The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1919-08-01
CHAPTER XIV.
On the levee.

On the Levee.
Hardin did not go home that night.
file was feeling to the quick the irony
of his position; his duty now to pro-
tect the levee 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 Actaeon, they pursued him,
barking at his vanity.
He started the anxious ranchers at
kacking sand. Bodefeldt ran up to tell
him that there was hill of filled
sacks over in Mexicali. "Rickard had
a lunch of Indians working for a
week"
The confusion of the shy fellow did
DOT escape Hardin. Oh, he knew what
Bodefeldt was thinking, what every
one was saying! They were all laugh
}ng at him. The coincidence of this
extraordinary flood had upheld Rick
ards wild guess, haloed his judgment.
1t was all piece of his Internal luck.
b!ckening, that's what it was! His
orders scattered. He ran up and down
the leVee, giving orders; recalling
them when he found he was repeating
Richards.
This new humiliation, coming on the
heels of the dredge fiasco, put him in
execrable temper. He shouted his or
ders over the noises of the night. He
rated the men, bullied them. No one
did anything right Lord, what he
had to put up with The other men,
the ranchers and engineers, saw in
bis excitement certainty Of the valleys
doom.
The wind and the darkness con-
tributed to the confusion. Eager
shovels were tossing up earth before
anyone could tell where the danger
point would be. The water was not
yet high enough to determine the place
Of battle. Sacked sand was being
brought over from Mexicali. Fifty
pair of hands made short work of
Eickard's chill" Lanterns were flash
Ing through the darkness like restless
areflies. The wind and rushing water
deadened the sound of the voices. 1t
was battle of giants against pyg-
mics. In the darkness, the giants
threatened to conquer.
At three in the morning, a horseman
rode in from Fassett's, one of the big
ranches to the north, cut by the New
rlver,
1.-THE river is cutting back" he
called through the din, cutting back
toward the towns"
A turn In the gorge, careless
dump-pit had pulled the river like a
mad horse back on its launches. II
was kicking back.
"They are short-handed up there.
They need help" F
Dynamite" cried Silent and Har-
din antiphonally. They happened to
be standing near.
eve must have dynamite" bawled
Hardin. "Are the wires down between
here and Brawley? We must get q
wire somehow to Los Angeles, to rush
It down here this morning."
sits here. There is a carload on
the siding" yelled Silent.
Hardin did not need to ask by
whose orders it was there. An angry
scowl spoiled his face.
"Put some on the, machine" He
was turning away.
Silent called after him. Did Mr.
Hardin think it was safer. There was
ao road between the towns and Fas.
sett's. The night, the explosive should
they not wait till morning? The ques.
ton threw his late chief into rage.
'Did ask you to take it," 1t was
the opening for his fury. "Safel Will
the towns be safe if the river cuts back
here? The channel has got to be
widened, and you talk of your own
precious skin! Wait till / ask you to
take it. Get out the machine. I'll take
e 20 Fassett's myself"
Silent left the levee. smarting. He
backed the machine out of the shed
kRd sped through the darkness toward
Mexicali, where the car of explosives
was isolated.
Hardin. buttoned up to the ears, his
soft hat pulled tight over his forehead
was waiting impatiently. Here was
something to be done he coveted the
activity.
II thought you We're never coming
be grumbled.
Vet me take It'll" pleaded the en-
Elnaer.
Nonsense, there is no danger" Har
din saw personal affection In the plea
he put his hand affectionately on tn,
Naan's shoulder. $50.
sYou go home and catch nap; thi.
Is my job. he was standing on tn,
gtep. "Crank her."
! There was nothing for Silent to d
but to. get cut. Hardin pointed tn,
long nose of the car into the darkness
She was off like the greyhound sh,
rsss1ested. missing telegraph pole b,
hiif M zach -: