The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-06

%s$ NE
 ~coms on and Lets get sOmethfng done t1ons of reaction in the mild grum
 blings that arose. Although the need
 Tor struggle against the tireless dy
 namics of the river was as fnsisteut as
 ever. although it seemed certain that
 moments cessation of effort would
 permit the enemy an irretrievabIe
 Eainr he called n halt on the whole
 work
 Boys" said he irreievantIy, Tets have R smoke"
 He threw himself full length against
 a slanting pile. leisurely filling his
 pipe The men stared moment and
 then followed his example The hori- tzon lay low and black against the
 afterglow. Beneath it the river shone | like silver. Over beyond the rise of
 land that lay between the river and
 stearn's bayou could be seen the cloud i of mingled smoke and steam that
 marked the activity of the dredge
 orde was apparently more at ease
 than any of the rest. but each instant
 he. expected to hear the premonitory crack that would sound the end of
 everything. Finally he yawnec and fgot to his feet.
 1. Now said he, new ring in his voice. -come on and let's get some thing donsP'
 They responded to man.
 By midnight the water had gone down slightly Half the crew snatched a little sleep For several hours. more the issue hung 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 strengthen Ing the defenses- The men were able to take their quota of meals and of sleep
 The jam had been successfully held at the iron railroad bridge above Red ding but only by the most strenuous enors- Braces of oak beams had been sianted where they would do the moft good Chains strengthened the weaker spots, and on top of all ton after ton Of railroad iron held the whole immcvably Nolan had all the help he required Every device known was employed to strengthen the jam. For only a few hours was the result | in doubt Then. as the Clarion jubi- 1 iantly expressed 1t, Its hundred | dollars to an old hat she holdsr's
 ,Orde received all this with satisfac- ton, but with slight skepticisn.
 It's floating jam, and 1t gets push from underneath.' he pointed out Its probably safe. but another flood might send 1t out"
 The floods are going down." said North
 f"Good Lord. hope soI'' said orde.
 Newmark sent word that a sudden fit of sickness had confned him to the house
 Now Orde decided to break out A channel through the jam itself. This was necessary preliminary to getting me logs in shape for distribution. An opening was made in. the piles, and the riFermen- with pike poles and peavies. began cautiously to dig their way through the tangled timbers The gov ernment pile 1rtver. which had finally been sent rp from below. began plac- Ing live extra booms at intervals down stream to capture the drift as fast as lt was turned loose The troubles ap- peared to be quite over when word -ame from Bedding that the waters were again rising. Ten minutes later Leopold Lincoln Bum. the local re- porter, came Tapping in on RandaIPs 'ld white horse, Ike second Paul Re Fere, crying that the iron bridge had rone and the logs were racing down liver toward the bcons. Tt just went out!' he answered the 'ager exclamations of the men who { 'rovded around him That's All now 1t went outf And the other ( ridges, Suret All but the Lake shoref t Don't know why that didn't % out. ' so; the logs didn't jam there-just slid q fight underr' 1 That settles it.v said welton. f
 You won't quitY'' cried Orde. ! "Cerfainly- You're crazyF. said Well e Dn- with snrne asperity. eff they can't t top little jam with iron. what are t our wooden defenses going to amount c against the whole accumulation? When those logs hit the tail of this n am she'll go out before you can wink J 1's sure death. and I'm not going to | D acrifce my men,
 Already the news was spreading E mong the workers on the jams. Orde u INV the government driver below cast lg loose from her moorfngs. A mo- u lent later her tug lowed her away to a side bayou of safety out of the ex- acted rush to the lake. But we can hold herr' cried orde desperation.
 -It's no use, boy said old Carlin: fs sure death'' 1s D Sure death.g Orde laughed bitterly. Rs An right: sure death. then. Isn't re, ere man fin this crowd that will H sI ckle this sort of sure death with EI Ez.II e an r-~s