The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-02-19
CHAPTER XV.
On the Levee


 Hardin did not go home that night. He was feeling to the quick the Irony of his position: his duty now to pro- feet the Ievee he'd ridlculed; now the orly hope of the townsl The integrity of the man never faItered, though his thoughts ran wild. Like the relentless hounds of Actaeon, they pursued him, barking at his vanity.
 He started the anxious rauchers at saclting sand. Bodefeldt ran up to tell him that there was a hill of filled sacks over in MedCaH. 'Rickard had a bunch of Indians working for a week"
 The confusion of the shy fellow did not escape Hardin. Oh, he knew what Bodefeldt was thinking, what every one was saying They were all laugh ing at him. The coincidence of this extraordinary flood had upheld Rick ards wild guess, halOed his judgment, It was aiI a piece of his internal luck. Sickening, that's what it was His orders scattered. He ran up and down the Ievee, giving orders; recalling them when he found he was repeating Richards.
 1lllS 4lCN uuIullldIOu7 COLllllS O1 LA4t heels of the dredge fasco, put him in execrable temper. He shouted his or ders over the moi 5es 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 his excitement certainty of the valleys doom.
 The wind and the darkness con- Tibuted 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 Mexicaii. Fifty pair of hands made short work of Richards hill" Lanterns were fash ing through the darkness like restless frehies. The wind and rushing water deadened the sound of the voices. It was q 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 river.
 'The river Is cutting back" he called through the din, "cutting back toward the towns"
 A turn in the gorge, a careless dump-pit had pulled the river like 8 mad horse back on it's launches. Il was kicking back.
 "They are short-handed up there They need help"
 Dynamite" cried Silent and liar din antiphonally. They happened tC be standing near.
 "We must have dynamite" bawlet Hardin. Are the wires down betweer here and BrawIey? We must get z wire somehow to Los Angeles, to rusl 1t down here this morning"
 Its here. There is a carload or the siding" yelled Silent.
 Hardin did not need to ask by whose orders it was there. An angr! scowl spoiled his face.
 ''Put some on the machine.' H was turning away.
 Silent called after him. Did Mir Hardin think it was safe? There wat no road between the towns and Fas sett's. The night, the expIosive-shoult they not wait till morning? The ques ton threw his late chief into rage.
 'Did I ask you to take it?' It wa the opening for his fury. Safe! Vii the towns be safe if the river cuts bacl here? The channel has got to b widened, and you talk of your owl precious skin! Wait till I ask you t take it. Get out the machine. I'll talk 4t tO FaSSott's TrlvSaIf0
 Silent left the Ievee, smarting. H backed the machine out of the she' and sped through the darkness towar Mexicali, where the car of explosive was isolated.
 Hardin, buttoned up to the ears, hi soft hat pulled tight over his forehead was waiting impatiently. Here wa