The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-04-04
cnAprER xv.

on the Levee.

Hardin dld not 80 home that night,
tie was feeling 20 the quick the irony
of his position his duty now 20 pro-
tect the leyce he'd ridiculed; now the
only hope Of the towns The integrity
Of the man never faltered, though his
thoughts ran Wild. Like the relentless
hounds Of Actneon. they pursued him.
barking a. his vanity
lie started the anxious ranchers at
sAcklng sand. Bodefeldt ran up Go fell
him TINT there was hin Of filled
sacks over in Mexicall Richard had
= bunch Of Indians working for
week"
The confusion OF the shy fellow did
not escape Hardin. Oh. he knew what
Bodefeldt was thinking. what every
enc was sayIngi They were all laugh
ing at him. The coincidence OF this
extraordinary flood had upheld Rick
ards Wild guess, haloed his Judgment
Il was all piece OF his Internal luck,
Sickening, that's what II vast His
orders scattered. He ran up and down
she ieyee, giving orders; recalling
them when he found he was repeating
Richards.
This new humiliation. coming on the
heels Of the dredge tiasco, put him In
execrable temper. He shouted his or.
ders over the noises OF the night. He
rated the men. builied them. No one
did anything right Lord, what he
had 10 put up With The other men,
the ranchers and engineers, saw In
his excitement certainty OF the valleys
doom.
The wind and the darkness con-
tributed TO the confusion. Eager
shoyels were tossing up earth before
anyone could tell where the danger
point would be. The water was not
yet high enough 10 determine the place
Of battle. Sacked sand was being
brought over from Mexicali. Fifty
pair OF hands made short work OF
Richards "hill." Lanterns were flash.
Ing through the darkness like restless
6retiIes The wind and rushing water
deadened the sound OF the voices. II
WAS battle OF giants against pyg-
miles. In the darkness, the giants
threatened 10 conquer.
At three In the morning. a horseman
rode In from Fassett's. one OF the big
ranches 10 the north. eut by the New
river.
'The river Is cutting back" he
called through the din. "cutting back
toward the towns"
A turn ia the gorge, careless
aumppit had pulled the river like a
mad Horse back ON It's launches. IL
Was Kicking back.
~Ihey are short.handed up there.
They need help"
dynamite" cried Silent and Har-
din antiphonally. They happened 10
be standing near.
1--WE must have dynamite bawled
Hardin. "Are the wires down between
here aud Brawleyf We must get a
sire somehow 10 Los angeles. to rush
u down here this morning"
"Ifs here. There is carload on
The siding" yelled silent.
Hardin did not need TO ask by
whose orders Il was there. An angry
seow spoiled his face.
"Put some ON the machine" lie
was turning away
silent called after him. Did Mr..
Hardin think ii was safer There was
no road Between the towns and Fas-
seits. The night. the explosiye-should
they not wait tn moFnlng7 The ques-
ton threw his late chief Into a rage.
ibid ] ask you TO take ltY" Il was
the opening for his fury. "safel Will
the towns BE- safe II the river cuts back
here7 The channel has got to be
wldened. and you talk OF your own
precious skinl Walt TIL ask you 10
take II. Get ont the machine. I'll take
II 70 Fassetts myself"
Silent left the leyee. smartIng. tie
backed the machine out o. the shed
and sped through the darkness toward
Mexieali. where the car Of explosives
was Isolated
Hardin, buttoned up to the ears. his
soft hat pulled tight over his forehead,
was waiting Inpatiently. Here was
something TO be dcne; he coveted the
activity