythepressureincreased。Morelogswerepiledontop。
　　Thepierslockedthestructure。Belowtheimproviseddamthewaterfellalmosttonothing，andaboveit，swirlingineddies，grumblingfiercely，bubbling，gurgling，searchingbusilyforanopening，theriver，turnedbackonitself，gathereditsswollenandangryforces。
　　"Thatwilldo，boys，"saidOrdewithsatisfaction。
　　Heledthewaytothebankandsatdown。Themenfollowedhisexample。Everymomentthewaterrose，andeachinstant，asmorelogscamedownthecurrent，thejambecamemoreformidable。
　　"Nothingcanstandthatpressure，"breathedNewmark，fascinated。
　　"Thebiggerthepressurethetightershelocks，"repliedOrde，lightinghispipe。
　　Thehighbankwherethemensatlaywellabovethereachofthewater。NotsotheflatonwhichstoodReed’smill。Inordertotakefulladvantageofthewater—powerdevelopedbythedam，theoldmanhadcausedhisstructuretobebuiltnearlyatalevelwiththestream。Nowtheriver，backingup，rapidlyoverflowedthisflat。
　　Asthejamtightenedbyitsownweightandtheaccumulationoflogs，thewaterfairlyjumpedfromthelowestfloorofthemilltotheoneabove。
　　OrdehadnotlongtowaitforReed’sappearance。Inlessthanfiveminutestheoldmandescendedonthegroup，somewhatofhismartialairabated，andsomethingofavagueanxietymanifestinhiseye。
　　"What’sthematterhere？"hedemanded。
　　"Matter？"inquiredOrdeeasily。"Oh，nothingmuch，justalittlejam。"
　　"Butit’sfloodingmymill！"
　　"SoIperceive，"repliedOrde，strikingamatch。
　　"Well，whydon’tyoubreakit？"
　　"Notinterested。"
　　Theoldwarriorranupthebanktowherehecouldgetagoodviewofhisproperty。Thewaterwaspouringintothefirst—floorwindows。
　　"Here！"hecried，runningback。"I’vealotofgrainup—stairs。
　　It’llberuined！"
　　"Notinterested，"repeatedOrde。
　　Reedwasrapidlylosingcontrolofhimself。
　　"ButI’vegotalotofmoneyinvestedhere！"heshouted。"Youmiserableblackguard，you’reruiningme！"
　　Ordereplacedhispipe。
　　Reedranbackandforthfrantically，disappeared，returnedbearinganantiquatedpike—pole，andsingle—handedandaloneattackedthejam！
　　Astonishmentanddelightheldtherivermenbreathlessforamoment。
　　Thenaroaroflaughterdrownedeventhenoiseofthewaters。Menpoundedeachotherontheback，rolledoverandover，clutchinghandfulsofearth，struggledweakandred—facedforbreathastheysawagainstthesky—lineofthebristlingjamthelank，flappingfigurewiththeoldplughatpushingfranticallyagainsttheimmovablestaticsofamightypower。Theexasperationofdelay，theanxietylestsuccessbelostthroughthemulishandnarrow—mindedobstinacyofoneman，theresentmentagainstanotherobstaclenottobeforeseenandnottobeexpectedinataskredundantlysuppliedwithobstaclesofitsown——thesefoundreliefatlast。
　　"ByJove！"breathedNewmarksoftlytohimselftup。You’llkillyourself。"
　　Reedturnedtohim，awildlightinhiseye。
　　"Breakit！"hepleaded。"You’reruiningme。I’vegotallmymoneyinthatmill。"
　　"Well，"saidOrde，"we’vegotalotofmoneyinourlogstoo。Youhaven’ttreatedusquiteright。"
　　Reedglancedfranticallytowardthefloodupstream。
　　"Come，"saidOrde，takinghimgentlybythearm。"There’snoreasonyouandIshouldn’tgetalongtogetherallright。Maybewe’rebothalittlehard—headed。Let’stalkitover。"
　　Heledtheoldmanashore，andoutofearshotoftherivermen。
　　Attheendoftenminuteshereturned。
　　"War’sover，boys！"heshoutedcheerfully。"Getinandbreakthatjam。"
　　Atoncethecrewswarmedacrossthelogbarriertoapointabovethecentrepier。Thistheyattackedwiththeirpeavies，。
　　Charlie’stemperamentwaspessimisticatbest。Whenthewaniganwastobemoved，herosefairlytotheheightsofwhatmightbecalleddestructiveprophecy。
　　Thepackingbeganbeforethemenhadfinishedbreakfast。Shortlyafterdaylightthewanigan，pushedstronglyfromshorebythepike—
　　poles，wasdriftingtowardthechute。Whentheheavyscowthreatenedtoturnside—on，thesweepsateitherendchurnedthewaterfranticallyinanendeavourtostraightenherout。Sometimes，byarollingthetoplogsoffintothecurrentbelow。Inlessthannotimetheyhadtornoutquiteaholeinthetoplayer。Theriverrushedthroughtheopening。Immediatelythelogsinthewingsweretumbledinfromeitherside。Atfirstthemenhadtodoallofthework，butsoontheriveritselfturnedtotheirassistance。Timberscreakedandsettled，orroseslightlybuoyantasthewaterloosenedthetangle。
　　Mentrodontheedgeofexpectation。Constantlythelogsshifted，andasconstantlythemenshiftedalso，avoidingtheupheavalsandgrindingstogether，waryeyesestimatingthecorrelationoftheforcesintowhosecrushingreachasinglemisstepwouldbringthem。
　　Themovementacceleratedeachinstant，asthemusicoftheplayhastenstotheclimax。Woodfibressmashed。Thewholemassseemedtosinkdownandforwardintoaboilingofwaters。Then，withacreakandagroan，thejammoved，hesitated，movedagain；finally，urgedbythefranticriver，wentoutinamajesticcrashingandbatteringoflogs。
　　AtthefirstmovementNewmarkexpectedtherivermentomaketheirescape。Instead，theystoodatattention，theirpeaviespoised，watchingcat—eyedthesymptomsofthebreak。Twiceorthriceseveralofthemen，observingsomethingnotevidenttoNewmark’sunpractisedeye，ranforward，usedtheirpeaviesvigorouslyforamomentorso，andstoodbacktowatchtheresult。Onlyattheverylast，whenitwouldseemthatsomeofthemmustsurelyhecaught，didtheriver—jacks，usingtheirpeavy—shaftsasbalancingpoles，zigzagcalmlytoshoreacrosstheplunginglogs。Newmarkseemedimpressed。
　　"Thatwasacloseshave，"saidhetothelastmanashore。
　　"What？"inquiredtheriverman。"Didn’tseeit。Somebodyfalldown？"
　　"Why，no，"explainedNewmark；"gettinginoffthoselogswithoutgettingcaught。"