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

your wooden lefenses going to amount
TO against the whole accumulation?
When those logs hit the tail OF this
jam she'll SO out before you can wink.
Its sure death. and I'm not going to
sacrifice my men,
Already the news was spreading
among the workers on the jams. Orde
saw the government driver below cast
ing loose from her mornings A mo-
ment later her tug towed her away to
"a side bayou of safety out Of the ex-
pected rush to the lake.
but we can hold her." cried Orde
in desperation.
Its no use. boy" said old Carlin;
Its sure death"
Sure death" Orde laughed bitterly.
..All, right; sure death. then. Isn't
there man in this crowd that will
tackle this sort Of sure death with
me?'
I'm with you, And me-" said
North and the Rough Red In a breath
.Good!'' cried Orde. You. too.
Johnny Sims and Purdy aud Jimmy
Powers? Bully boys!''
81 reckon you'll need the tug said
Marsh. l
A dozen more of Orde's 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 clumps we're
connected one to the other by system,
Of boom logs aud ropes TO interpose a
continuous barrier. The pile driver
4 placed the clumps. while the tug at
tended to the connecting defenses.
Now. boys" said Orde us 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 FAST. Orde called to the
men on the pile driver. eff we can
close the opening before those Redding
logs hit us we may be able to turn
them into our new channel"
He did not add that II the opening
were not closed before the jam broke,
as break 1t I. would In very few mo-
ments. the probabilities were that both
pile driver and rug would be destroy.
ed Every man knew that already.
Tom North ordered a pile placed In
the carriage. The hammer descended
i The work went forward as rapidly as
possible. Four times the jam shrugged
and settled hut four times 1t paused
on the brink Of discharge. Three Of
the clumps had been placed and bound,
and fifteen piles of the last clump had
lSbeen driven
zone more pile!' breathed Orde.
The hammer ran smoothly to the top
Land fell. A half dozen times more 1t
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
i 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 this 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 I he Rough Red. They watch
ed his appraised hand When itsshould
descend their axes must fall.
Orde folded knot Upstream the
lam settled deliberately forward, cut,
ling aSclump Of piles like straw.
"She's coming" cried the Rough Red.
"Give me every second you cam
said Orie making the last turns.
The mass toppled slowly, fell into
the swift current and leaped with I
roar. 4 "a SIS
! Jump. the Rough Red cried, AM
his arm descended.
J. Orde leaped blindly / for the rail
where he was seized and dragged
aboard by the Rough Red. The axe.
fell: Marsh whirled over the wheel
Harvey 1threw open his throttle. Th,
! tug sprahg from its leash like Il hound
And behind the barrier the logs. TOSS
, ing and tumbling, the white spray iy
ing before their onslaught. beat il
vain against the barrier. like raginl
wild beasts whose prey has escaped.
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