The cook was early a foot next morning. Bob, restless with the uneasiness of the first night out of doors, saw the flicker1 of the fire against the tent canvas long before the first signs of daylight. In fact, the gray had but faintly lightened the velvet2 black of the night when the cook thrust his head inside the big sleeping tents to utter a wild yell of reveille.
The men stirred sleepily, stretched, yawned, finally kicked aside their blankets. Bob stumbled into the outer air. The chill of early morning struck into his bones. Teeth chattering3, he hurried to the river bank where he stripped and splashed his body with the bracing4 water. Then he rubbed down with the little towel Tommy Gould had allowed him. The reaction in this chill air was slow in coming--Bob soon learned that the early cold bath out of doors is a superstition--and he shivered from time to time as he propped5 up his little mirror against a stump6. Then he shaved, anointing his face after the careful manner of college boys. This satisfactorily completed, he fished in his duffle bag to find his tooth brush and soap. His hair he arranged painstakingly7 with a pair of military brushes. He further manipulated a nail-brush vigorously, and ended with manicuring his nails. Then, clean, vigorous, fresh, but somewhat chilly8, he packed away his toilet things and started for camp.
Whereupon, for the first time, he became aware of one of the rivermen, pipe clenched9 between his teeth, watching him sardonically10.
Bob nodded, and made as though to pass.
"Oh, bub!" said the older man.
Bob stopped.
"Say," drawled the riverman, "air you as much trouble to yourself _every_ day as this?"
Bob laughed, and dove for camp. He found it practically deserted11. The men had eaten breakfast and departed for work. Welton greeted him.
"Well, bub," said he, "didn't know but we'd lost you. Feed your face, and we'll go upstream."
Bob ate rapidly. After breakfast Welton struck into a well-trodden foot trail that led by a circuitous12 route up the river bottom, over points of land, around swamps. Occasionally it forked. Then, Welton explained, one fork was always a short cut across a bend, while the other followed accurately13 the extreme bank of the river. They took this latter and longest trail, always, in order more closely to examine the state of the drive. As they proceeded upstream they came upon more and more logs, some floating free, more stranded14 gently along the banks. After a time they encountered the first of the driving crew. This man was standing15 on an extreme point, leaning on his peavy, watching the timbers float past. Pretty soon several logs, held together by natural cohesion16, floated to the bend, hesitated, swung slowly and stopped. Other logs, following, carromed gently against them and also came to rest.
Immediately the riverman made a flying leap to the nearest. He hit it with a splash that threw the water high to either side, immediately caught his equilibrium17, and set to work with his peavy. He seemed to know just where to bend his efforts. Two, then three, logs, disentangled from the mass, floated away. Finally, all moved slowly forward. The riverman intent on his work, was swept from view.
"After he gets them to running free, he'll come ashore18," said Welton, in answer to Bob's query19. "Oh, just paddle ashore with his peavy. Then he'll come back up the trail. This bend is liable to jam, and so we have to keep a man here."
They walked on and on, up the trail. Every once in a while they came upon other members of the jam crew, either watching, as was the first man, at some critical point, or working in twos and threes to keep the reluctant timbers always moving. At one place six or eight were picking away busily at a jam that had formed bristling20 quite across the river. Bob would have liked to stop to watch; but Welton's practised eye saw nothing to it.
"They're down to the key log, now," he pronounced. "They'll have it out in a jiffy."
Inside of two miles or so farther they left behind them the last member of the jam crew and came upon an outlying scout21 of the "rear." Then Welton began to take the shorter trails. At the end of another half-hour the two plumped into the full activity of the rear itself.
Bob saw two crews of men, one on either bank, busily engaged in restoring to the current the logs stranded along the shore. In some cases this merely meant pushing them afloat by means of the peavies. Again, when the timbers had gone hard aground, they had to be rolled over and over until the deeper water caught them. In extreme cases, when evidently the freshet water had dropped away from them, leaving them high and dry, a number of men would clamp on the jaws22 of their peavies and carry the logs bodily to the water. In this active work the men were everywhere across the surface of the river. They pushed and heaved from the instability of the floating logs as easily as though they had possessed23 beneath their feet the advantages of solid land. When they wanted to go from one place to another across the clear water they had various methods of propelling themselves--either broad on, by rolling the log treadwise, or endways by paddling, or by jumping strongly on one end. The logs dipped and bobbed and rolled beneath them; the water flowed over their feet; but always they seemed to maintain their balance unconsciously, and to give their whole attention to the work in hand. They worked as far as possible from the decks of logs, but did not hesitate, when necessary, to plunge24 even waist-deep into the icy current. Behind them they left a clear river.
Like most exhibitions of superlative skill, all this would have seemed to an uninitiated observer like Bob an easy task, were it not for the misfortunes of one youth. That boy was about half the time in the water. He could stand upright on a log very well as long as he tried to do nothing else. This partial skill undoubtedly25 had lured26 him to the drive. But as soon as he tried to work, he was in trouble. The log commenced to roll; he to struggle for his balance. It always ended with a mighty27 splash and a shout of joy from every one in sight, as the unfortunate youth soused in all over. Then, after many efforts, he dragged himself out, his garments heavy and dripping, and cautiously tried to gain the perpendicular28. This ordinarily required several attempts, each of which meant another ducking as the treacherous29 log rolled at just the wrong instant. The boy was game, though, and kept at it earnestly in spite of repeated failure.
Welton watched two repetitions of this performance.
"Dick!" he roared across the tumult30 of sound.
Roaring Dick, whose light, active figure had been seen everywhere across the logs, looked up, recognized Welton, and zigzagged31 skilfully32 ashore. He stamped the water from his shoes.
"Why don't you fire that kid ashore?" demanded Welton. "Do you want to drown him? He's so cold now he don't know where's his feet?"
Roaring Dick glanced carelessly at the boy. The latter had succeeded in gaining the shallows, where he was trying to roll over a stranded log. His hands were purple and swollen33; his face puffed34 and blue; violent shivers shook him from head to foot; his teeth actually chattered35 when, for a moment, he relaxed his evident intention to stick it through without making a sign. All his movements were slow and awkward, and his dripping clothes clung tight to his body.
"Oh, him!" said Roaring Dick in reply. "I didn't pay no more attention to him than to one of these yere hell divers36. He ain't no _good_, so I clean overlooked him. Here, you!" he cried suddenly.
The boy looked up, Bob saw him start convulsively, and knew that he had met the impact of that peculiar37 dynamic energy in Roaring Dick's nervous face. He clambered laboriously38 from the shallows, the water draining from the bottom of his "stagged" trousers.
"Get to camp," snapped Dick. "You're laid off."
"Why did you ever take such a man on in the first place?" asked Welton.
"He was here when I come," replied Roaring Dick, indifferently, "and, anyway, he's bound he's goin to be a river-hog. You couldn't keep him out with a fly-screen."
"How're things going?" inquired Welton.
"All right," said Roaring Dick. "This ain't no drive to have things goin' wrong. A man could run a hand-organ, a quiltin' party and this drive all to once and never drop a stitch."
"How about old Murdock's dam? Looks like he might make trouble."
"Ain't got to old Murdock yet," said Roaring Dick. "When we do, we'll trim his whiskers to pattern. Don't you worry none about Murdock."
"I don't," laughed Welton. "But, Dick, what are all these deadheads I see in the river? Our logs are all marked, aren't they?"
"They's been some jobbing done way below our rollways," said Roaring Dick, "and the mossbacks have been taking 'em out long before our drive got this far. Them few deadheads we've picked up along the line; mossbacks left 'em stranded. They ain't very many."
"I'll send up a marking hammer, and we'll brand them. Finders keepers."
"Sure," said Roaring Dick.
He nodded and ran out over the logs. The work leaped. Wherever he went the men took hold as though reanimated by an electric current.
"Dick's a driver," said Welton, reflectively, "and he gets out the logs. But I'm scared he don't take this little job serious."
He looked out over the animated39 scene for a moment in silence. Then he seemed suddenly to remember his companion.
"Well, son," said he, "that's called 'sacking' the river. The rear crew is the place of honour, let me tell you. The old timers used to take a great pride in belonging to a crack rear on a big drive. When you get one side of the river working against the other, it's great fun. I've seen some fine races in my day."
At this moment two men swung up the river trail, bending to the broad tump lines that crossed the tops of their heads. These tump lines supported rather bulky wooden boxes running the lengths of the men's backs. Arrived at the rear, they deposited their burdens. One set to building a fire; the other to unpacking40 from the boxes all the utensils41 and receptacles of a hearty42 meal. The food was contained in big lard tins. It was only necessary to re-heat it. In ten minutes the usual call of "grub pile" rang out across the river. The men came ashore. Each group of five or six built its little fire. The wind sucked aloft these innumerable tiny smokes, and scattered43 them in a thin mist through the trees.
Welton stayed to watch the sacking until after three o'clock. Then he took up the river trail to the rear camp. This Bob found to be much like the other, but larger.
"Ordinarily on drive we have a wanigan," said Welton. "A wanigan's a big scow. It carries the camp and supplies to follow the drive. Here we use teams; and it's some of a job, let me tell you! The roads are bad, and sometimes it's a long ways around. Hard sledding, isn't it Billy?" he inquired of the teamster, who was warming his hands by the fire.
"Well, I always get there," the latter replied with some pride. "From the Little Fork here I only tipped over six times, all told."
The cook, who had been listening near by, grunted44.
"Only time I wasn't with you, Billy," said he; "that's why you got the nerve to tell that!"
"It's a fact!" insisted the driver.
The young fellow who had been ordered off the river sat alone by the drying-fire. Now that he had warmed up and dried off, he was seen to be a rather good-looking boy, dark-skinned, black-eyed, with overhanging, thick, straight brows, like a line from temple to temple. These gave him either the sullen45, biding46 look of an Indian or an air of set determination, as the observer pleased. Just now he contemplated47 the fire rather gloomily.
Welton sat down on the same log with him.
"Well, bub," said the old riverman good-naturedly, "so you thought you'd like to be a riverman?"
"Yes, sir," replied the boy, with a certain sullen reserve.
"Where did you think you learned to ride a log?"
"I've been around a little at the booms."
"I see. Well, it's a different proposition when you come to working on 'em in fast water."
"Yes, sir."
"Where you from?"
"Down Greenville way."
"Farm?"
"Yes, sir."
"Back to the farm now, eh?"
"I suppose so."
"Don't like the notion, eh?"
"No!" cried the boy, with a flash of passion.
"Still like to tackle the river?"
"Yes, sir," replied the young fellow, again encased in his sullen apathy48.
"If I send you back to-morrow, would you like to tackle it again?"
"Oh, yes!" said the boy eagerly. "I didn't have any sort of a show when you saw me to-day! I can do a heap better than that. I was froze through and couldn't handle myself."
Welton grinned.
"What you so stuck on getting wet for?" he inquired.
"I dunno," replied the boy vaguely49. "I just like the woods."
"Well, I got no notion of drownding you off in the first white water we come across," said Welton; "but I tell you what to do: you wait around here a few days, helping50 the cook or Billy there, and I'll take you down to the mill and put you on the booms where you can practise in still water with a pike-pole, and can go warm up in the engine room when you fall off. Suit you?"
"Yes, sir. Thank you," said the boy quietly; but there was a warm glow in his eye.
By now it was nearly dark.
"Guess we'll bunk51 here to-night," Welton told Bob casually52.
Bob looked his dismay.
"Why, I left everything down at the other camp," he cried, "even my tooth brush and hair brush!"
Welton looked at him comically.
"Me, too," said he. "We won't neither of us be near as much trouble to ourselves to-morrow, will we?"
So he had overheard the riverman's remark that morning. Bob laughed.
"That's right," approved Welton, "take it easy. Necessities is a great comfort, but you can do without even them."
After supper all sprawled53 around a fire. Welton's big bulk extended in the acme54 of comfort. He puffed his pipe straight up toward the stars, and swore gently from time to time when the ashes dropped back into his eyes.
"Now that's a good kid," he said, waving a pipe toward the other fire where the would-be riverman was helping wash the dishes. "He'll never be a first-class riverman, but he's a good kid."
"Why won't he make a good riverman?" asked Bob.
"Same reason you wouldn't," said Welton bluntly. "A good white water man has to start younger. Besides, what's the use? There won't be any rivermen ten year from now. Say, you," he raised his voice peremptorily55, "what do you call yourself?"
The boy looked up startled, saw that he was indicated, stammered56, and caught his voice.
"John Harvey, sir," he replied.
"Son of old John who used to be on the Marquette back in the seventies?"
"Yes, sir; I suppose so."
"He ought to be a good kid: he comes of good stock," muttered Welton; "but he'll never be a riverman. No use trying to shove that shape peg57 in a round hole!"
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flicker
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| vi./n.闪烁，摇曳，闪现 | |
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velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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bracing
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| adj.令人振奋的 | |
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propped
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| 支撑，支持，维持( prop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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stump
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painstakingly
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| adv. 费力地 苦心地 | |
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chilly
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| adj.凉快的，寒冷的 | |
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clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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sardonically
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| adv.讽刺地，冷嘲地 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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circuitous
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| adj.迂回的路的，迂曲的，绕行的 | |
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accurately
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| adv.准确地，精确地 | |
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stranded
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| a.搁浅的，进退两难的 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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cohesion
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| n.团结，凝结力 | |
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equilibrium
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| n.平衡，均衡，相称，均势，平静 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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query
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| n.疑问，问号，质问；vt.询问，表示怀疑 | |
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bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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scout
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| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
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jaws
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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lured
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| 吸引，引诱（lure的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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perpendicular
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| adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置 | |
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treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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zigzagged
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| adj.呈之字形移动的v.弯弯曲曲地走路，曲折地前进( zigzag的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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skilfully
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| adv. (美skillfully)熟练地 | |
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swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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chattered
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| （人）喋喋不休( chatter的过去式 )； 唠叨； （牙齿）打战； （机器）震颤 | |
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divers
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| adj.不同的；种种的 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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laboriously
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| adv.艰苦地；费力地；辛勤地；（文体等）佶屈聱牙地 | |
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animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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unpacking
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| n.取出货物，拆包[箱]v.从（包裹等）中取出（所装的东西），打开行李取出( unpack的现在分词 )；拆包；解除…的负担；吐露（心事等） | |
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utensils
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| 器具，用具，器皿( utensil的名词复数 )； 器物 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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biding
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| v.等待，停留( bide的现在分词 )；居住；（过去式用bided）等待；面临 | |
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contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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apathy
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| n.漠不关心，无动于衷；冷淡 | |
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vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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bunk
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| n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位；废话 | |
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casually
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| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
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sprawled
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| v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的过去式和过去分词)；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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acme
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| n.顶点，极点 | |
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peremptorily
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| adv.紧急地，不容分说地，专横地 | |
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stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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peg
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| n.木栓，木钉；vt.用木钉钉，用短桩固定 | |
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