The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1910-02-09

aE'
Come ON and let's get something done. .
J. lions Of reaction in the mild grum-
blings that arose Although the need
for struggle against the :ireless dy-
namics of the river was as insistent as
ever. although it seemed certain that
"a moments cessation Of effort would
permit the enemy an irretrievable
gain. he called u halt on the whole
work.
Boys. said he irrelevantly. lets
have a smoke.
He threw himself full length against
slanting pile. ieisnrely filing his
pipe. The men stared moment and
then followed his example. The hori-
zon lay low and black against he
afterglow Beneath 1t the river shone
y like silver. Over beyond the rise Of
land that lay between the river and
Dtearn's bayou could be seen the cloud
4S:ssa mingled smoke and steam that
marked the activity Of the dredge.
Orde was apparently more 1T 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 yawned and
got to his feet.
Now" said he. a new ring In his
voice. come on and let's get some
! thing done.' a.
They responded to man.
BY midnight the water had gone
down slightly. Half the crew snatched
i q 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
4 to take their quota Of meals and OF
sleep.
The jam had been successfully held
1T the iron railroad bridge above Red
ding, but only by the. most strenuous
4 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. Nolan had all the
help he required. Every device known
was employed to strengthen the jam.
L For only few hours was the result
3 In doubt. Then. as the Clarion jubir
lantly expressed 1t. Its a hundred
dollars to8an old hat she holds!'
Orde received all this with satisfac-
ton, but with a slight skepticism.
Its a floating jam. and It gets q
push from underneath" he pointed
out. .It's probably safe, but another
Aood might send 1t out.
..Thes foods are going down." said
North.
GOOD Lord. hope sou said Orde.
Newark sent word that a sudden
at of sickness had confined him to the
house
Now Orde decided to break out Z
channel through the jam itself. This
was necessary preliminary to getting
the logs In shape for, distribution. Al
opening was made in the piles. and the
rivermen. with pike poles and peavies
began cautiously to dig their way
through the tangled timbers. The gov
eminent pile driver. which had finally
been sent up from below, began plac
ing five'extra booms at intervals down
stream to capture the drift as fast al
It was turned loose. The troubles ap
peared to be quite over when wore
came from Redding that the waters
were again rising. Ten miputes latel
Leopold Lincoln Bum. the local re
porter. came tapping in on Randall'
old white horse. like q second Paul Re
we're. crying that the iron bridge hal
gone and the logs were racing dow
river toward the booms.
ut just went out!!' he answered tn
eager EXPLANATIONS Of the men VIII,
crowded around him. That's all
know. 1t went out! And the othe
bridges. Sure: All but the Lake Shore
Don't know why that didn't go out
No; the logs didn't jam there just sli,
right under!"
..That settles It," said Welton.
ssYou won't quit r. cried Orde.
"Certatnly. You're crazyw said Wei
ton, with some asperity. III they cam
stop little jam with iron. what ar