"
Followed by the reluctant North he walked away, leaving the gaunt
figure of the dam owner gazing after them, his black garments
flapping about him, his hands clasped behind his back, his ruffled
plug hat thrust from his forehead.
"Well!" burst out North, when they were out of hearing.
"Well!" mimicked Orde with a laugh.
"Are you going to let that old high-banker walk all over you?"
"What are you going to do about it, Tom? It's his dam."
"I don't know. But you ain't going to let him bang us up here all
summer--"
"Sure not. But the wind's shifting. Let's see what the weather's
like to-morrow. To-day's pretty late."
II
The next morning dawned clear and breathless. Before daylight the
pessimistic cook was out, his fire winking bravely against the
darkness. His only satisfaction of the long day came when he
aroused the men from the heavy sleep into which daily toil plunged
them. With the first light the entire crew were at the banks of the
river.
As soon as the wind died the logs had begun to drift slowly out into
the open water. The surface of the pond was covered with the
scattered timbers floating idly. After a few moments the clank of
the bars and ratchet was heard as two of the men raised the heavy
sluice-gate on the dam.
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