News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1910-02-23

| "Sure death" Orde laughed bitterly.
| "All right; sure death. then. Isn't
, there Il man IN this crowd that will
tackle this sort of sure death with
meT
I'm with YOU And me-" said
North and the Rough Red in breath.
"Good! cried Orde. You, too.
Johnny Sims and Purdy and Jimmy
Powers? Bully boysr'
Il reckon you'll need the tug" said
Marsh.
a dozen more of Ordes personal fol.
lowing volunteered.
We've got to close that opening first
thing" said he. Marsh, tow the pile
driver up there"
The opening was to be closed by
piles driven in groups of sixteen bound
together by chains. The cumps were
connected one TO the other by system
of boom logs and ropes to interpose
continuous barrier The pile driver
placed the clumps. while the tug at
tended TO the connecting defenseS
Nov. boys" said Orde as his last
word. IF she starts to go save your
selves the best way you can. Never
mind the driver. Stay on top
Slowly the tug and her consort nosed
up through the boiling water.
Work faStr Orde called to the
men on the pile driver If we can
close he opening before those Redding
logs hit rs we may be able to turn
them into our new channel"
He did not add that if the opening
were not closed before the jam broke.
as break ii would in a very few mo-
ments. the probabilities were that both
pile driver and tug would be destroy
ed Every man knew that already.
Tom North ordered Il pile placed in
the carriage The hammer descended
The work went forward as rapidly as
possible. Four times the jam shrugged
and settled. hut four times it paused
on the brink of discharge. Three of
the clumpS bad been placed and bound.
and fifteen piles of the last clump had
been driven
lone more pile" breathed Orde
The hammer ran smoothly to the top
and fell. A half dozen times more it
ripped. Then heavy chains were
thrown around the winch. and the
steam power began to draw the clumps
together
Done cried Tom North
North unmoored, and the driver
dropped back with the current. The
tug churned forward to accomplish the
last duty OF binding the defenses to-
gether by means of chains and cables.
Two men leaped to the floating booms.
Orde and the Rough Red SET about the
task. They worked from either end to-
ward the middle. When they met Orde
ordered Red aboard the tug.
"I'll tie fhis one. Jimmy" said he.
Aboard the tug all was tense prepa-
ration. In the engine room Harvey.
his hand on the throttle stood ready
to throw her wide open at the signal |
Armed with sharp axes. two men pre-
pared to cut the mooring lines on a
Sign from the Rough Red They watch |
I'd his appraised hand When it should |
descend their axes must fall.
Orde folded knot. Upstream the /
lam settled deliberately forward, cut
ing a clump of piles like straw.
"Shes comingw cried the Rough Red. |
"Give me every second you can,"
said Orde, making the last turns.
The mass toppled slowly, fell into
he swift current and leaped with a
oar.
Jump" the Rough Red cried, and
lis arm descended.
Orde leaped bindly for the rail,
where he was seized and dragged |
lboard by the Rough Red. The axes
ell; Marsh whirled over the wheel;
Harvey threw open his throttle. The
ug sprang from its leash like hound.
And behind the barrier the logs, toss
ng and tumbling, the white spray fly
ng before their onslaught, beat in
ain against the barrier, like raging
Wild beasts whose prey has escaped.