We've got to carry this thing
through at first on our face, and they'd be more apt to entrust the
matter to you personally."
"All right," agreed Orde. "I'll start in on Daly."
He did so the following morning. Daly swung his bulk around in his
revolving office-chair and listened attentively.
"Well, Jack," said he, "I think you're a good riverman, and I
believe you can do it. I'd be only too glad to get rid of the
nuisance of it, let alone get it done cheaper. If you'll draw up
your contract and bring it in here, I'll sign it. I suppose you'll
break out the rollways?"
"No," said Orde; "we hadn't thought of doing more than the driving
and distributing. You'll have to deliver the logs in the river.
Maybe another year, after we get better organised, we'll be able to
break rollways--at a price per thousand--but until we get a-going
we'll have to rush her through."
Orde repeated this to his associate.
"That was smooth enough sailing," he exulted.
"Yes," pondered Newmark, removing his glasses and tapping his thumb
with their edge. "Yes," he repeated, "that was smooth sailing.
What was that about rollways?"
"Oh, I told him we'd expect him to break out his own," said Orde.
"Yes, but what does that mean exactly?"
"Why," explained Orde, with a slight stare of surprise, "when the
logs are cut and hauled during the winter, they are banked on the
river-banks, and even in the river-channel itself.
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