Ordereceivedallthiswithsatisfaction，butwithaslightscepticism。
　　"It’safloatingjam；anditgetsapushfromunderneath，"hepointedout。"It’sprobablysafe；butanotherfloodmightsenditout。"
　　"Thefloodsaregoingdown，"saidNorth。
　　"GoodLord；Ihopeso！"saidOrde。
　　Newmarksentwordthatasuddenfitofsicknesshadconfinedhimtothehouse。
　　"Didn’tthinkofalittlethinglikepiles，"saidOrdetohimself。
　　"Well，that’shardlyfair。Joecouldn’thaverealisedwhenheleftherejusthowbadthingswere。"
　　Fortwodays，ashasbeensaid，nothinghappened。ThenOrdedecidedtobreakoutachannelthroughthejamitself。Thiswasanecessarypreliminarytogettingthelogsinshapefordistribution。Anopeningwasmadeinthepiles，andtherivermen，withpike—poleandpeavy，begancautiouslytodigtheirwaythroughthetangledtimbers。TheGovernmentpile—driver，whichhadfinallybeensentupfrombelow，beganplacingfiveextraboomsatintervalsdownstreamtocapturethedriftasfastasitwasturnedloose。Fromthemillsandprivateboomscrewscametoassistinthelabour。Thetroublesappearedtobequiteover，whenwordcamefromReddingthatthewaterswereagainrising。TenminuteslaterLeopoldLincolnBunn，thelocalreporter，cameflappinginonRandall’soldwhitehorse，likeasecondPaulRevere，cryingthattheironbridgehadgone，andthelogswereracingdownrivertowardthebooms。
　　"Itjustwentout！"heansweredtheeagerexclamationsofthemenwhocrowdedaroundhim。"That’sallIknow。Itwentout！Andtheotherbridges！Sure！AllbuttheLakeShore！Don’tknowwhythatdidn’tgoout。No；thelogsdidn’tjamthere；justslidrightunder！"
　　"Thatsettlesit，"saidWelton，turningaway。
　　"Youaren’tgoingtoquit！"criedOrde。
　　"Certainly。You’recrazy！"saidWeltonwithsomeasperity。"Iftheycan’tstopalittlejamwithiron，whatareyourwoodendefencesgoingtoamounttoagainstthewholeaccumulation？Whenthoselogshitthetailofthisjam，she’llgooutbeforeyoucanwink。"
　　Herefusedtolistentoargument。
　　"It’ssuredeath，"saidhe，"andI’mnotgoingtosacrificemymenfornothing，evenifthey’dstay。"
　　Otherownersamongthebystanderssaidthesamething。Anairofprofounddiscouragementhadfallenonthemall。Thestrainofthefightwasnowtelling。Theutmostthathumanfleshandbloodwascapableofhadbeenaccomplished；ahard—wonvictoryhadbeengainedbythenarrowestofnarrowmargins。Inthisnewstruggletheoldoddswerestillagainstthem，andinadditionthestrengththathadpushedasideRedding’sbesteffort，augmentedbythemomentumofapowerfulcurrent。Itwassmallwondertheygaveup。
　　Alreadythenewswasspreadingamongtheworkersonthejams。Asmanshoutedtoman，eachshoulderedhispeavyandcamerunningashore，eagerquestiononhislips。OrdesawtheGovernmentdriverbelowcastingloosefromhermoorings。AmomentlaterhertugtowedherawaytosomesidebayouofsafetyoutoftheexpectedrushtotheLake。
　　"Butwecanholdher！"criedOrdeindesperation。"Havealittlenervewithyou。Youaren’tgoingtoquitlikethat！"
　　Hesweptthemwithhiseye；thenturnedawayfromthemwithagestureofdespair。Theywatchedhimgravelyandsilently。
　　"It’snouse，boy，"saidoldCarlin；"it’ssuredeath。"
　　"Suredeath！"Ordelaughedbitterly。"Allright；suredeath，then。
　　Isn’tthereamaninthiscrowdthatwilltacklethissortofsuredeathwithme？"
　　"I’mwithyou。"
　　"Andme，"saidNorthandtheRoughRedinabreath。
　　"Good！"criedOrde。"You，too，JohnnySims？andPurdy？andJimmyPowers？Bullyboys！"
　　"Ireckonyou’llneedthetug，"saidMarsh。
　　AdozenmoreofOrde’spersonalfollowingvolunteered。Atoncehisgoodhumourreturned；andhiseasyleisurelyconfidenceinhimself。
　　"We’vegottoclosethatopening，firstthing，"saidhe。"Marsh，towthepile—driverupthere。"
　　Hecausedaheavylinetoberunfromatree，situatedaroundthebenddownstream，tothesternofthedriver。
　　"Nowifyouhaveto，"hetoldNorth，whohadcharge，"letgoallholds，andthelinewillprobablyswingyouaroundoutofdanger。
　　Weonthetugwillgetoutasbestwecan。"
　　Theopeningwastobeclosedbypilesdriveningroupsofsixteenboundtogetherbychains。Theclumpswereconnectedonetotheotherbyasystemofboomlogsandropestointerposeacontinuousbarrier。Thepile—driverplacedtheclumps；whilethetugattendedtotheconnectingdefences。
　　"Now，boys，"saidOrdeashislastword，"ifshestartstogo，saveyourselvesthebestwayyoucan。Nevermindthedriver。STAYON
　　TOP！"
　　Slowlythetugandherconsortnosedupthroughtheboilingwater。
　　"She’srisingalready，"saidOrdetoMarsh，watchingthewateraroundthepiles。
　　"Yes，andthatjam’sgoingoutbeforemanyminutes，"supplementedthetugboatcaptaingrimly。
　　Boththesestatementswereonlytootrue。Althoughnotfifteenminutesbefore，thejamhadlainlockedinperfectsafety，nowtheslightriseofthewatershadliftedandloosenedthemassuntilitrosefairlyonthequiver。
　　"Workfast！"Ordecalledtothemenonthepile—driver。"IfwecanclosetheopeningbeforethoseReddinglogshitus，wemaybeabletoturnthemintoournewchannel。"
　　Hedidnotaddthatiftheopeningwerenotclosedbeforethejambroke，asbreakitwouldinaveryfewmoments，theprobabilitieswerethatbothpile—driverandtugwouldbedestroyed。Everymanknewthatalready。
　　TomNorthorderedapileplacedinthecarriage；thehammerdescended。Atonce，likebatteringramslogsbegantoshootupfromthedepthsoftheriverendforemostallaboutthem。Thesetimberswereprojectedwithtremendousforce，leapingsometimeshalftheirlengthabovethesurfaceofthewater。Ifanyofthemhadhiteitherthetugorthepile—driversquarely，itwouldhavestoveandsunkthecraft。Fortunatelythisdidnothappen；butMarshhastilytowedthescowbacktoabetterposition。Thepilehadevidentlybeendrivenintothefootofthejamitself，thuslooseningtimberslyingatthebottomoftheriver。
　　Theworkwentforwardasrapidlyaspossible。Fourtimesthejamshruggedandsettled；butfourtimesitpausedonthebrinkofdischarge。Threeoftheclumpshadbeenplacedandbound；andfifteenpilesofthelastclumphadbeendriven。
　　"Onemorepile！"breathedOrde，hisbreathquickeningatrifleasheglancedupstream。
　　Thehammerinthehighderrickransmoothlytothetop，paused，andfell。Ahalfdozentimesmoreitripped。Thenwithoutdelaytheheavychainswerethrownaroundthewinch，andthesteampowerbegantodrawtheclumpstogether。
　　"Done！"criedTomNorth，straighteninghisback。
　　"Andajobintime，too，"saidJohnnySims，indicatingthecreakingandtotteringjam。
　　Northunmoored，andthedriverdroppedbackwiththecurrentandaroundthebendwhereshewassnubbedbythesafetylinealreadymentioned。
　　Immediatelythetugchurnedforwardtoaccomplishthelastduty，thatofbindingthedefencestogetherbymeansofchainsandcables。
　　Twomenleapedtothefloatingboomsandmovedherforeandaft。
　　OrdeandtheRoughRedsetaboutthetask。Methodicallytheyworkedfromeitherendtowardthemiddle。Whentheymetfinally，Ordedirectedhisassistanttogetaboardthetug。
　　"I’lltiethisone，Jimmy，"saidhe。
　　Aboardthetugallwastensepreparation。Marshgraspedalertlythespokesofthewheel。Intheengine—roomHarvey，hishandonthethrottle，stoodreadytothrowherwideopenatthesignal。ArmedwithsharpaxestwomenpreparedtocutthemooringlinesonasignfromtheRoughRed。Theywatchedhisupraisedhand。Whenitshoulddescend，theiraxesmustfall。
　　"Lookout，"theRoughRedwarnedOrde，whowasmethodicallytyingthelastcumbersomeknot，"she’sgettingready！"
　　Ordefoldedtheknotoverwithoutreply。Upstreamthejamcreaked，groaned，settleddeliberatelyforward，cuttingaclumpofpileslikestraw。
　　"She’scoming！"criedtheRoughRed。
　　"Givemeeverysecondyoucan，"saidOrde，withoutlookingup。Hewasjustmakingthelastturns。
　　Themasstoppledslowly，fellintotheswiftcurrent，andleapedwitharoar。TheRoughRedwatchedwithcat—likeattention。rewworkedasthoughmad。Exceptingthem，nooneventuredontheriver，fortobecaughtintheimminentbreakmeanttodie。Oldspars，refusetimbersofallsorts——anythingandeverythingwasrequisitionedthatmighthelpformanobstructionaboveorbelowwater。Pilesweretakenwheretheycouldbefound。Farmer’streeswerecutdown。Pinesbelongingtodiversandprotestingownerswerefelledandsharpened。Somewerebroughtinbyrail。EventheinviolateGovernmentsupplywascommandeered。TheRailroadCompanyhadafinelotwhich，withremarkableshortsightednessandlackofpublicspirit，theyrefusedtosellatanyprice。Thecrewtookthembyforce。OnceCaptainMarshwasfounduptohiswaistinwater，himselffellingthetreesofawood，anddraggingthemtotheriverbyacableattachedtothewinchofhistug。Nightfollowedday；andda"Jump！"hecriedatlast，andhisrightarmdescended。
　　Withtheshoutandthemotionseveralthingshappenedsimultaneously。Ordeleapedblindlyfortherail，wherehewasseizedanddraggedaboardbytheRoughRed；theaxesfell，Marshwhirledoverthewheel，Harveythrewopenhisthrottle。Thetugsprangfromitsleashlikeahound。Andbehindthebarrierthelogs，tossingandtumbling，thewhitesprayflyingbeforetheironslaught，beatinvainagainstthebarrier，likeragingwildbeastswhosepreyhasescaped。
　　"Closecall，"saidOrdebriefly。
　　"Betyou，"repliedMarsh。
　　Neitherreferredtothetug’sescape；buttothefortunateclosingoftheopening。
　　XLI
　　OrdenowtookstepstodeflectintothechannelrecentlydredgedtoStearn’sBayouthemassofthelogsracingdownstreamfromRedding。
　　Heestimatedthathehadstilltwohoursorsoinwhichtodothework。Inthistimehesucceededbytheseveresteffortsinestablishingaroughshuntintothenewchannel。Thelogswouldcomedownrunningfree。Onlytheshockoftheirimpactagainstthetailofthejamalreadyformedwastobefeared。Ordehopedtobeabletoturnthebulkofthemaside。
　　Thisatfirsthesucceededindoing；andverysuccessfullyasaffectingthepressureonthejambelow。Thefirstlogscamescattering。Theninalittlewhilethesurfaceoftheriverwascoveredwiththem；theyshoulderedeachotherasideintheireagernesstooutstriptherushingwater；finallytheycrowdeddownmoreslowly，hardlyabletomaketheirwayagainstthechokingoftheriverbanks，butputtingforthintheveryefforttoproceedatremendouspower。TothecrewworkinginthechanneldredgedthroughtoSteam’sBayoutheaffairwasthatofdrivingarathernarrowandswiftstream，onlyexaggerated。Byquickandskilfulworktheysucceededinkeepingthelogsinmotion。Alargeproportionofthetimbersfoundtheirwayintothebayou。Thosethatcontinuedondowntherivercouldhardlyhavemucheffectonthejam。
　　Theworkwasbreathlessinitsspeed。Fromonetoanothersweat—
　　bathed，pantingmanthelogswerehandedon。Asyetonlytheadvanceofthebigjamhadarrivedatthedredgedchannel。
　　Ordelookedabouthimandrealisedthis。
　　"Wecan’tkeepthisupwhenthemainbodyhitsus，"hepantedtohisneighbour，JimDenning。"We’llhavetodosomemorepile—driverwork。"
　　Hemadearapidexcursiontotheboomcamp，whencehereturnedwiththirtyorfortyofthemenwhohadgivenupworkonthejambelow。
　　"Here，boys，"saidhe，"youcanatleastkeeptheselogsmovinginthischannelforacoupleofhours。Thisisn’tdangerous。"
　　Hespokequitewithoutsarcasticintent；buttherivermen，alreadyovertheirfirstpanic，lookedateachotheratrifleshamefacedly。
　　"I’lltieintoherwhereveryousay，"saidonebigfellow。Ifyoufellowsaregoingbacktothejam，I’mwithyou。"
　　Twoorthreemorevolunteered。Theremaindersaidnothing，butinsilencetookchargeofthedredgedchannel。
　　Ordeandhismennowreturnedtothejamwhere，onthepile—driver，thetugs，andthebooms，theysetmethodicallytostrengtheningthedefencesaswellastheywereable。
　　"She’sholdingstronganddandy，"saidOrdetoTomNorth，examiningcriticallytheclumpsofpiles。"Thatchannelhelpsalotinmorewaysthanone。Ittakesanawfullotofwateroutoftheriver。Aslongasthosefellowskeepthelogsmoving，Ireallybelievewe’reallright。"
　　Butshortlythewaterbegantoriseagain，thistimefairlybyleaps。Inimmediateresponsethejamincreaseditspressure。Forthehundredthtimethefrailwoodendefencesopposedtomillionsofpoundsweretestedtotheveryextremeoftheirendurance。Theclumpsofpilessaggedoutward；thenetworkofchainsandcablestightenedandtightenedagain，drawingevernearerthesnappingpoint。Suddenly，almostwithoutwarning，thesituationhadbecomedesperate。
　　AndforthefirsttimeOrdecompletelylosthispoiseandbecamefluentlyprofane。Heshookhisfistagainstthemenacinglogs；heapostrophisedtheriver，thehighwater，thejam，thedeserters，Newmarkandhisillness，endingfinallyinageneralanathemaagainstanyandallstreams，logs，andfloods。Thenhestormedawaytoseeifanythinghadgonewrongatthedredgedchannel。
　　"Well，"saidTomNorth，"they’vegottheoldmanrealgoodandmadthistime。"
　　Thecrewwentondrivingpiles，stringiynightagain。Noneofthecrewsrealisedthefact。Themenwerecaughtinthetoilsofalabourceaselessandeternal。
　　Neverwoulditend，justasneverhaditbegun。Alwaysweretheytohandlepiles，steamhammengcables，bindingchains，although，nowthattheinspirationofOrde’scombativespiritwaswithdrawnthelaboursseemeduseless，futile，amerefillinginofthetimebeforethesuprememomentwhentheywouldbecalledupontopaythesacrificetheirpersistenceandloyaltyhadprofferedforthealtarofself—respectandtheinvincibilityofthehumanSoul。
　　AtthedredgedchannelOrdesawtherivermenstandingidle，and，half—blindwithangerheburstuponthemdemandingbythis，thatandtheotherwhattheymeant。Thenbestoppedshortandstared。
　　Squareacrossthedredgedchannelandcompletelyblockingitlayasinglespanofanironbridge。Althoughtwistedandmisshapen，itwasstillintact，theframeworkofitsoverheadtruss—workretainingitscage—likeshape。Behinditthelogshadofcoursepiledupinajam，which，sinkingrapidlytothebedofthechannel，haddammedbackthewater。
　　"Whereinhelldidthatdropfrom？"criedOrde。
　　"Comedownontopthejam，"explainedariverman。MusthavecomewayfromRedding。Wejustcouldn’tSCAREheroutofhere。"
　　Orde，suddenlyfallenintoacoldrage，staredattheobstruction，bothfistsclenchedathisside。
　　"Toobad，boy，"saidWeltonathiselbow。"Butdon’ttakeittoohard。You’vedonemorethananyoftherestofuscould。Andwe’reallloserstogether。"
　　Ordelookedathimstrangely。
　　"Thataboutsettlesit，"repeatedWelton。
　　"Settle！"criedOrde。"Ishouldthinknot。"
　　Weltonsmiledquaintly。
　　"Don’tyouknowwhenyou’relicked？"
　　"Licked，hell！"saidOrde。"We’vejustbeguntofight。"
　　"Whatcanyoudo？"
　　"Getthatbridgespanoutofthere，ofcourse。"
　　"How？"
　　"Can’tweblowherupwithpowder？"
　　"Evertrytoblowupiron？"
　　"Theremustbesomeway。"
　　"Oh，thereis，"repliedWelton。"Ofcourse——takeherapartboltbyboltandnutbynut。"
　　"Sendforthewrenches，then，"snappedOrde。
　　"Butitwouldtaketwoorthreedays，evenworkingnightandday。"
　　"Whatofit？"
　　"Butitwouldbetoolate——itwoulddonogood——"
　　"Perhapsnot，"interruptedOrde；"butitwillbedoingsomething，anyway。Lookhere，Welton，areyougame？Ifyou’llgetthatbridgeoutintwodaysI’llholdthejam。"
　　"Youcan’tholdthatjamtwohours，letalonetwodays，"saidWeltondecidedly。
　　"That’smybusiness。You’rewastingtime。Willyousendforlanternsandwrenchesandkeepthiscrewworking？"
　　"Iwill，"saidWelton。
　　"Thendoit。"
　　Duringthenexttwodaystheoldsceneswereallrelived，withbackofthemtheweightofthestrugglethathadgonebefore。Thelittlecrsandtheimplementsoftheirtrade，menacedbyajamonthepointofbreaking，wetbyaswollenandangryflood，over—archedbyaclearcalmskyorbythetwinklingpeacefulstars。Longsincehadtheyceasedtoreckonwiththeresultsofwhattheydid，theconsequenceseithertothemselvesortothejam。Mechanicallytheyperformedtheirlabour。Perhapsthelogswouldkillthem。Perhapstheselong，black，drippingpilestheydrovewerehavingsomeeffectonthesituation。Neitherpossibilitymattered。
　　Thenallatonce，asthoughafaucethadbeenturnedoff，thefloodsslackened。
　　"They’veopenedthechannel，"saidOrdedully。Hisvoicesoundedtohimselfveryfaraway。Suddenlytheexternalworld，too，seemedremovedtoadistance，farfromhiscentreofconsciousness。Hefelthimselfmovinginstrangeanddistortedsurroundings；heheardhimselfrepeatingtoeachofanumberofwavering，giganticfiguresthetalismanicwordsthathadaccomplishedthedissolutionoftheearthforhimself："They’veopenedthechannel。"Atlasthefelthardplanksbeneathhisfeet，and，shakinghisheadwithaneffort，hemadeoutthepilot—houseoftheSPRITEandahollow—eyedmanleaningagainstit。"They’veopenedthechannel，Marsh，"herepeated。"Iguessthat’llbeall。"Thenquiteslowlyhesanktothedeck，soundasleep。
　　Welton，returningfromhislabourswiththeironbridgeandthejam，foundthemthus。Mensleptonthedeckofthetug，aboardthepile—
　　driver。Twoorthreehadevencurledupinthecrevicesofthejam，restinginthearmsofthemonstertheyhadsubdued。
　　XLII
　　WhenNewmarkleft，intheeathebooms，unlesscuriosityshouldtakeher。
　　Astheteamleftthemarshroadforthecountyturnpikepastthemillsyouare。rlystagesofthejam，hegavescantthoughttotheerrandonwhichhehadostensiblydeparted。WhetherornorOrdegotasupplyofpileswastohimamatterofindifference。Hishope，orratherpreferencewasthatthejamshouldgoout；buthesawclearlywhatOrde，blindedbytheswiftactionofthestruggle，wasasyetunabletoperceive。Evenshouldtherivermansucceedinstoppingthejam，theextraordinaryexpensesincidentaltothedefenceandtothesubsequentsalvaging，untanglingandsortingwouldmorethaneatuptheprofitsofthedrive。Ordewouldthenbeforcedtoaskforanextensionoftimeonhisnotes。
　　OnarrivinginMonrovia，hedrovetohisownhouse。ToMallockheissuedorders。
　　"GototheofficeandtellthemIamill，"saidhe，"andthenhuntupMr。Heinzman，whereverheis，andtellhimIwanttoseehimimmediately。"
　　HedidnottroubletosendworddirectlytoOrde，upriver；butlefthimtobeinformedbytheslowprocessoffiltrationthroughthebookkeepers。TheinterimofseveralhoursbeforeHeinzmanappearedhespentverycomfortablyinhiseasychair，dippingintoasmallvolumeofMontaigne。
　　AtlengththeGermanwasannounced。Heenteredratherredandbreathless，obviouslysurprisedtofindNewmarkathome。
　　"Dotwasaterriblejam，"saidhe，moppinghisbrowandsinkingintoachair。"Igotlotsoflogsinit。"
　　Newmarkdismissedthesubjectwithanabruptflipofhisunlightedcigar。
　　"Heinzman，"saidhe，"inthreeweeksatthelatestOrdewillcometoyouaskingforarenewalofthenotesyouholdagainstourfirm。
　　Youmustrefusetomakesucharenewal。"
　　"Allrighdt，"agreedHeinzman。
　　"He’llprobablyofferyouhigherinterest。Youmustrefusethat。
　　Thenwhenthenotesareoverdueyoumustbeginsuitinforeclosure。"
　　"Allrighdt，"repeatedHeinzmanalittlerestlessly。"Doyouthinkhevillholdthatjam？"
　　Newmarkshruggedhisshouldersswiftly。
　　"Igotlotsoflogsinthatjam。IfthatjamgoesoutIvillloseaheapofmoney。"
　　"Well，you’llmakequiteaheaponthisdeal，"saidNewmarkcarelessly。
　　"Supposeheholdsit，"saidHeinzman，pausing。"Ihatelikethemischieftojoomponhim。"
　　"Rot！"saidNewmarkdecisively。"That’swhathe’stherefor。"HelookedattheGermansharply。"Isupposeyouknowjusthowdeepyou’reinthis？"
　　"Oh，Iain’tbackingoudt，"negativedHeinzman。"Notabit。"
　　"Well，then，youknowwhattodo，"saidNewmark，terminatingtheinterview。
　　XLIII
　　Littlebylittlethewaterwentdown。Thepressure，alreadyconsiderablyrelievedbythechannelintoStearn’sBayou，slackenedeveryhour。Orde，stillhalfdazedwithhislong—delayedsleep，drovebackalongthemarshroadtotown。
　　Hisfacultieswerestillinthetorporthatfollowsrestafterexhaustion。ThewarmJulysun，thebreezefromtheLake，theflashoflightfromtheroadsidewater，thesewereallhehadroomforamonghisperceptions。Hewascontenttoenjoythem，andtoanticipatedrowsilythekeenpleasureofseeingCarrollagain。Intherushofthejamhehadheardnothingfromher。ForallheknewsheandBobbymighthavebeenamongthespectatorsonthebank；hehadhardlyoncelefttheriver。ItdidnotseemtohimstrangethatCarrollshouldnothavebeentheretowelcomehimafterthestrugglewasover。Rarelydidshegettotheboomsinordinarycircumstances。Thisepisodeofthebigjamwas，afterall，nothingbutpartoftheday’sworktoOrde；acrisis，exaggerateditistrue，butlikemanyothercrisesamanmustmeetandcopewithontheriver。TherewasnoreasonwhyCarrollshoulddrivethetwelvemilesbetweenMonroviaandsandlumberyards，Ordeshookhimselffullyawake。
　　Hebegantoreviewthesituation。AsNewmarkhadaccuratelyforeseen，hecamealmostimmediatelytoarealisationthatthefirmwouldnotbeabletomeetthenotesgiventoHeinzman。Ordehaddependedontheprofitsfromtheseason’sdrivetoenablehimtomakeupthenecessaryamount。Thoseprofitswouldbegreatlydiminished，ifnotwipedoutentirely，bytheexpenses，bothregularandirregular，incurredinholdingthejam；bythedamagesuitssurelytobebroughtbytheownersofthepiles，trees，pile—driversandothersuppliesandmaterialsrequisitionedintheheatofthecampaign；
　　andbytheextralabournecessarytobreakoutthejamandtosortthelogsaccordingtotheirvariousdestinations。
　　"I’llhavetogetanextensionoftime，"saidOrdetohimself。"OfcourseJoewillletmehavemoretimeonmyownpersonalnotetothefirm。AndHeinzmansurelyoughtto——Isavedalotofhislogsinthatjam。Andifhedoesn’twantto，Iguessanofferofalittlehigherinterestwillfetchhim。"
　　Ordinarilythestateofaffairswouldhaveworriedhim，foritwasexactl"
　　"Wherewassheexposed？"
　　"DownatHeinzman’s。Youknow——orperhapsyoudon’t——thatoldHeinzmanistheworstsortofanti—vaccinationcrank。Well，he’sreapedthereward。"
　　"Hashesmallpox？"askedOrdethatyouwouldtakethemuppersonally。Ourresourcesarealltiedup。"
　　"Can’tweraiseanythingmoreontheNorthernPeninsulatimber？"
　　askedOrde。
　　"Yououghttoknowwecan’t，"criedNewmark，withanappearanceofgrowingexcitement。"Thelastseventy—fivethousandweborrowedformefinishesthat。"
　　"Can’tyoutakeuppartofyournote？"
　　"Mynotecomesduein1885，"rejoinedNewmarkwithcolddisgust。"I
　　expecttotakeitupthen。ButIcan’tuntilthen。Ihadn’texpectedanythinglikethis。"
　　"Well，don’tgethot，"saidOrdevaguely。"IonlythoughtthatNorthernPeninsuythesituationhehadfoughtagainstsohard。Butnowhewastooweariedinsoulandbody。Hedismissedthesubjectfromhismind。Thehorses，leftalmosttothemselves，lapsedintoasleepyjog。Afteralittletheypassedthebridgeandenteredthetown。
　　Warmspicyodoursofpinedisengagedthemselvesfromthebrokenshinglesandsawdustoftheroadway，andfloatedupwardthroughthehotsunshine。Thebeautifulmapleswiththeirdenseshadowsthrewthesidewalksintocoolness。Uponestreetanddownanotherthehorsestooktheiraccustomedway。FinallytheypulledupoppositetheOrdehouse。Ordehitchedthehorses，and，hisstepquickeninginanticipation，sprangupthewalkandintothefrontdoor。
　　"Hullo，sweetheart！"hecalledcheerily。
　　Theechoesaloneansweredhim。Hecriedagain，andyetagain，withagrowingfeelingofdisappointmentthatCarrollshouldhappentobefromhome。Finallyadooropenedandshutinthebackpartofthehouse。AmomentlaterMary，theIrishservantgirl，camethroughthedining—room，caughtsightofOrde，threwherapronoverherhead，andburstintooneofthoseextravagantdemonstrationsofgriefpeculiartothewarm—heartedofherclass。
　　Ordestoppedshort，asinkingathisheart。
　　"Whatisit，Mary？"heaskedveryquietly。
　　Butthegirlonlyweptthelouder，rockingbackandforthinafreshparoxysmofgrief。BesidehimselfwithanxietyOrdesprangforwardtoshakeherbythearm，toshowerherwithquestions。Theseelicitednothingbutbrokenandincoherentfragmentsconcerning"themissus，""oh，thesadday！""andmeliftallalonewithBobby，meheartthatheavy，"andthelike，whichservedmerelytoincreaseOrde’sbewildermentandanxiety。AtthismomentBobbyhimselfappearedfromthedirectionofthekitchen。Orde，franticwithalarm，felluponhisson。Bobby，muchbewilderedbyallthispother，couldonlymumblesomethingabout"smallpox，"and"tookmammaawaywithdoctor。"
　　"Where？where，Bobby？"criedOrde，fairlyshakingthesmallboybytheshoulder。Hefeltlikeamaninabaddream，tryingtoreachagoalthatconstantlyeludedhim。
　　Atthismomentacalm，dryvoicebrokethroughtheturmoilofquestionsandexclamations。Ordelookeduptoseethetall，angularformofDoctorMcMullenstandinginthedoorway。
　　"It’sallright，"saidthedoctorinanswertoOrde’sagonisedexpression。"Yourwifewasexposedtosmallpoxandisatmyhousetoavoidthedangerofspreadingcontagion。Sheisnotill。"
　　HavingthusinoneswiftdecisivesentencecoveredthegroundofOrde’sanxiety，heturnedtothesnifflingservant。
　　"Mary，"saidhesternly，"lastuffmightbeworthsavinganywaywecouldfigureit。"