Anothercrewstretchedthefifteeninchmanillacablesacrossthefieldoflogsinordertosegregatethemintoseveralunitsofmass，andsopreventthemfrompilingupatthedown—streamendoftheenclosure。Thepile—driverbegantodropitshammeratspotsofweakness。Inspiteoftheacceleratedcurrentandtheincreasedvolumeoftheriver，everythingwassoonshipshapeandsafe。
"We’reallrightnow，"saidOrde。"TheonlythingI’malittleuneasyaboutisthoseconfoundedtemporaryboomsupstream。Stillthey’reallrightunlesstheygettopilingup。Thenwe’llhavetoseewhatwecandotoholdthem。Ithinkassoonasthedriveristhroughdownatthesortingend，she’dbetterdriveafewclumpsofpilestostrengthentheswingwhenitisshut。Thenifthelogspiledownonusfromabove，wecanholdthemthere。"
Abouttwohourslaterthepile—drivermovedup。Theswingwasopened；andthemenbegantodriveclumpsofpilesinsuchapositionastostrengthentheswingwhenthelattershouldbeshut。
Itwasaslowjob。Eachpilehadtobetakenfromtheraftatthesternofthescow，erectedinthe"carrier，"andpoundedintoplacebytheheavyhammerraisedandletdropinthederrickatthebow。
Longbeforethetaskwasfinished，thelogsinthetemporaryboomshadbeguntoslideatoponeanother，tocrossandtangle，untilatlasttheriverbedinsidetheboomswasfilledwithajamofformidabledimensions。Frombeneathitthewaterboiledineddies。
Orde，lookingatit，rousedhimselftosuddenactivity。
"Getamoveon，"headvisedCaptainAspinwallofthedriver。"Ifthatjambreaksonus，wewanttobeready；andifitdon’tbreakbeforeyougetthisswingstrengthened，maybewecanholdherwheresheis。There’snoearthlydoubtthatthoseboompileswillneverstandupwhentheygetthefullpressureofthefreshet。"
Hedepartedupriveronatourofinspectionfromwhichhereturnedalmostimmediately。
"Hurryup！Hurryup！"hecried。"Shecan’tlastmuchlonger！"
Indeedeventothemenonthepile—driver，evidencesofthepressuresustainedbytheslenderboompileswerenotwanting。Abovethesteadygurgleofthewaterandtheintermittentpuffingandothernoisesofthework，theycouldhearacreakingandgroaningoftimbersfullofportenttothosewhocouldreadthesigns。
Thedriver’screwlaboureddesperately，hoistingthepilesintothecarriage，trippingtheheavyhammer，sendingitaloftagain，bindingfeverishlytheclumpsofpilestogetherbymeansofcables。Eachmanworkedwithaneyeoverhisshoulder，fearfulofthepowerthatmenacedhim。
Twooftheclumpshadbeenplacedandbound；athirdwasnearlyfinished，whensuddenly，withacrackandaroartheupperboomsgaveway，projectingtheirlogsupontheopeningandthedriver。
Thehalfdozenmembersofthecrew，caughtutterlyunawareinspiteofthehalfwarningtheyhadbeenreceivingforanhourpast，werescatteredbythewindsofapanic。Twoorthreeflungthemselvesontheirfaces；severalranfromoneendofthescowtotheother；oneleapedintotheriver！Imminentdestructionseemeduponthem。
TomNorth，atthewinchthatoperatedthearmoftheswing，however，retainedhispresenceofmind。Atthefirstsagoutwardoftheboompileshesetinoperationthemachinerythatclosedthegate。
Clumsyandslowaswashismechanism，heneverthelesssucceededingettingthelongarmstarted。Thelogs，rushinginbackofit，hurrieditshut。Immediatelytheyjammedagain，andheapedupinaformidabletanglebehindthebarrier。TomNorth，hislittleblackpipebetweenhisteeth，stoodcalm，theleverofhiswinchinhishand。Ashortthreefeetfromthespotonwhichhestood，thefirstsawlogofthemanythatmighthaveoverwhelmedhimthrustforwarditsuglyhead。Thewashofthewaterliftedthehugepile—driverbodilyanddepositeditwithacrashhalfonthebankandhalfinthewater。
InstantlyafterthefirstbreakOrdehadcommencedrunningoutovertheboomsfromtheshore。
"Goodboy，Tom！"heshotatNorthashepassed。
Acrossthebreastofthejamhehurried，andtotheotherbankwherethepile—driverlay。Thecrewhadrecoveredfromtheirpanic，andwereashoregazingcuriouslyunderneaththescow。CaptainAspinwallexaminedthesupportsofthederrickondeck。
"Thatwaslucky，"saidOrdebrieflytoAspinwall。"How’sthedamage？Stoveyouin？"
"I——Idon’tthinkso，"repliedthecaptain，turningaratherperturbedfacetoOrde。
"That’sgood。I’llsendoverthetugtohelpgetherafloat。We’vegotourworkcutoutforusnow。Assoonasyou’reafloat，blowyourwhistleandI’llcomeovertotellyouwhattodo。"
"Youdon’texpectmetoworkmydriverunderthefaceofthatjam！"
criedthecaptain。
"Certainly，"snappedOrde，wheeling。
"Notme！"saidAspinwallpositively。"IknowwhenI’vegotenough！"
"What’sthematter？"askedOrde。
"Itisn’tsafe，"repliedthecaptain；"andIdon’tintendtoriskmymenormydriver。"
Ordestoodforamomentstock—still；thenwithasnortofangerheleapedtothedeck，seizedthemanbytheneckandthrusthimbodilyoverthesidetothebank。
Safe，youwhite—liveredskunk！"heroared。"Safe！Gooverinthemiddleofthatten—acrelotandliedownonyourfaceandseeifyoufeelsafethere！Getout；thewholepackofyou！I’minchargeherenow。"
CaptainAspinwallpickedhimselfup，hisfaceredwithanger。
"Getoffmydriver，"hesnarled。"Putthatmanoff。"
Ordeseizedashortheavybar。
"Thisdriverisrequisitioned，"saidhe。"Getout！Ihaven’ttimetofoolwithyou。I’vegottosavemylogs。"
Theyhesitated；andwhiletheydidsoTomNorthandsomeothersofthecrewcamerunningacrossthejam。
"Getacabletothewinch，"Ordeshoutedattheseassoonastheywerewithinhearing。"AndgetMarshupherewiththeSPRITE。We’vegottogetafloat。"
Hepaidnomoreattentiontotheejectedcrew。Thelatter，overawedbytherivermen，whonowgatheredinfullforce，tookthepartofspectators。
Afewminutes’hardworkputthedriverafloat。Fortunatelyitsraftofpileshadnotbecomedetachedintheupheaval。
"Tom，"saidOrdebrisklytoNorth，"youknowthepile—driverbusiness。Pickoutyourcrew，andtakecharge。"
Intensecondsoftimethesituationhadchangedfromoneofcomparativesafetytooneofextremegravity。Thelogs，brokenloosefromtheuppertemporarybooms，nowjammedagainsttheswingandagainsttheotherlogsalreadyfillingthemainbooms。Alreadythepressurewasbeginningtotell，asthewaterbankedupbehindthemass。Thefifteen—inchcablestightenedslowlybutmightily；
someofthepilesbegantogroanandruboneagainsttheother；hereandtherealogdeliberatelyup—endedabovethelevel。
Ordetookchargeofthesituationinitsentirety，asageneralmight。HesetNorthimmediatelytodrivingclumpseachofsixteenpiles，boundtosoliditybychains，andsoarrangedinanglesandslantsastodirecttheenormouspressuretowardeitherbank，thussplittingtheenemy’spower。ThesmalldriverownedbytheBoomCompanydrovesimilarclumpshere，thereandeverywherethatneedaroseorweaknessdeveloped。Seventy—fivemenopposed，totheweightoftwentymilliontonsoflogsandariverofwater，theexpedientsinventedbydeterminationanddesperation。
Asinavirulentdisease，thesymptomsdevelopedrapidlywhenoncethecourseofthemaladywasassured。Afterthefirstrush，whentheupperboomsbroke，nothingspectacularoccurred。Steadilyandrelentlesslythelogs，packedclosetogetherdowntotheverybedofthestream，pressedoutwardagainstthefraildefences。Ordesoonfoundhimselfforcedfromtheconsiderationofdefiniteplansofcampaign。Hegaveoverformaldefences，andthrewhisenergiestosavingtheweakplaceswhichrapidlydeveloped。Bythemosttremendousexertionsheseemedbutjustabletokeepeven。Socloselybalancedwastheequilibriumbetweentheimprovisationofdefenceandtheincreaseofpressurebehindthejamthatitseemedasifevenamoment’sbreathingspellwouldbringthedeluge。Pilesquivered，bentslowlyoutward——immediately，beforethelogsbehindthemcouldstir，thepile—drivermustdoitswork。BackandforthdartedtheSPRITEandhersister—tugtheSPRAYtowingthepile—
driversorthestringsofpiles。Underthefrowningdestructionthatabreathmightloosen，thecrewshadtodotheirwork。Andifeverthatbreathshouldcome，therewouldbenochanceforescape。
Crushedandburied，themenandtheircraftalikewouldbebornewiththebreakingjamtoanunknowngraveintheLake。Everymanknewit。
Darknesscame。Noonestoppedforfood。Bythelightoflanternsthestrugglewenton，doublyterrifyinginthemysteryofnight。Bydaythemen，practisedinsuchmatters，couldatleastjudgeoftheprobabilitiesofabreak。Atnighttheyhadtoworkblindly，uncertainatwhatmomenttheforcestheycouldnotseewouldcutloosetooverwhelmthem。
Morningfoundnochangeinthesituation。Thewaterrosesteadily；
thelogsgrewmoreandmorerestive；thedefencesweakerandmoreinadequate。Ordebroughtoutsteamingpailsofcoffeewhichthemengulpeddownbetweenmoments。Noonethoughtofquitting。Theywereafirewiththeflameofcombat，andweresetobstinatelyonwinningeveninthefaceofodds。Aboutteno’clocktheywerereinforcedbymenfromthemillsdownstream。TheOwnersofthosemillshadnomindtolosetheirlogs。Anotherpile—driverwasalsosentupfromtheGovernmentwork。Withoutthisassistancethejammustsurelyhavegoneout。Spectatorsmarvelledhowitheldasitdid。Themassseemedconstantlytoquiverontheedgeofmotion。Hereandthereoverthesurfaceofthejamsinglelogscouldbeseenpoppingsuddenlyintotheair，propelledasanappleseedisprojectedfrombetweenaboy’sthumbandforefinger。Someofthefifteen—inchcablesstretchedtotheshoreparted。One，whichpassedoncearoundanoaktreebeforereachingitsshoreanchorage，actuallyburieditselfoutofsightinthehardwood。Bunchesofpilesbent，twisted，orwerecutoffasthoughtheyhadbeenbutshocksofIndiancorn。Thecurrenthadbecomesoswiftthatthetugscouldnotholdthedriversagainstit；andasaconsequence，beforecommencingoperations，specialmooringpileshadtobedriven。Eachminutethreatenedtobringanendtothejam，yetitheld；andwithoutrestthedoggedlittleinsectsunderitsfacetoiledtogainaninchonthewaters。
XXXIX
Allthatdayandthenextnightthefightwashandtohand，withouttheopportunityofabreathingspace。ThenOrde，bareheadedanddishevelled，strungtoahighexcitement，butcoolasaveteranunderfire，begantobeharassedbyannoyances。Thepilesprovidedforthedriversgaveout。Newmarkleft，ostensiblytopurchasemore。Hedidnotreturn。TomNorthandJimDenning，theireyesburningdeepintheirheadsforlackofsleep，cametoOrdeholdingtohimsymbolicallytheiremptyhands。
"Nomorepiles，"theysaidbriefly。
"Get’em，"saidOrdewithequalbrevity。"Newmarkwillhaveenoughhereshortly。Inthemeantime，getthem。"
Northandhisfrienddisappeared，takingwiththemthecrewsofthedriversandthetwotugs。Afteranintervaltheyreturnedtowingsmallraftsofthelongtimbers。Ordedidnotmakeanyinquiries；
noruntildayslaterdidheseeacopyofthenewspapertellinghowalawlessgangofrivermenhaddrivenawaytherailroadmenandstolentherailroad’sproperty。Thesepileslastedfiveorsixhours。TomNorthplacedanddrovethemaccuratelyanddeliberately，quiteunmindfuloftheconstantdanger。Acoldfireseemedtoconsumetheman，inflaminghiscourageandhisdoggedobstinacy。
Onceawingofthejambrokesuddenlyjustashiscrewhadplacedapileinthecarrier。Thescowwaspickedup，whirledaround，carriedbodilyahundredfeet，anddepositedfinallywithacrash。
Theinstantthecraftsteadiedandevenbeforeanyonecouldtellwhetherornothedangerwaspast，Tomcutloosethehammeranddrovethatpile！
"IputyouinthatcarriertobeDROVE！"heshoutedviciously，"anddroveyou’llbe，ifweAREgoin’tohell！"
WhentheSPRAYshoulderedthescowbacktopositionthatonepilewasleftstandinguprightinthechannel，amonumenttotheblinddeterminationoftheman。
Fortunatelythewingbreakcarriedwithitbutafewlogs；butitsufficedtoshow，ifdemonstrationwereneeded，whatwouldhappenifanymoreseriousbreakshouldoccur。
Ordewaseverywhere。Longsincehehadlosthishat；andoverhisforeheadandintohiseyesthestrandsofhishairwhippedtousledandunkempt。Milesandmileshetravelled；runningalongthetopsofthebooms，overthesurfaceofthejam，spyingtheweakeningplaces，andhurryingtothemarescue。Heseemedtireless，omnipresent，alivetoeveryneed。Itwasasthoughhispersonalityaloneheldincorrelationthesestrugglingforces；asthoughwerehetorelaxforaninstanthisefforttheywouldburstforthwiththeexplosionoflong—pentenergies。
Towardnoonthepilesgaveoutagain。
"WhereinHELLisNewmark！"explodedOrde，andimmediatelywashimselfagain，controlledandresourceful。HesentNorthandacrewofmentocutpilesfromstandingtimberinfarmwoodlotsneartheriver。
"Haulthemoutwithyourwinch，"saidhe。"Iftheownersobject，standthemoffwithyourpeavies。Getthemanyway。"
AboutthreeoftheafternoontheLUCYBELLEsplatteredupstreamfromthevillage，carryinganexcursiontoseethejam。CaptainSimpsonbroughtherascloseinaspossible。Thewavesraisedbyherawkwardpaddle—wheelandherclumsylinessurgedamongthelogsandpiles。Ordelookedonthiswithdistrust。
"Gotellhimtopulloutofthat，"heinstructedJimmyPowers"Theconfoundedoldfooloughttoknowbetterthanthat。Tellhimit’sdangerous。Ifthejamgoesout，it’llcarryhimtoKingdomCome。"
JimmyPowersreturnedred—facedfromhisinterview。
"Hetoldmetogotohell，"hesaidshortly。
"Oh，hedid，"snappedOrde。"Ishouldthinkwehadenoughwithoutthatoldidiot！"
WiththeshortnervousleapsofasuppressedangerherandowntowheretheSPRITEhadjusttowedtheNumberOnedriverintoanewposition。
"LaymealongsidetheLUCYBELLE，"hetoldMarsh。
ButSimpson，inapositionofimportanceatlast，wasdisinclinedtolisten。Hehadwornhisblueclothesandbrassbuttonsforagoodmanyyearsinchargeonlyofboxesandbarrels。Nowatastrokehefoundhimselfcommanderovertenscorepeople。Likewise，atfiftycentsahead，heforesawagoodthingaslongashighwatershouldlast。Hehadrisennoblytotheoccasion；forhehadevenhoistedhisbuntingandbroughtwithhimthelocalbrassband。Orde，brusqueinhisdesiretohurrythroughanaffairofminorimportance，rubbedthemanthewrongway。
"IreckonI’vesomerightsonthisriver，"CaptainSimpsonconcludedtheargument，"andIain’tagoin’tobebulldozedoutofthem。"
Theexcursionists，typical"trippers"fromRedding，Holland，MonroviaandMuskegon，cheeredthissentimentandjeeredatOrde。
Ordenoddedbriefly。
"Marsh，"saidhetohiscaptaininalowvoice，"getacrewandtakethemincharge。Run’emoff。"
Assoonasthetugtouchedthepiling，hewasoffandaway，payingnofurtherattentiontoamatteralreadysettled。CaptainMarshcalledadozenrivermentohim；laidtheSPRITEalongsidetheLUCY
BELLE，andinspiteofSimpson’sscandalisedprotestsandanincipientpanicamongthepassengers，thrustasidetheregularcrewofthesteamshipandtookcharge。Quitecalmlyhesurveyedthescene。Fromtheheightofthesteamer’sbridgehecouldseeabroadoverthecountry。AwarmJunesunfloodedthelandscapewhichwasfilledwiththepeaceofearlysummer。Theriverseemedtoflowsmoothlyandquietlyenough，inspiteoftheswiftnessofitscurrentandtheswollenvolumeofitswaters。Onlyupstreamwherethebigjamshruggedandgroaneddidanyelementjaronthepeaceofthescene；andeventhat，incontrasttotherestofthelandscape，affordedsmallhinttotheinexperiencedeyeoftheimminenceofamightydestruction。
CaptainMarshpaidlittleattentiontoallthis。Hiseyesweptrapidlyupanddownwherethebanksusedtobeuntilhesawacrosscurrentdeeperthantherestsweepinginathwarttheinundatedfields。Heswungoverthewheelandrangtotheengine—roomforhalfspeedahead。SlowlytheLUCYBELLEanswered。QuitecalmlyCaptainMarshrammedherthroughtheopeningandoutoverthecornfields。TheLUCYBELLEwasatypicalriversteamboat，builtlightinthedraughtinordertoslideoverthenumerousshiftingbarstobeencounteredinhercustomarybusiness。WhenCaptainMarshsawthathehadhittheopening，herangforfullspeed，andrammedthepooroldLUCYBELLEhardagroundinaboutafootofwaterthroughwhichafewmournfuldriedcornstalkswereshowingtheirheads。Then，hishandsinhispockets，hesaunteredoutofthepilot—housetothedeck。
"Nowifyouwanttopicnic，"hetoldtheastonishedandfrightenedexcursionists，"gotoit！"
Withentireindifferencetothewater，hevaultedoverthelowrailandsplashedaway。Therivermenandtheengineerwhohadaccompaniedhimlingeredonlylongenoughtostartuptheband。
"Nowyou’resafeasacowtiedtoabrickwall，"saidtheRoughRed，whoseappearancealonehadgonefartowardoverawingthepassengers。
"Bejoyful。Startupthemusic。Startherup，Itellyou！"
Thebandhastilybegantosquawk，verymuchoutoftime，andsomewhatoutoftune。
"That’sright，"grinnedtheRoughRedsavagely，"keepherup。IfyouquitbeforeIgetbacktowork，I’llcomebackandtakeyouapart。"
Theywadedthroughtheshallowwaterinthecornfield。AfterthemwaftedtheratherdisorganisedstrainsofWHOA，EMMA。CaptainSimpsonwasindulginginwhatresembledheatapoplexy。AfteratimetheLUCYBELLE’Screwrecoveredtheirscatteredwitssufficientlytotransportthepassengersinsmallboatstoapointnearthecountyroad，whencealltrudgedtotown。TheLUCYBELLEgrewinthecornfielduntilseveralweekslater，whentimewasfoundtopullheroffonrollers。
ArrivedattheboomsCaptainMarshshooktheloosewaterfromhislegs。
"Allright，sir，"hereportedtoOrde。"Iran’emashoreyonder。"
Ordelookedup，brushingthehairfromhiseyes。Heglancedinthedirectionofthecornfield，andaquickgrinflickeredacrosstheabsorbedexpressionofhisface。
"Ishouldthinkyoudid，"saidhebriefly。"Iguessthat’llendtheexcursionbusiness。NowtakeNumberTwoupbelowtheswing；andthenrundownandseeifyoucandiscoverTom。Hewentsomewhereafterpilesaboutanhourago。"
DownriverthevariousmillownerswerebusywithwhatmentheyhadleftinstringingdefencesacrosstheriverincaseOrde’sworksshouldgoout。WhenOrdeheardthishesworevigourously。
"Crazyfools，"hespatout。"They’dbealotbetteroffhelpinghere。Ifthisgoesout，theirlittleboomswon’tamounttoawhiffofwind。"
Hesentwordtothateffect；but，lackingtheenforcementofhispersonalpresencehismessagesdidnotcarryconviction，andthepanic—strickenownerscontinuedtolabour，eachaccordingtohisideas，onwhatOrde’sclearervisionsawtobeaseriesofalmostcomicalfutilities。However，Weltonansweredthesummons。Ordehailedhiscomingwithashout。
"Iwantadredge，"heyelled，assoonasthelumbermanwaswithindistance。"IbelievewecanrelievethepressuresomewhatbyachannelintoSteam’sbayou。GetthatGovernmentdredgeupandthroughthebayouassoonasyoucan。"
"Allright，"saidWeltonbriefly。"Canyouholdher？"
"I’vegottoholdher，"repliedOrdebetweenhisclenchedteeth。
"HaveyouseenNewmark？WhereinHELLisNewmark？Ineedhimforfiftythings，andhe’sdisappearedoffthefaceoftheearth！
Purdy！thatsecondcable！She’ssnappedastrand！Getareinforcinglineonher！"HeraninthedirectionofthenewdangerwithoutanotherthoughtofWelton。
Bythelateafternooncasualspectatorsfromthecountrysidehadgatheredinsomenumber。Thebolderormorecuriousoftheseaddedafurthertouchofanxietytothesituationbyclamberingoutoverthejamforabetterview。Ordeissuedinstructionsthattheseshouldkeepoffthelogs；butinspiteofthat，withtheimpertinentperseveranceofthesight—seer，manypersistedfromtimetotime，whentherivermenweretoobusilyengagedtoattendtothem，inventuringoutwheretheywerenotonlyindangerbutalsointheway。TomNorthwouldhavenoneofthisonhispile—driver。Ifamanwasnotactuallyworking，hehadnobusinessonNumberOne。
"But，"protestedaspectatormildly，"IOWNthisdriver。Ihaven’tanyobjectionstoyourgrabbingherinthisemergency，evenifyoudidmanhandlemycaptain；butsurelyyouarenotgoingtokeepmeoffmyownproperty？"
"Idon’tgiveatinker’sdamnwhoyouare，"repliedNorthsturdily。
"Ifyou’renotworking，yougetoff。"
Andgetoffhedid。
Thebroaddeckofthepile—driverscowwasatemptingpointfromwhichtosurveythework，andtheuglyjam，andthewaterboilingangrily，andthehollow—eyed，dishevelledmaniacswhoworkeddoggedlywithsetteethasthoughtheyhadnotalreadygonewithouttwonights’sleep。Northhadoftentoorderashoreintruders，untilhistempershortenedtothevanishingpoint。Onebighulkingcountrymanattemptedtoarguethepoint。Northpromptlyknockedhimoverboardintotheshallowwaterbetweenthedriverandthebank。
Hedidnotrise；soNorthfishedforhiminthemostmatter—of—factwaywithaboathook，threwhimonthebankunconscious，andwentondrivingpiles！Theincidentraisedalaughamongthemen。
Butfleshandbloodhasitslimitofendurance；andthatlimitwasalmostreached。Ordeheardthefirstpremonitionsofreactioninthemildgrumblingsthatarose。Heknewthesemenwellfromhislongexperiencewiththem。Althoughtheneedforstruggleagainstthetirelessdynamicsoftheriverwasasinsistentasever；
althoughitseemedcertainthatamoment’scessationofeffortwouldpermittheenemyanirretrievablegain，hecalledahaltonthewholework。
"Boys，"saidhe，irrelevantly，"let’shaveasmoke？"
Hesettheexamplebythrowinghimselffulllengthagainstaslantingpileandmostleisurelyfillinghispipe。Themenstaredamoment；thenfollowedhisexample。Agreatpeaceofeveningfilledthesky。Thehorizonlaylowandblackagainsttheafterglow。
Beneathittherivershonelikesilver。Onlythegroaning，theheaveandshruggingofthejam，andthelowthreateninggurgleofhurryingwatersremindedthetoil—wearymenoftheenemy’scontinuedactivity。OverbeyondtheriseoflandthatlaybetweentheriverandStearn’sBayoucouldbeseenthecloudofmingledsmokeandsteamthatmarkedtheactivitiesofthedredge。Fortenminutestheyrestedinthesolaceoftobacco。Ordewasapparentlymoreateasethananyoftherest，buteachinstantheexpectedtohearthepremonitoryCRACKthatwouldsoundtheendofeverything。Finallyheyawned，knockedtheashesfromhispipe，andgottohisfeet。
"Now，"saidhe，anewringinhisvoice，"comeonandlet’sgetsomethingDONE！"
Theyrespondedtoaman。
XL
Bymidnightthewaterseemedtohavegonedownslightly。Halfthecrewsnatchedalittlesleep。Forseveralhoursmoretheissuehungaggravatinglyinequilibrium。Then，withtheopeningofthechannelintoStearn’sBayoutheheaviestpressurewasrelieved。Forthemomenttheacutedangerpointwaspassed。
Ordespentthenexttwodaysinstrengtheningthedefences。Themenwereabletotaketheirquotaofmealsandofsleep。Merelytheworkinghourswerelongerthanusual。Ordehimselfsleptlittle，andwasstillpossessedbyafeverishactivity。Thefloodcontinuedataboutthesamevolume。Untilthewatershouldsubside，thedangercouldnotbeconsideredcompletelyoverwith。
InthesefewdaysofcomparativeleisureOrdehadtimetolookabouthimandtoreceivenews。ThejamhadbeensuccessfullyheldattheironrailroadbridgeaboveRedding；butonlybythemoststrenuousefforts。Bracesofoakbeamshadbeenslantedwheretheywoulddothemostgood；chainsstrengthenedtheweakerspots；andontopofalltonaftertonofrailroadironheldthewholeimmovably。Nolanhadenjoyedtheadvantageofa"floating"jam；ofconvenientfacilitiesincidenttoalargecity；andofanarousedpublicsentimentthatprofferedhimallthehelphecoulduse。Monrovia，littlevillagethatitwas，hadnotgraspedthesituation。Reddingsawitclearly。Thelossofthetimberalone——representingsomemillionsofdollars’worthofthesawedproduct——wouldmeanfailureofmillcompanies，ofbanksholdingtheirpaper，andsooffirmsinotherlinesofbusiness；andbesideswouldthrowthousandsofmenoutofemployment。Furthermore，whatwasquiteasserious，shouldtheironbridgegiveway，thewoodenbridgesbelowcouldhardlyfailtogoout。RailroadcommunicationbetweeneasternandwesternMichiganwouldbeentirelycutoff。Foraseasonindustryofeverydescriptionwouldbepracticallyparalysed。ThereforeNolanhadallthehelpherequired。Everydeviceknownwasemployedtostrengthenthejam。Foronlyafewhourswastheresultindoubt。ThenastheCLARIONjubilantlyexpressedit，"It’sahundreddollarstoanoldhatsheholds！"