Bob and Welton left the buckboard at Sycamore Flats and rode up to the mill by a detour1. There they plunged2 into active work. The labour of getting the new enterprise under way proved to be tremendous. A very competent woods foreman, named Post, was in charge of the actual logging, so Welton gave his undivided attention to the mill work. All day the huge peeled timbers slid and creaked along the greased slides, dragged mightily3 by a straining wire cable that snapped and swung dangerously. When they had reached the solid "bank" that slanted4 down toward the mill, the obstreperous6 "bull" donkey lowered its crest7 of white steam, coughed, and was still. A man threw over the first of these timbers a heavy rope, armed with a hook, that another man drove home with a blow of his sledge8. The rope tightened9. Over rolled the log, out from the greased slide, to come, finally, to rest among its fellows at the entrance to the mill.
Thence it disappeared, moved always by steam-driven hooks, for these great logs could not be managed by hand implements10. The sawyers, at their levers, controlled the various activities. When the time came the smooth, deadly steel ribbon of the modern bandsaws hummed hungrily into the great pines; the automatic roller hurried the new-sawn boards to the edgers; little cars piled high with them shot out from the cool dimness into the dazzling sunlight; men armed with heavy canvas or leather stacked them in the yards; and then----
That was the trouble; and then, nothing!
From this point they should have gone farther. Clamped in rectangular bundles, pushing the raging white water before their blunt noses, as strange craft they should have been flashing at regular intervals11 down the twisting, turning and plunging12 course of the flume. Arrived safely at the bottom, the eight-and twelve-horse teams should have taken them in charge, dragging them by the double wagon13 load to the waiting yards of Marshall & Harding. Nothing of the sort was happening. Welton did not dare go ahead with the water for fear of prejudicing his own case. The lumber14 accumulated. And, as the mill's capacity was great and that of the yards small, the accumulation soon threatened to become embarrassing.
Bob acted as Welton's lieutenant15. As the older lumberman was at first occupied in testing out his sawyers, and otherwise supervising the finished product, Bob was necessarily much in the woods. This suited him perfectly16. Every morning at six he and the men tramped to the scene of operations. There a dozen crews scattered17 to as many tasks. Far in the van the fellers plied18 their implements. First of all they determined19 which way a tree could be made to fall, estimating long and carefully on the weight of limbs, the slant5 of the trunk, the slope of ground, all the elements having to do with the centre of gravity. This having been determined, the men next chopped notches21 of the right depth for the insertion of short boards to afford footholds high enough to enable them to nick the tree above the swell22 of the roots. Standing23 on these springy and uncertain boards, they began their real work, swinging their axes alternately, with untiring patience and incomparable accuracy. Slowly, very slowly, the "nick" grew, a mouth gaping25 ever wider in the brown tree. When it had gaped26 wide enough the men hopped20 down from their springboards, laid aside their axes, and betook themselves to the saw. And when, at last, the wedges inserted in the saw-crack started the mighty27 top, the men calmly withdrew the long ribbon of steel and stood to one side.
[Illustration: The men calmly withdrew the long ribbon of steel and stood to one side]
After the dust had subsided28, and the last reverberations of that mighty crash had ceased to reecho through the forest, the fellers stepped forward to examine their work. They took all things into consideration, such as old wind shakes, new decay, twist of grain and location of the limbs. Then they measured off the prostrate29 trunk into logs of twelve, fourteen, sixteen, eighteen, or even twenty feet, according to the best expediency30. The division points between logs they notched31 plainly, and, shouldering their axes and their sledge and their long, limber saw, pocketing their wedges and their bottle of coal oil, they moved on to where the next mighty pine had through all the centuries been awaiting their coming.
Now arrived on the scene the "swampers" and cross-cut men, swarming32 over the prostrate tree like ants over a piece of sugar. Some of them cut off limbs; others, with axes and crowbars, began to pry33 away great slabs34 of bark; still others, with much precaution of shovel35, wedge and axe24 against jamming, commenced the slow and laborious36 undertaking37 of sawing apart the logs.
But most interesting and complicated of all were the further processes of handling the great logs after they had been peeled and sawed.
The ends of steel cables were dragged by a horse to the prostrate tree, where they were made fast by means of chains and hooks. Then the puffing38 and snorting donkey engine near the chute tightened the cable. The log stirred, moved, plunged its great blunt nose forward, ploughing up the soil. Small trees and bushes it overrode39. But sooner or later it collided head on, with a large tree, a stump40, or a boulder41. The cable strained. Men shouted or waved their arms in signal. The donkey engine ceased coughing. Then the horse pulled the end of the log free. Behind it was left a deep trough, a half cylinder42 scooped43 from the soil.
At the chutes the logs were laid end to end, like a train of cars. A more powerful cable, endless, running to the mill and back again, here took up the burden. At a certain point it was broken by two great hooks. One of these, the one in advance, the men imbedded in the rear log of the train. The other was dragged behind. Away from the chutes ten feet the returning cable snapped through rude pulleys. The train of logs moved forward slowly and steadily44, sliding on the greased ways.
On the knoll45 the donkey engine coughed and snorted as it heaved the mighty timbers from the woods. The drag of the logs was sometimes heavier than the engine, so it had to be anchored by other cables to strong trees. Between these opposing forces--the inertia46 of the rooted and the fallen--it leaped and trembled. At its throttle47, underneath48 a canopy49 knocked together of rough boards, the engineer stood, ready from one instant to another to shut off, speed up, or slow down, according to the demands of an ever-changing exigence. His was a nervous job, and he earned his repose50.
At the rear of the boiler51 a boy of eighteen toiled52 with an axe, chopping into appropriate lengths the dead wood brought in for fuel. Next year it would be possible to utilize53 old tops for this purpose, but now they were too green. Another boy, in charge of a solemn mule54, tramped ceaselessly back and forth55 between the engine and a spring that had been dug out down the hill in a ravine. Before the end of that summer they had worn a trail so deep and hard and smooth that many seasons of snow failed to obliterate56 it even from the soft earth. On either side the mule were slung57 sacks of heavy canvas. At the spring the boy filled these by means of a pail. Returned to the engine, he replenished58 the boiler, draining the sacks from the bottom, cast a fleeting59 glance at the water gauge60 of the donkey engine, and hastened back to the spring. He had charge of three engines; and was busy.
And back along the line of the chutes were other men to fill out this crew of many activities--old men to signal; young men to stand by with slush brush, axe, or bar when things did not go well; axe-men with teams laying accurately61 new chutes into new country yet untouched.
Bob found plenty to keep him busy. Post, the woods foreman, was a good chute man. By long experience he had gained practical knowledge of the problems and accidents of this kind of work. To get the logs out from the beds in which they lay, across a rugged62 country, and into the mill was an engineering proposition of some moment. It is easy to get into difficulties from which hours of work will not extricate63.
But a man involved closely in the practical management of a saw log may conceivably possess scant64 leisure to correlate the scattered efforts of such divergent activities. The cross cutters and swampers may get ahead of the fellers and have to wait in idleness until the latter have knocked down a tree. Or the donkey may fall silent from lack of logs to haul; or the chute crews may smoke their pipes awaiting the donkey. Or, worst and unpardonable disgrace of all, the mill may ran out of logs! When that happens, the Old Fellow is usually pretty promptly65 on the scene.
Now it is obvious that if somewhere on the works ten men are always waiting--even though the same ten men are not thus idle over once a week--the employer is paying for ten men too many. Bob found his best activity lay in seeing that this did not happen. He rode everywhere reviewing the work; and he kept it shaken together. Thus he made himself very useful, he gained rapidly a working knowledge of this new kind of logging, and, incidentally, he found his lines fallen in very pleasant places indeed.
The forest never lost its marvel66 to him, but after he had to some extent become accustomed to the immense trees, he began to notice the smaller affairs of the woodland. The dogwoods and azaleas were beginning to come out; the waxy67, crimson68 snow plants were up; the tiny green meadows near the heads of streams were enamelled with flowers; hundreds of species of birds sang and flashed and scratched and crept and soared. The smaller animals were everywhere. The sun at noon disengaged innumerable and subtle tepid69 odours of pine and blossom.
One afternoon, a little less than a week subsequent to the beginning of work, Bob, riding home through the woods by a detour around a hill, came upon sheep. They were scattered all over the hill, cropping busily at the snowbush, moving ever slowly forward. A constant murmur70 arose, a murmur of a silent, quick, minute activity. Occasionally some mother among them lifted her voice. Bob sat his horse looking silently on the shifting grays. In ten seconds his sight blurred71; he experienced a slight giddiness as though the substantial ground were shifting beneath him in masses, slowly, as in a dream. It gave him a curious feeling of instability. By an effort he focused his eyes; but almost immediately he caught himself growing fuzzy-minded again, exactly as though he had been gazing absently for a considerable period at a very bright light. He shook himself.
"I don't wonder sheep herders go dotty," said he aloud.
He looked about him, and for the first time became aware of a tow-headed youth above him on the hill. The youth leaned on a staff, and at his feet crouched72 two long-haired dogs. Bob turned his horse in that direction.
When he had approached, he saw the boy to be about seventeen years old. His hair was very light, as were his eyebrows73 and eyelashes. Only a decided74 tinge75 of blue in his irises76 saved him from albinism. His lips were thick and loose, his nose flat, his expression vacant. In contrast, the two dogs, now seated on their haunches, their heads to one side, their ears cocked up, their eyes bright, looked to be the more intelligent animals.
"Good evening," said Bob.
The boy merely stared.
"You in charge of the sheep?" inquired the young man presently.
"Where are you camped?" persisted Bob.
No answer.
"Where's your boss?"
A faint gleam came into the sheep-herder's eyes. He raised his arm and pointed78 across through the woods.
Bob reined79 his horse in the direction indicated. As he passed the last of the flock in that direction, he caught sight of another herder and two more dogs. This seemed to be a bearded man of better appearance than the boy; but he too leaned motionless on his long staff; he too gazed unblinking on the nibbling80, restless, changing, imbecile sheep.
As Bob looked, this man uttered a shrill81, long-drawn whistle. Like arrows from bows the two dogs darted82 away, their ears flat, their bodies held low to the ground. The whistle was repeated by the youth. Immediately his dogs also glided83 forward. The noise of quick, sharp barkings was heard. At once the slow, shifting movement of the masses of gray ceased. The sound of murmurous84, deep-toned bells, of bleating85, of the movement of a multitude arose. The flock drew to a common centre; it flowed slowly forward. Here and there the dark bodies of the dogs darted, eager and intelligently busy. The two herders followed after, leaning on their long staffs. Over the hill passed the flock. Slowly the sounds of them merged86 into a murmur. It died. Only remained the fog of dust drifting through the trees, caught up by every passing current of air, light and impalpable as powder.
Bob continued on his way, but had not proceeded more than a few hundred feet before he was overtaken by Lejeune.
"You're the man I was looking for," said Bob. "I see you got your sheep in all right. Have any trouble?"
The sheepman's teeth flashed.
"Not'tall," he replied. "I snik in ver' easy up by Beeg Rock."
At the mill, Bob, while luxuriously87 splashing the ice cold water on his face and throat, took time to call to Welton in the next room.
"Saw your sheep man," he proffered88. "He got in all right, sheep and all."
Welton appeared in the doorway89, mopping his round, red face with a towel.
"Funny we haven't heard from Plant, then," said he. "That fat man must be keeping track of Leejune's where-abouts, or he's easier than I thought he was."
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1
detour
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| n.绕行的路，迂回路；v.迂回，绕道 | |
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plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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mightily
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| ad.强烈地；非常地 | |
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slanted
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| 有偏见的； 倾斜的 | |
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slant
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| v.倾斜，倾向性地编写或报道；n.斜面，倾向 | |
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obstreperous
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| adj.喧闹的，不守秩序的 | |
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crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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sledge
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| n.雪橇，大锤；v.用雪橇搬运，坐雪橇往 | |
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tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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implements
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| n.工具( implement的名词复数 )；家具；手段；[法律]履行（契约等）v.实现( implement的第三人称单数 )；执行；贯彻；使生效 | |
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intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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12
plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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lumber
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| n.木材，木料；v.以破旧东西堆满；伐木；笨重移动 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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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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plied
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的过去式和过去分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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hopped
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| 跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花 | |
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notches
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| n.（边缘或表面上的）V型痕迹( notch的名词复数 )；刻痕；水平；等级 | |
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swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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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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axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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25
gaping
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| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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gaped
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| v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的过去式和过去分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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expediency
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| n.适宜；方便；合算；利己 | |
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notched
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| a.有凹口的，有缺口的 | |
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32
swarming
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| 密集( swarm的现在分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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pry
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| vi.窥(刺)探，打听；vt.撬动(开，起) | |
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slabs
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| n.厚板，平板，厚片( slab的名词复数 )；厚胶片 | |
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shovel
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| n.铁锨，铲子，一铲之量；v.铲，铲出 | |
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laborious
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| adj.吃力的，努力的，不流畅 | |
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undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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puffing
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| v.使喷出( puff的现在分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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overrode
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| 越控( override的过去式 )； （以权力）否决； 优先于； 比…更重要 | |
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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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41
boulder
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| n.巨砾；卵石，圆石 | |
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42
cylinder
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| n.圆筒，柱(面)，汽缸 | |
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43
scooped
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| v.抢先报道( scoop的过去式和过去分词 )；（敏捷地）抱起；抢先获得；用铲[勺]等挖（洞等） | |
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44
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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45
knoll
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| n.小山，小丘 | |
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46
inertia
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| adj.惰性，惯性，懒惰，迟钝 | |
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47
throttle
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| n.节流阀，节气阀，喉咙；v.扼喉咙，使窒息，压 | |
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48
underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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canopy
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| n.天篷，遮篷 | |
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50
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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51
boiler
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| n.锅炉；煮器(壶，锅等) | |
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52
toiled
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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53
utilize
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| vt.使用，利用 | |
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54
mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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obliterate
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| v.擦去，涂抹，去掉...痕迹，消失，除去 | |
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57
slung
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| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
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58
replenished
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| 补充( replenish的过去式和过去分词 )； 重新装满 | |
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59
fleeting
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| adj.短暂的，飞逝的 | |
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60
gauge
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| v.精确计量；估计；n.标准度量；计量器 | |
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accurately
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| adv.准确地，精确地 | |
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62
rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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63
extricate
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| v.拯救，救出；解脱 | |
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64
scant
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| adj.不充分的，不足的；v.减缩，限制，忽略 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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66
marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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waxy
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| adj.苍白的；光滑的 | |
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68
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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tepid
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| adj.微温的，温热的，不太热心的 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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71
blurred
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| v.（使）变模糊( blur的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）难以区分；模模糊糊；迷离 | |
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72
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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73
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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74
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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tinge
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| vt.(较淡)着色于，染色；使带有…气息；n.淡淡色彩，些微的气息 | |
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76
irises
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| n.虹( iris的名词复数 )；虹膜；虹彩；鸢尾（花） | |
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77
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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78
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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reined
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| 勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的过去式和过去分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理 | |
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80
nibbling
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| v.啃，一点一点地咬（吃）( nibble的现在分词 )；啃出（洞），一点一点咬出（洞）；慢慢减少；小口咬 | |
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81
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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82
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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83
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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84
murmurous
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| adj.低声的 | |
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85
bleating
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| v.（羊，小牛）叫( bleat的现在分词 )；哭诉；发出羊叫似的声音；轻声诉说 | |
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86
merged
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| （使）混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 )； 相融； 融入； 渐渐消失在某物中 | |
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87
luxuriously
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| adv.奢侈地，豪华地 | |
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88
proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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