The Pulaskian., 1919-04-25
 CHAPTER xV.
On the Levee.

Of1 l1E ECbGSs
 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 levee he'd ridiculed; now the onlv hope of the towns The integrity of the maa never faltered, though his thoughts ran wild. Like the relentless hounds of Aetaeon, they pursued him, barking at his vanity.
 He started the anxious ranchers at sacking sand. Bodefeldt ran up to tell him that there was a hill of filled sacks over in Mexicali. "Rickard had bunch of Indians working for q 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 all a piece of his internal luck Sickening, 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 his 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 Richards "hili." Lanterns were fiasf.- ing through the darkness like restless hreflies. The wind and rushing water deadened the sound of the voices. It
 
 mics. In the darkness, the giants threatened to conquer.
 At three in the morning, horseman rode in from Fassett's, one of the big ranches to the north, cnt by the New river.
 "The river is cutting back" he called through the din, ''cutting back toward the towns"
 turn in the gorge, a careless dump-pit had pulled the river like a mad horse back on it's launches. It was kicking back.
 They arc short-handed up there. They need help."
 Dynamite,' cried Silent and Har- ain antiphonally. They happened to be standing near.
 We must have dynamite" bawled Hardin. Are the wires down between here and Brawley7 We must get a Wire somehow to Los Angeles, to rush U down here this morning."
 It's here. There is a carload on tne siding" yelled Silent.
 Hardin did not need to ask by whose orders 1t was there. An angry scowi spoiled his face.
 Put some on the machine" He was turning away.
 Silent called after him. Did MT. naroln think it was safe2 There was no road between the towns and Fas- setrs. The night. the explosive-should 'ihey not wait till morning? The ques- uon threw his late chief into rage. Did l ask you to take it?" It was .ne opening Tor his fury Safe! Will .he towns be safe if the river cuts back hereY The channel has got to be wiaened, and you talk of your own precious skin! Wait till I ask you to .ake 1t. Get out the machine. I'll take U to Fassett's myself"
 Silent left the levee, smarting. He packed the machine out of the shed ana sped through the darkness toward NaeSleali, where the car of explosives was isolated.
 nardin, buttoned up to the ears, his sosf nat pulled tight over his forehead vas waiting impatiently. Here was something to be done; he coveted the activity.