"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；