Now in August, however, the first turmoil1 had died. The "jam" had boiled into town, "taken it apart," and left the inhabitants to piece it together again as they could; the "rear" had not yet arrived. As a consequence, Thorpe found the city comparatively quiet.
Here and there swaggered a strapping2 riverman, his small felt hat cocked aggressively over one eye, its brim curled up behind; a cigar stump3 protruding4 at an angle from beneath his sweeping5 moustache; his hands thrust into the pockets of his trousers, "stagged" off at the knee; the spikes6 of his river boots cutting little triangular7 pieces from the wooden sidewalk. His eye was aggressively humorous, and the smile of his face was a challenge.
For in the last month he had faced almost certain death a dozen times a day. He had ridden logs down the rapids where a loss of balance meant in one instant a ducking and in the next a blow on the back from some following battering-ram; he had tugged8 and strained and jerked with his peavey under a sheer wall of tangled9 timber twenty feet high,--behind which pressed the full power of the freshet,--only to jump with the agility10 of a cat from one bit of unstable11 footing to another when the first sharp CRACK warned him that he had done his work, and that the whole mass was about to break down on him like a wave on the shore; he had worked fourteen hours a day in ice-water, and had slept damp; he had pried13 at the key log in the rollways on the bank until the whole pile had begun to rattle14 down into the river like a cascade15, and had jumped, or ridden, or even dived out of danger at the last second. In a hundred passes he had juggled16 with death as a child plays with a rubber balloon. No wonder that he has brought to the town and his vices17 a little of the lofty bearing of an heroic age. No wonder that he fears no man, since nature's most terrible forces of the flood have hurled18 a thousand weapons at him in vain. His muscles have been hardened, his eye is quiet and sure, his courage is undaunted, and his movements are as quick and accurate as a panther's. Probably nowhere in the world is a more dangerous man of his hands than the riverman. He would rather fight than eat, especially when he is drunk, as, like the cow-boy, he usually is when he gets into town. A history could be written of the feuds19, the wars, the raids instituted by one camp or one town against another.
The men would go in force sometimes to another city with the avowed20 purpose of cleaning it out. One battle I know of lasted nearly all night. Deadly weapons were almost never resorted to, unless indeed a hundred and eighty pounds of muscle behind a fist hard as iron might be considered a deadly weapon. A man hard pressed by numbers often resorted to a billiard cue, or an ax, or anything else that happened to be handy, but that was an expedient21 called out by necessity. Knives or six-shooters implied a certain premeditation which was discountenanced.
On the other hand, the code of fair fighting obtained hardly at all. The long spikes of river-boots made an admirable weapon in the straight kick. I have seen men whose faces were punctured22 as thickly as though by small-pox, where the steel points had penetrated23. In a free-for-all knock-down-and-drag-out, kicking, gouging24, and biting are all legitimate25. Anything to injure the other man, provided always you do not knife him. And when you take a half dozen of these enduring, active, muscular, and fiery26 men, not one entertaining in his innermost heart the faintest hesitation27 or fear, and set them at each other with the lightning tirelessness of so many wild-cats, you get as hard a fight as you could desire. And they seem to like it.
One old fellow, a good deal of a character in his way, used to be on the "drive" for a firm lumbering28 near Six Lakes. He was intensely loyal to his "Old Fellows," and every time he got a little "budge29" in him, he instituted a raid on the town owned by a rival firm. So frequent and so severe did these battles become that finally the men were informed that another such expedition would mean instant discharge. The rule had its effect. The raids ceased.
But one day old Dan visited the saloon once too often. He became very warlike. The other men merely laughed, for they were strong enough themselves to recognize firmness in others, and it never occurred to them that they could disobey so absolute a command. So finally Dan started out quite alone.
He invaded the enemy's camp, attempted to clean out the saloon with a billiard cue single handed, was knocked down, and would have been kicked to death as he lay on the floor if he had not succeeded in rolling under the billiard table where the men's boots could not reach him. As it was, his clothes were literally31 torn to ribbons, one eye was blacked, his nose broken, one ear hung to its place by a mere30 shred32 of skin, and his face and flesh were ripped and torn everywhere by the "corks33" on the boots. Any but a riverman would have qualified35 for the hospital. Dan rolled to the other side of the table, made a sudden break, and escaped.
But his fighting blood was not all spilled. He raided the butcher-shop, seized the big carving37 knife, and returned to the battle field.
The enemy decamped--rapidly--some of them through the window. Dan managed to get in but one blow. He ripped the coat down the man's back as neatly38 as though it had been done with shears39, one clean straight cut from collar to bottom seam. A quarter of an inch nearer would have split the fellow's backbone40. As it was, he escaped without even a scratch.
Dan commandeered two bottles of whisky, and, gory41 and wounded as he was, took up the six-mile tramp home, bearing the knife over his shoulder as a banner of triumph.
Next morning, weak from the combined effects of war and whisky, he reported to headquarters.
"What is it, Dan?" asked the Old Fellow without turning.
"I come to get my time," replied the riverman humbly42.
"What for?" inquired the lumberman.
"I have been over to Howard City," confessed Dan.
The owner turned and looked him over.
"They sort of got ahead of me a little," explained Dan sheepishly.
The lumberman took stock of the old man's cuts and bruises43, and turned away to hide a smile.
"I guess I'll let you off this trip," said he. "Go to work--when you can. I don't believe you'll go back there again."
"No, sir," replied Dan humbly.
And so the life of alternate work and pleasure, both full of personal danger, develops in time a class of men whose like is to be found only among the cowboys, scouts44, trappers, and Indian fighters of our other frontiers. The moralists will always hold up the hands of horror at such types; the philosopher will admire them as the last incarnation of the heroic age, when the man is bigger than his work. Soon the factories, the machines, the mechanical structures and constructions, the various branches of co-operation will produce quasi-automatically institutions evidently more important than the genius or force of any one human being. The personal element will have become nearly eliminated. In the woods and on the frontier still are many whose powers are greater than their works; whose fame is greater than their deeds. They are men, powerful, virile45, even brutal46 at times; but magnificent with the strength of courage and resource.
All this may seem a digression from the thread of our tale, but as a matter of fact it is necessary that you understand the conditions of the time and place in which Harry47 Thorpe had set himself the duty of success.
He had seen too much of incompetent48 labor49 to be satisfied with anything but the best. Although his ideas were not as yet formulated50, he hoped to be able to pick up a crew of first-class men from those who had come down with the advance, or "jam," of the spring's drive. They should have finished their orgies by now, and, empty of pocket, should be found hanging about the boarding-houses and the quieter saloons. Thorpe intended to offer good wages for good men. He would not need more than twenty at first, for during the approaching winter he purposed to log on a very small scale indeed. The time for expansion would come later.
With this object in view he set out from his hotel about half-past seven on the day of his arrival, to cruise about in the lumber-jack district already described. The hotel clerk had obligingly given him the names of a number of the quieter saloons, where the boys "hung out" between bursts of prosperity. In the first of these Thorpe was helped materially in his vague and uncertain quest by encountering an old acquaintance.
From the sidewalk he heard the vigorous sounds of a one-sided altercation51 punctuated52 by frequent bursts of quickly silenced laughter. Evidently some one was very angry, and the rest amused. After a moment Thorpe imagined he recognized the excited voice. So he pushed open the swinging screen door and entered.
The place was typical. Across one side ran the hard-wood bar with foot-rest and little towels hung in metal clasps under its edge. Behind it was a long mirror, a symmetrical pile of glasses, a number of plain or ornamental53 bottles, and a miniature keg or so of porcelain54 containing the finer whiskys and brandies. The bar-keeper drew beer from two pumps immediately in front of him, and rinsed55 glasses in some sort of a sink under the edge of the bar. The center of the room was occupied by a tremendous stove capable of burning whole logs of cordwood. A stovepipe led from the stove here and there in wire suspension to a final exit near the other corner. On the wall were two sporting chromos, and a good variety of lithographed calendars and illuminated56 tin signs advertising57 beers and spirits. The floor was liberally sprinkled with damp sawdust, and was occupied, besides the stove, by a number of wooden chairs and a single round table.
The latter, a clumsy heavy affair beyond the strength of an ordinary man, was being deftly58 interposed between himself and the attacks of the possessor of the angry voice by a gigantic young riverman in the conventional stagged (i.e., chopped off) trousers, "cork34" shoes, and broad belt typical of his craft. In the aggressor Thorpe recognized old Jackson Hines.
"Damn you!" cried the old man, qualifying the oath, "let me get at you, you great big sock-stealer, I'll make you hop36 high! I'll snatch you bald-headed so quick that you'll think you never had any hair!"
"I'll settle with you in the morning, Jackson," laughed the riverman.
"You want to eat a good breakfast, then, because you won't have no appetite for dinner."
The men roared, with encouraging calls. The riverman put on a ludicrous appearance of offended dignity.
"Oh, you needn't swell59 up like a poisoned pup!" cried old Jackson plaintively60, ceasing his attacks from sheer weariness. "You know you're as safe as a cow tied to a brick wall behind that table."
Thorpe seized the opportunity to approach.
"Hello, Jackson," said he.
The old man peered at him out of the blur61 of his excitement.
"Don't you know me?" inquired Thorpe.
"Them lamps gives 'bout12 as much light as a piece of chalk," complained Jackson testily62. "Knows you? You bet I do! How are you, Harry? Where you been keepin' yourself? You look 'bout as fat as a stall-fed knittin' needle."
"I've been landlooking in the upper peninsula," explained Thorpe, "on the Ossawinamakee, up in the Marquette country."
"Sho'" commented Jackson in wonder, "way up there where the moon changes!"
"It's a fine country," went on Thorpe so everyone could hear, "with a great cutting of white pine. It runs as high as twelve hundred thousand to the forty sometimes."
"Trees clean an' free of limbs?" asked Jackson.
"They're as good as the stuff over on seventeen; you remember that."
"Clean as a baby's leg," agreed Jackson.
"Have a glass of beer?" asked Thorpe.
"Dry as a tobacco box," confessed Hines.
"Have something, the rest of you?" invited Thorpe.
So they all drank.
On a sudden inspiration Thorpe resolved to ask the old man's advice as to crew and horses. It might not be good for much, but it would do no harm.
Jackson listened attentively63 to the other's brief recital64.
"Why don't you see Tim Shearer65? He ain't doin' nothin' since the jam came down," was his comment.
"Isn't he with the M. & D. people?" asked Thorpe.
"Nope. Quit."
"How's that?"
"'Count of Morrison. Morrison he comes up to run things some. He does. Tim he's getting the drive in shape, and he don't want to be bothered, but old Morrison he's as busy as hell beatin' tan-bark. Finally Tim, he calls him. "'Look here, Mr. Morrison,' says he, 'I'm runnin' this drive. If I don't get her there, all right; you can give me my time. 'Till then you ain't got nothin' to say.'
"Well, that makes the Old Fellow as sore as a scalded pup. He's used to bossin' clerks and such things, and don't have much of an idea of lumber-jacks. He has big ideas of respect, so he 'calls' Tim dignified66 like.
"Tim didn't hit him; but I guess he felt like th' man who met the bear without any weapon,--even a newspaper would 'a' come handy. He hands in his time t' once and quits. Sence then he's been as mad as a bar-keep with a lead quarter, which ain't usual for Tim. He's been filin' his teeth for M. & D. right along. Somethin's behind it all, I reckon."
"Where'll I find him?" asked Thorpe.
Jackson gave the name of a small boarding-house. Shortly after, Thorpe left him to amuse the others with his unique conversation, and hunted up Shearer's stopping-place.
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1
turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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strapping
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| adj. 魁伟的, 身材高大健壮的 n. 皮绳或皮带的材料, 裹伤胶带, 皮鞭 动词strap的现在分词形式 | |
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stump
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| n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走 | |
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protruding
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的现在分词 )；凸 | |
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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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spikes
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| n.穗( spike的名词复数 )；跑鞋；（防滑）鞋钉；尖状物v.加烈酒于( spike的第三人称单数 )；偷偷地给某人的饮料加入（更多）酒精（ 或药物）；把尖状物钉入；打乱某人的计划 | |
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triangular
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| adj.三角（形）的，三者间的 | |
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tugged
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| v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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tangled
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| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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agility
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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unstable
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| adj.不稳定的，易变的 | |
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bout
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| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
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pried
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| v.打听，刺探（他人的私事）( pry的过去式和过去分词 )；撬开 | |
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rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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cascade
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| n.小瀑布，喷流；层叠；vi.成瀑布落下 | |
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juggled
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| v.歪曲( juggle的过去式和过去分词 )；耍弄；有效地组织；尽力同时应付（两个或两个以上的重要工作或活动） | |
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vices
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| 缺陷( vice的名词复数 )； 恶习； 不道德行为； 台钳 | |
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hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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feuds
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| n.长期不和，世仇( feud的名词复数 ) | |
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avowed
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| adj.公开声明的，承认的v.公开声明，承认( avow的过去式和过去分词) | |
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expedient
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| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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punctured
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| v.在（某物）上穿孔( puncture的过去式和过去分词 )；刺穿（某物）；削弱（某人的傲气、信心等）；泄某人的气 | |
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23
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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24
gouging
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| n.刨削[槽]v.凿( gouge的现在分词 )；乱要价；（在…中）抠出…；挖出… | |
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25
legitimate
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| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
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fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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lumbering
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| n.采伐林木 | |
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budge
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| v.移动一点儿；改变立场 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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shred
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| v.撕成碎片，变成碎片；n.碎布条，细片，些少 | |
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corks
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| n.脐梅衣；软木( cork的名词复数 )；软木塞 | |
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cork
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| n.软木，软木塞 | |
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35
qualified
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| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
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36
hop
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| n.单脚跳，跳跃；vi.单脚跳，跳跃；着手做某事；vt.跳跃，跃过 | |
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carving
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| n.雕刻品，雕花 | |
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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39
shears
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| n.大剪刀 | |
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40
backbone
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| n.脊骨，脊柱，骨干；刚毅，骨气 | |
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gory
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| adj.流血的；残酷的 | |
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42
humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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43
bruises
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| n.瘀伤，伤痕，擦伤( bruise的名词复数 ) | |
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44
scouts
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| 侦察员[机，舰]( scout的名词复数 )； 童子军； 搜索； 童子军成员 | |
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45
virile
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| adj.男性的；有男性生殖力的；有男子气概的；强有力的 | |
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brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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47
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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48
incompetent
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| adj.无能力的，不能胜任的 | |
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49
labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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50
formulated
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| v.构想出( formulate的过去式和过去分词 )；规划；确切地阐述；用公式表示 | |
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51
altercation
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| n.争吵，争论 | |
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52
punctuated
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| v.（在文字中）加标点符号，加标点( punctuate的过去式和过去分词 )；不时打断某事物 | |
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53
ornamental
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| adj.装饰的；作装饰用的；n.装饰品；观赏植物 | |
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54
porcelain
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| n.瓷；adj.瓷的，瓷制的 | |
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55
rinsed
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| v.漂洗( rinse的过去式和过去分词 )；冲洗；用清水漂洗掉（肥皂泡等）；（用清水）冲掉 | |
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56
illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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57
advertising
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| n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的 | |
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deftly
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| adv.灵巧地，熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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59
swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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60
plaintively
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| adv.悲哀地，哀怨地 | |
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61
blur
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| n.模糊不清的事物；vt.使模糊，使看不清楚 | |
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testily
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| adv. 易怒地, 暴躁地 | |
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attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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recital
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| n.朗诵，独奏会，独唱会 | |
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65
shearer
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| n.剪羊毛的人；剪切机 | |
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66
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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