Finally
he yawned, knocked the ashes from his pipe, and got to his feet.
"Now," said he, a new ring in his voice, "come on and let's get
something DONE!"
They responded to a man.
XL
By midnight the water seemed to have gone down slightly. Half the
crew snatched a little sleep. For several hours more the issue hung
aggravatingly in equilibrium. Then, with the opening of the channel
into Stearn's Bayou the heaviest pressure was relieved. For the
moment the acute danger point was passed.
Orde spent the next two days in strengthening the defences. The men
were able to take their quota of meals and of sleep. Merely the
working hours were longer than usual. Orde himself slept little,
and was still possessed by a feverish activity. The flood continued
at about the same volume. Until the water should subside, the
danger could not be considered completely over with.
In these few days of comparative leisure Orde had time to look about
him and to receive news. The jam had been successfully held at the
iron railroad bridge above Redding; but only by the most strenuous
efforts. Braces of oak beams had been slanted where they would do
the most good; chains strengthened the weaker spots; and on top of
all ton after ton of railroad iron held the whole immovably.
Pages:
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432