"That sluice is a good six
foot too high."
"Is that so!" cried the old man, plunging suddenly into a craze of
excitement. "Well, let me tell you this, Mr. Man, I'm giving you
all the law gives you, and that's the natural flow of the river, and
not a thing more will you get! You that comes to waste and destroy,
to arrogate unto yourselves the kingdoms of the yearth and all the
fruits thereof, let me tell you you can't override Simeon Reed! I'm
engaged here in a peaceful and fittin' operation, which is to feed
the hungry by means of this grist-mill, not to rampage and bring
destruction to the noble forests God has planted! I've give you
what the law gives you, and nothin' more!"
Somewhat astonished at this outbreak, the two rivermen stood for a
moment staring at the old man. Then a steely glint crept into
Orde's frank blue eye and the corners of his mouth tightened.
"We want no trouble with you, Mr. Reed," said he, "and I'm no lawyer
to know what the law requires you to do and what it requires you not
to do. But I do know that this is the only dam on the river with
sluices built up that way, and I do know that we'll never get those
logs out if we don't get more draw on the water. Good-day.
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