"Oh！"saidthemanindifferently，turningaway。
　　Thegoingoutofthejamdrainedthewaterfromthelowerfloorsofthemill；theupphaven’tlostmuch。Nowgetamoveonyouandbailout。You’vegottogetovertheshallowswhilethisheadison。"
　　"That’sallthethanksyouget，"grumbledCharlietohimselfandtheotherthreeasOrdemovedaway。"Work，slave，getupinthenight，drowndyourself——"
　　Hehappilydiscoveredthatthepailsundertheforwardthwarthadnotbeencarriedaway，andallstartedintobail。Itwasaback—
　　breakingjob，andconsumedthegreaterpartoftwohoursedbelowthegunwale。Zekeandhiscompanionpulledspasmodicallyonthesweeps。Charlie，havingregaineerstoriesandthegrainwerestillsafe。
　　Byeveningthesluice—gatehadbeenroughlyprovidedwithpoleguidesdownwhichtoslidetothebedoftheriver。Thefollowingmorningsawtheworkgoingonasmethodicallyasever。Duringthenightaverygoodheadofwaterhadgatheredbehindtheloweredgate。Therearcrewbroughtdowntheafterguardoflogstothepond。Thesluicerswiththeirlongpike—polesthrustthelogsintothechute。Thejamcrew，scatteredformanymilesalongthelowerstretches，keptthedrivegoing；runningoutoverthesurfaceoftheriverlikewater—bugstothrustapartlogsthreateningtolock；
　　leaningforhoursontheshaftsoftheirpeavieswatchingcontemplativelytheorderlyranksastheydriftedby，sleepy，onthebosomoftheriver；occasionallygathering，asthefillingoftherivergavewarning，tobreakajam。Bytheendoftheseconddaythepondwasclear，andasCharlie’swaniganwasdriftingtowardthechute，thefirstofJohnson’sdrivefloatedintotheheadofthepond。
　　V
　　Charlie’swanigan，incaseyoudonothappentoknowwhatsuchathingmaybe，wasascowabouttwentyfeetlongbytenwide。Itwasverysolidlyconstructedofhewntimbers，squareatbothends，wasinconceivablyclumsy，andweighedanunbelievablenumberofpounds。
　　Whenloaded，itcarriedallthebed—rolls，tents，provisions，cookingutensils，tools，andachestoftobacco，clothes，andotherminorsupplmisunderstanding，theyworkedagainsteachother。ThenCharlie，ragingfromonetotheotherofhissatellites，frothedandroaredcommandsandvituperations。Hisvoicerosetoashriek。Thecookees，bewilderedbysomuchviolence，losttheirheadscompletely。ThenCharlieabruptlyfelltoanexaggeratedcalm。Hesatdownamidshipsonapileofbags，andgazedwithostentatiousindifferenceoutoverthepond。Finally，inavoicefallenalmosttoawhisper，andwithanelaboratepoliteness，CharlieprofferedarequestthathisassistantsacquirethesenseGodgavearooster。
　　Newmark，whohadelectedtoaccompanythewaniganonitsvoyage，evidentlyfounditvastlyamusing，forhiseyestwinkledbehindhisglasses。Asthewanigannearedthesluicethroughwhichitmustshoottheflood—water，theexcitementmountedtofeverpitch。Thewaterboiledunderthestrokesofthelongsteeringoars。TheairswirledwiththemultitudeandvigourofCharlie’scommands。Asmanyofthedrivingcrewaswerewithindistancegatheredtowatch。
　　Itwasasuprememoment。AsNewmarklookedatthesmoothrimofthewatersuckingintothechute，hebegantowonderwhyhehadcome。
　　However，thenobleshipwaspointedrightatlast，andcaughtthefasterwaterhead—on。EvenCharliemanagedtolookcheerfulforaninstant，andtogrinathispassengerashewipedhisforeheadwithaveryold，redhandkerchief。
　　"Allrightnow，"heshouted。
　　Zekeandhismatetookintheoars。Thewaniganshotforwardbelowthegate——
　　WHACK！BUMP！BANG！andthescowstoppedsosuddenlythatitsfourmenplungedforwardinamiscellaneousheap，whileZekenarrowlyescapedgoingoverboard。Almostimmediatelythewater，backedupbehindthestern，begantooverflowintotheboat。Newmark，clearinghisvisionaswellashecouldforlackofhisglasses，sawthatthescowhadevidentlyrunherbowonanobstruction，andhadbeenbroughttoastandstillsquarebeneaththesluice—gate。Menseemedtoberunningtowardthem。Thewaterwasbeginningtoflowtheentirelengthoftheboat。Variouslighterarticlesshotpasthimanddisappearedovertheside。Charliehadgonecrazyandwasgrabbingatthese，quiteuselessly，forasfastashehadcaughtonethingheletitgoinfavourofanother。Thecookees，retainingsomesmalldegreeofcoolness，werepushinguselesslywithpike—
　　poles。
　　Newmarkhadaninspiration。Themoreimportantmatters，suchasthemen’sclothes—bags，therollsofbedding，andtheheaviersuppliesofprovisions，hadnotyetcutloosefromtheirmoorings，althoughtherapidbackingofthewaterthreatenedsoontoconvertthewaniganintoachutefornearlythefullvolumeofthecurrent。Heseizedoneofthelongoars，thrustthebladeundertheedgeofathwartasternlaidtheshaftoftheoaracrossthecargo，andbyrestinghisweightonthehandleattemptedtobringitdowntobinddhisequanimitytogetherwithhisoldbrownderby，whichhecameuponfloatingsoddeninaneddy，marchedupanddownthebroadgunwalewithhispike—pole，thrustingawaysuchlogsasthreatenedinterference。
　　"Well，"saidheatlast，"webettermakecamp。We’llbedowninthejamprettysoon。"
　　Thecookeesabandonedthesweepsinfavourofmorepike—poles。Bypushingandpullingonthelogsfloatingaboutthem，theymanagedtoworkthewaniganinclosetthecontentsofthewanigantotheirplaces。Thecookeessawwhathewasabout，andcametohisassistance。Togethertheysucceededinbendingthelonghickorysweepfarenoughtocatchitshandle—endunderanother，forward，thwart。Thesecondoarwasquicklylockedalongsidethefirst，andnotamomenttoosoon。Arushofwaterforcedthemalltoclingfortheirlives。Thepooroldwaniganwasalmostburiedbytheriver。
　　Butnowhelpwasathand。Twoorthreerivermenappearedattheedgeofthechute。AmomentlateroldmanReedranup，carryingarope。This，aftersomedifficulty，wasmadefasttothebowofthewanigan。Adozenmenranwiththeendofittoapositionofvantagefromwhichtheymightbeabletopullthebowawayfromthesunkenobstruction，butOrde，appearingabove，calledahalt。AfterconsultationwithReed，anotherropewasbroughtandtheendofittosseddowntotheshipwreckedcrew。Ordepointedtothesternoftheboat，revolvinghishandsinpantomimetoshowthatthewaniganwouldbeapttoupsetifallowedtogetside—onwhenfreed。Ashortropeledtothetopofthedamallowedthebowtobeliftedfreeoftheobstruction；acableasternpreventedthecurrentfromthrowingherbroadsidetotherushofwaters；anothercablefromthebowledherinthewaysheshouldgo。Tenminuteslatershewaspulledashoreoutoftheeddybelow，verymuchwater—logged，andmannedbyadrenchedanddisgruntledcrew。
　　ButOrdeallowedthemlittlechanceforlamentation。
　　"Hardluck！"hesaidbriefly。"Hopeyou。Evenattheendofthattimethewanigan，thoughdryofloosewater，floatedbutsluggishly。
　　"’Bouttwotonofwaterinthembed—rollsandturkeys，"grumbledCharlie。"Well，getatit！"
　　Newmarksoondiscoveredthattheprogressofthewaniganwaslookeduponinthelightofaside—showbytherivermen。Itsappearancewassignalforshoutsofdelightedandironicencouragement；itstribulations——whichatfirst，inthewhite—water，weremany——theoccasionforunsympatheticandunholyjoy。Charlielookedonallspectatorsasenemies。Partofthetimehemerelyglowered。Partofthetimehetriedtoreplyinkind。Tohisintensedisgust，hewastakenseriouslyinneithercase。
　　Inacoupleofhours’runthewaniganhadovertakenandleftfarbehindtherearofthedrive。Allaboutfloatedthelogs，carominggentlyoneagainsttheother，shiftingandchangingthepatternoftheirbrownagainsttheblueofthewater。Thecurrentflowedstronglyandsmoothly，butwithoutobstruction。Everythingwentwell。Thebanksslippedbysilentlyandmysteriously，liketheunrollingofapanorama——littlestripsofmarshland，stretchesofwoodlandwherethegreattreesleanedoutovertheriver，thicketsofoverflowedswamplandwiththewaterrisinganddrainingamongrootsinastrangeregularityofitsown。Thesunshonewarm。
　　Therewasnowind。Newmarkwrungouthisoutergarments，andbaskothebank。
　　Charlie，acoilofropeinhishand，surveyedtheprospects。
　　"We’llstoprightdowntherebythatlittleknoll，"heannounced。
　　Heleapedashore，madeaturnaroundatree，andbracedhimselftosnubtheboat，butunfortunatelyhehadnottakenintoconsiderationthe"twoton"ofwatersoakedupbythecargo。Theweightofthecraftrelentlesslydraggedhimforward。Invainhebracedandstruggled。Theendoftheropecametothetree；heclungforamoment，thenletgo，andranaroundthetreetocatchitbeforeitshouldslipintothewater。
　　Bythistimethewaniganhadcaughtthestrongercurrentatthebendandwasgatheringmomentum。Charlietriedtosnubatasapling，andbrokethesapling；onastub，anduprootedthestub。Downthebanksandthroughthebrushhetoreattheendofhisrope，clingingdesperately，tryingateverysolidtreetostopthecareerofhisrunaway，butineveryinstancebeingforcedbythedangerofjamminghishandstoletgo。Againhelosthisderby。Thelandscapewasablur。Dimlyhemadeoutthehowlsoflaughterastheoutfitpassedagroupofrivermen。Thenabruptlyaravineyawnedbeforehim，andheletgojustintimetosavehimselfafall。Thewanigan，trailingherrope，driftedaway。
　　Nordidshestopuntilshehadovertakenthejam。There，hermomentumreducedbytheclosercrowdingofthelogs，shesloweddownenoughsothatNewmarkandthecookeesmanagedtoworkhertothebankandmakeherfast。
　　Thatevening，afterthewanigan’screwhadaccomplishedahardafternoon’sworkpitchingcampanddryingblankets，thefirstofthereardriftedinverylateafteravainsearchforcampfartherupstream。
　　"ForGod’ssake，Charlie，"growledone，"it’sawonderyouwouldn’trunthroughtoReddingandbedonewithit。"
　　WhereuponCharlie，whohadbeenpreternaturallycalmalltheafternoon，utteredashriekofrage，andwithacarving—knifechasedthatmanoutintothebrush。NorwouldhebeappeasedtothepointofgettingsupperuntilOrdehimselfhadintervened。
　　"Well，"saidOrdetoNewmarklater，aroundthecampfire，"howdoesriver—drivingstrikeyou？"
　　"Itisextremelyinteresting，"repliedNewmark。
　　"Liketojointhewanigancrewpermanently？"
　　"No，thanks，"returnedNewmarkdrily。
　　"Well，staywithusaslongasyou’rehavingagoodtime，"invitedOrdeheartily，butturningawayfromhisratheruncommunicativevisitor。
　　"Thankyou，"Newmarkacknowledgedthis，"IbelieveIwill。"
　　"Well，Tommy，"calledOrdeacrossthefiretoNorth，"Ireckonwe’vegottorustlesomemoresupplies。Thatshipwreckofoursto—daymightynearcleanedusoutofsomethings。LuckyCharlieheldhisheadandlockedinthebeddingwiththosesweeps，orwe’dhavebeenstrapped。"
　　"Ididn’tdoit，"grumbledCharlie。"Itwashim。"
　　"Oh！"OrdecongratulatedNewmark。"Goodwork！I’mtickledtodeathyoubelongedtothatcrew。"
　　"ThatoldmossbackReedwasrightondeckwithhisrope，"remarkedJohnnySimms。"Thatwasprettydecentofhim。"
　　"Oldskunk！"growledNorth。"Helostustwodayswithhisdamnnonsense。Youlethimofftooeasy，Jack。"
　　"Oh，he’sapoorolddevil，"repliedOrdeeasily。"Hemeanswellenough。That’sthewaytheLordmadehim。Hecan’thelphowhe’smade。"
　　VI
　　Duringthethirty—threedaysofthedrive，Newmark，tothesurpriseofeverybody，stayedwiththework。Someofthesedayswereverydisagreeable。Aprilrainsarecoldandpersistent——rdcook。
　　"Andyouhadfiftyinyourturkey，campingwiththisoutfitofhardcitizens！"hecried。"Yououghttoloseit。"
　　JohnnyChallanwasexplainingtohiscompanionsexactlyhowthegamewasplayed。
　　"It’sacaseofkeepyoureyeonthecard，Ishouldthink，"saidbigTimNolan。"Ifyougotaquickenougheyetoseehimflipthecardaround，yououghttobeabletopickher。"
　　"That’swhatthissportsaid，"agreedChallan。"’Youreyeaginmyhand，’sayshe。"
　　"Well，I’dliketotakeatryather，"musedTim。
　　ButatthispointNewmarkbrokeintothediscussion。"Haveyouapackofcards？"heaskedinhisdry，incisivemanner。
　　Somebodyrummagedinaturkeyandproducedtheremainsofanolddeck。
　　"Idon’tbelievethisisafulldeck，"saidhe，"andIthinkthey’spartoftwodecksinit。"
　　"Iotheproverbsastoshowersweremadeforanotherlatitude。Drenchedgarmentsarebadenoughwhenamanismovingaboutandhasdaylight；butwhennightfalls，andtheworkisover，helikesadryplaceandachangewithwhichtocomforthimself。Dryplacestherewerenone。Eventheinteriorofthetentsbecamesoddenbycontinualexitsandentrancesofdrippingmen，whiledrygarmentsspeedilydampenedintheshiftingsofcampwhich，inthebroaderreachesofthelowerriver，tookplacenearlyeveryday。Menworkedinsoakedgarments，sleptindampblankets。Charliecookedonlybyvirtueofpersistence。Therivermenatestandingup，asclosetothesputtering，roaringfiresastheycouldget。Alwaystheworkwentforward。
　　Buttherewereothertimeswhenagoldensunroseeachmorningalittleearlieronagreenandjoyousworld。Theriverranblue。
　　Migratorybirdsfledbusilynorthward——robins，flute—voicedblue—
　　birds，warblersofmanyspecies，sparrowsofdifferentkinds，shorebirdsandducks，thesweet—songedthrushes。Littletepidbreezeswanderedupanddown，warmincontrasttothefaintsnow—chillthatevenyetlingeredintheshadows。Soundscarriedclearly，sothattheshoutsandbanteroftherivermenwereplainlyaudibleupthereachesoftheriver。Ashoremoistandaggressivegreenthingswerepushingupthroughthewateryearthfromwhich，inshade，thelastfrosthadnotyetdeparted。Atcampthefiresroaedinvitingly。
　　Charlie’sgrubwashotandgrateful。Thefirbedsgavedreamlesssleep。
　　Newmarkfollowedtheworkofthelog—drivewithgreatinterest。Alldaylonghetrampedbackandforth——onjamoneday，onrearthenext。Heneversaidmuch，butwatchedkeenly，andlistenedtothemen’sbanterbothontheworkandabouttheevening’sfireasthoughheenjoyedit。Graduallythemengotusedtohim，andceasedtotreathimasanoutsider。Histhin，eagerface，hissteel—blue，inquiringeyesbehindtheglasses，hisgrayfelthat，hislank，tensefigureinitsgray，becameafamiliarfeature。Theythrewremarkstohim，towhichherepliedbrieflyanddrily。Whenanythinginterestingwasgoingon，somebodytoldhimaboutit。Thenhehurriedtothespot，nomatterhowdistantitmightbe。Heusedalwaystherivertrail；heneverattemptedtoridethelogs。
　　Heseemedtodependmostonobservation，forherarelyaskedanyquestions。Whatfewquerieshehadtoproffer，hemadetoOrdehimself，waitingsometimesuntileveningtointerviewthatbusyandgood—naturedindividual。Thenhisquestionsweredirectandtothepoint。Theyrelatedgenerallytotheadvisabilityofsomethinghehadseendone；onlyrarelydidtheyaskforexplanationoftheworkitself。ThatNewmarkseemedcapableofpuzzlingoutforhimself。
　　Thedrive，ashasbeensaid，wentdownasfarasReddinginthirty—
　　threedays。Ithaditsshareoftribulation。Themenworkedfourteenandsixteenhoursattimes。Severalbadjamsrelievedthemonotony。Threedamshadtobesluicedthrough。Problemsofmechanicsarosetobesolvedonthespot；problemsthatanoldercivilisationwouldhaveattackeddeliberatelyandwithduerespectfortheseriousnessofthesituationandthedignityofengineering。
　　Ordesolvedthembyarough—and—readybutveryeffectiveruleofthumb。Hebuiltandabandonedstructureswhichwouldhavefurnishedopportunityforawinter’sdiscussiontosomecommittees；justas，earlierinthework，theloggershadbuiltthrougharoughcountrysomehundredsofmilesofroadbetterthanrailroadgrade，solidinfoundation，andsmoothasaturnpike，thequarterofwhichwouldhaveoccupiedtheaveragecountyboardofsupervisorsforfiveyears。Andwhilehewasatit，Ordekepthismenbusyandsatisfied。Yourwhite—waterbirlerisnotaneasycitizentohandle。Yetneveroncedidthebossappearhurriedorflustered。
　　Alwayshewanderedabout，hishandsinhispockets，chewingatwig，hisround，wind—reddenedfacepuckeredhumorously，hisblueeyestwinkling，hissquare，burlyformlazilyrelaxed。Heseemedtomeethismenalmostsolelyontheplaneofgood—naturedchaffing。Yettheworkwasdone，anddoneefficiently，andOrdewasthemanresponsible。
　　ThedriveofwhichOrdehadchargewastobedeliveredattheboomsofMorrisonandDaly，amileorsoabovethecityofRedding。
　　Reddingwasathrivingplaceofaboutthirtythousandinhabitants，situatedonalongrapidssomefortymilesfromLakeMichigan。Thewater—powerdevelopedfromtherapidsexplainedRedding’sexistence。
　　Mostofthelogsfloateddowntheriverwerecarriedthroughtothevillageatthelakecoast，where，strunguptheriverforeightortenmiles，stoodadozenorsobigsaw—mills，withconcomitantbooms，yards，andwharves。MorrisonandDaly，however，hadbuiltasawandplaningmillatRedding，wheretheysuppliedmostofthelocaltradeandthatofthesurroundingcountry—side。
　　Thedrive，then，wasduetobreakupassoonasthelogsshouldbesafelyimpounded。
　　Thelastcampwasmadesomesixoreightmilesabovethemill。Fromthatpointagoodproportionoftherivermen，eagerforatasteofthetown，trampedawaydowntheroad，toreturnearlyinthemorning，moreorlessdrunk，butfaithfultotheirjob。Oneortwodidnotreturn。
　　Amongtherevellerswasthecook，Charlie，commonlycalledTheDoctor。Therivermenearlyworkedofftheeffectsoftheirratherwildspree，andturnedupatnoonchipperaslarks。Notsothecook。Hemopedaboutdisconsolatelyallday；andintheevening，afterhisworkhadbeenfinished，helookedsomuchlikeachickenwiththepipthatOrde’sattentionwasattracted。
　　"Gotthatdark—browntaste，Charlie？"heinquiredwithmocksolicitude。
　　Thecookmournfullyshookhishead。
　　"Largehead？Let’sfeelyourpulse。Stickoutyourtongue，sonny。"
　　"Iain’tbeendrinking，Itellyou！"growledCharlie。
　　"Drinking！"expostulatedOrde，horrified。"Ofcoursenot！IhopenoneofMYboysevertakeadrink！Butthatlemon—popdidn’tagreewithyourstomach——nowdidit，Charlie？"
　　"ItellyouIonlyhadtwoglassesofbeer！"criedCharlie，goaded，"andIcanproveitbyJohnnyChallan。"
　　Ordeturnedtosurveythepink—cheeked，embarrassedyoungboythusdesignated。
　　"HowmanyglassesdidJohnnyChallanhave？"heinquired。
　　"Hedidn’tdrinknonetospeakof，"spokeuptheboy。
　　"Thenwhythisjoylessdemeanour？"beggedOrde。
　　Charliegrumbled，fiercelyinarticulate；butJohnnyChallaninterposedwithachuckleofenjoyment。
　　"Hegot’bunked。’"
　　"Tellus！"criedOrdedelightedly。
　　"ItwasdownatMcNeill’splace，"explainedJohnnyChallan；
　　encouragedbytheinterestofhisaudience。"Theywasacoupleofsportstherewhothrowedoutthreecardsonthetableandbetyoucouldn’tpickthejack。Theyshowedyouwherethejackwasbeforetheythrowed，anditsurelylookedlikeapicnic，butitwasn’t。"
　　"Three—cardmonte，"saidNewmark。
　　"Howmuch？"askedSimms。
　　"Aboutfiftydollars，"repliedtheboy。
　　Ordeturnedonthedisgruntlenlywantthree，"assuredNewmark，reachinghishandforthepack。
　　Themencrowdedaroundclose，thoseinfrontsquatting，thosebehindlookingovertheirshoulders。
　　Newmarkclearedacracker—boxofdryingsocksanddrewittohim。
　　"Thesethreearethecards，"hesaid，speakingrapidly。"Thereisthejackofhearts。Ipassmyhands——so。Pickthejack，oneofyou，"hechallenged，leaningbackfromthecracker—boxonwhichlaythethreecards，backup。"Anyofyou，"heurged。"You，North。"
　　Thusdirectlysingledout，theforemanleanedforwardandratherhesitatinglylaidabluntforefingerononeofthebitsofpasteboard。
　　Withoutaword，Newmarkturneditover。Itwasthetenofspades。
　　"Letmetry，"interposedTimNolan，pressinghisbigshouldersforward。"IbetIknowwhichitwasthattime；andIbetIcanpickhernexttime。"
　　"Oh，yes，youBET！"shruggedNewmark。"Andthat’swherethecard—
　　sharpsgetyoufellowseverytime。Well，pickit，"saidhe，againdeftlyflippingthecards。
　　Nolan，whohadwatchedkeenly，indicatedonewithouthesitation。
　　Againitprovedtobethetenofspades。
　　"Anybodyelseambitious？"inquiredNewmark。Everybodywasambitious；andtheyoungman，withinexhaustiblepatience，threwoutthecards，thecornersofhismouthtwitchingsardonicallyateachwrongguess。
　　Atlengthhecalledahalt。
　　"BythistimeI’dhavehadallyourmoney，"hepointedout。"Now，I’llpickthejack。"
　　Forthelasttimehemadehisswiftpassesanddistributedthecards。Thenquitecalmly，withoutdisturbingthethreeonthecracker—box，heheldbeforetheireyesthejackofhearts。
　　Anexclamationbrokefromtheinterestedgroup。TimNolan，whowasthenearest，leanedforwardandturnedoverthethreeontheboard。
　　Theyweretheeightofdiamondsandtwotensofspades。
　　"That’showthethingisworkedninetimesoutoften，"announcedNewmark。"Onceinawhileyou’llrunagainstastraightgame，butnotoften。"
　　"Butyoushowedusthejackeverytimebeforeyouthrowedthem！"
　　puzzledJohnnySimms。
　　"Sleightofhand，"explainedNewmark。"Thesimplestkindofpalming。"
　　"Well，Charlie，"saidbigTim，"lookstomeasifyouhadjustaboutasmuchchanceasasnowballinhell。"
　　"Where’dyougetontodoingallthat，Newmark？"inquiredNorth。
　　"Youain’tatinhornyourself？"
　　Newmarklaughedbriefly。"NotI，"saidhe。"Ilearnedalotofthosetricksfromatravellingmagicianincollege。"
　　DuringthisdemonstrationOrdehadsatwellinthebackground，hischinproppedonhishand，watchingintentlyallthatwasgoingon。
　　Afterthecommentandexclamationsfollowingtheexposureofthemethodhadsubsided，hespoke。
　　"Boys，"saidhe，"howgameareyoutogetCharlie’smoneyback——andthensome？"
　　"Tryus，"returnedbigTim。
　　"Thisgame’satMcNeill’s，andMcNeill’sisatoughhole，"warnedOrde。"Maybeeverythingwillgopeaceful，andmaybenot。Andyouboysthatgowithmehavegottokeepsober。Thereisn’tgoingtobeanyrowunlessIsayso，andI’mnottakinganycontracttohandlealotofdrunkenriver—hogsaswellasgoagainstagame。"
　　"Allright，"agreedNolan，"I’mwithyou。"
　　Thethirtyorsomenoftherearcrewthenincampsignifiedtheirintentiontostaybytheprocession。
　　"Youcan’tmakethosesharpsdisgorge，"counselledNewmark。"Atthefirstlookoftroubletheywilllightout。Theyhaveitallfixed。
　　Forcewon’tdoyoumuchgood——andmaygetsomeofyoushot。"
　　"I’mnotgoingtouseforce，"deniedOrde。"I’mjustgoingtoplaytheirgame。ButIbetIcanmakeitgo。OnlyIsortofwantthemoralsupportoftheboys。"
　　"Itellyou，youCAN’Twin！"criedNewmarkdisgustedly。"It’sabracegamepureandsimple。"
　　"Idon’tknowaboutit’sbeingpure，"repliedOrdedrolly，"butit’ssimpleenough，ifyouknowhowtomakethewheelsgo’round。Howisit，boys——willyoubackmyplay？"
　　Andsuchwastheirconfidencethat，infaceofNewmark’sdemonstration，theysaidtheywould。
　　VII
　　Afterthemenhadbeenpaidoff，perhapsadozenofthemhungaroundtheyardsawaitingeveningandtherendezvousnamedbyOrde。Therestdriftedawayfullofgoodintentions，butdidnotshowupagain。Ordehimselfwasbusyuptothelastmoment，butfinallystampedoutoftheofficejustastheboarding—housebellrangforsupper。Hesurveyedwhatremainedofhisoldcrewandgrinned。
　　"Well，boys，readyfortrouble？"hegreetedthem。"Comeon。"
　　TheysetoutupthelongreachofWaterStreet，theirsteelcaulksbitingdeepintothepittedboard—walks。
　　Fornearlyamilethestreetwasflankedsolelybylumber—yards，smallmills，andfactories。Thencameastripofunimprovedland，followedimmediatelybythewooden，ramshacklestructuresofHell’sHalf—Mile。
　　IntheolddayseverytownofanysizehaditsHell’sHalf—Mile，ortheequivalent。SaginawboastedofitsCatacombs；Muskegon，Alpena，PortHuron，Ludington，hadtheir"Pens，""WhiteRows，""RiverStreets，""Kilyubbin，"andsoforth。Theysupportedrowuponrowofsaloons，alikestuffyandsqualid；gamblinghellsofallsorts；