The morning of June twenty-sixth dawned clear. Orde was early on the road before the heat of the day. He drove his buckboard rapidly over the twelve miles that separated his home from the distributing booms, for he wanted at once to avoid the heat of the first sun and to arrive at the commencement of the day's work. After a glance at the river, he entered the tiny office and set about the examination of the tally1 sheets left by the foreman. While he was engaged in this checking, the foreman, Tom North, entered.
"The river's rising a little"? he remarked conversationally2 as he reached for the second set of tally boards.
"You're crazy," muttered Orde, without looking up. "It's clear as a bell; and there have been no rains reported from anywhere."
"It's rising a little, just the same," insisted North, going out.
An hour later Orde, having finished his clerical work, walked out over the booms. The water certainly had risen; and considerably3 at that. A decided4 current sucked through the interstices in the piling. The penned logs moved uneasily.
"I should think it was rising!" said Orde to himself, as he watched the slowly moving water. "I wonder what's up. It can't be merely those rains three days ago."
He called one of the younger boys to him, Jimmy Powers by name.
"Here, Jimmy," said he, "mark one of these piles and keep track of how fast the water rises."
For some time the river remained stationary5, then resumed its slow increase. Orde shook his head.
"I don't like June floods," he told Tom North. "A fellow can understand an ordinary spring freshet, and knows about how far it will go; but these summer floods are so confounded mysterious. I can't figure out what's struck the old stream, unless they're having almighty6 heavy rains up near headwaters."
By three o'clock in the afternoon Jimmy Powers reported a rise since morning of six inches. The current had proportionately increased in power.
"Tom," said Orde to the old riverman, "I'm going to send Marsh8 down for the pile-drivers and some cable. The barge9 company has some fifteen inch manilla."
North laughed.
"What in blazes do you expect to do with that?" he inquired.
"We may need them," Orde stated with conviction. "Everything's safe enough now; and probably will continue so; but I can't afford to take chances. If those logs ever break through they'll go on out to Lake Michigan and there they wouldn't be worth the salvage10."
Tom North stared at his principal in surprise.
"That's a mighty7 long chance," he commented. "Never knew you to come so near croaking11 before, Jack12."
"If this drive goes out, it surely busts13 me," replied Orde, "and I'm not taking even long chances."
Captain Marsh, returning with the SPRITE, brought an evening paper and news from the telegraph offices. A cloudburst in the China Creek14 district followed by continued heavy rains was responsible for the increased water. The papers mentioned this only incidentally, and in explanation. Their columns were filled with an account of the big log jam that had formed above the iron railroad bridge. The planing mill's booms had given way under pressure and the contents had piled down stream against the buttresses15. Before steps could be taken to clear the way, the head of the drive, hurried by the excess water, had piled in on top. Immediately a jam formed, increasing in weight each moment, until practically the entire third section had piled up back of the bridge.
The papers occupied themselves with the picturesque16 side of the affair. None expressed any anxiety as to the bridge. It was a new structure, each of whose bents weighed over a hundred tons. A fall of a few inches only would suffice to lock the jam solidly, thus relieving whatever pressure the mass exerted against the iron bridge. That the water would shortly go down was of course inevitable18 at this time of year. It would be a big jam for the rivermen to break, however.
"Do you think you'll go up there?" asked North.
Orde shook his head.
"They're in a nice pickle," he acknowledged; "but Nolan's in charge and will do his best. I think we may have troubles of our own right here at home."
He slept that night at the booms. The water, contrary to all expectation, rose steadily19. By morning it had crept so far up the piles that there began to be danger that it would overflow20 their tops. In that case, of course, the logs in the booms would also run out.
"Guess it's time we did a little work," remarked Orde.
He set a crew of men to raising the height of the piling by tying logs firmly to the bolted timbers atop. This would take care of an extra two feet of water; a two feet beyond all previous records. Another crew stretched the fifteen inch manilla cables across the field of logs in order to segregate21 them into several units of mass, and so prevent them from piling up at the down-stream end of the enclosure. The pile-driver began to drop its hammer at spots of weakness. In spite of the accelerated current and the increased volume of the river, everything was soon shipshape and safe.
"We're all right now," said Orde. "The only thing I'm a little uneasy about is those confounded temporary booms upstream. Still they're all right unless they get to piling up. Then we'll have to see what we can do to hold them. I think as soon as the driver is through down at the sorting end, she'd better drive a few clumps22 of piles to strengthen the swing when it is shut. Then if the logs pile down on us from above, we can hold them there."
About two hours later the pile-driver moved up. The swing was opened; and the men began to drive clumps of piles in such a position as to strengthen the swing when the latter should be shut. It was a slow job. Each pile had to be taken from the raft at the stern of the scow, erected23 in the "carrier," and pounded into place by the heavy hammer raised and let drop in the derrick at the bow.
Long before the task was finished, the logs in the temporary booms had begun to slide atop one another, to cross and tangle24, until at last the river bed inside the booms was filled with a jam of formidable dimensions. From beneath it the water boiled in eddies25. Orde, looking at it, roused himself to sudden activity.
"Get a move on," he advised Captain Aspinwall of the driver. "If that jam breaks on us, we want to be ready; and if it don't break before you get this swing strengthened, maybe we can hold her where she is. There's no earthly doubt that those boom piles will never stand up when they get the full pressure of the freshet."
He departed up river on a tour of inspection26 from which he returned almost immediately.
"Hurry up! Hurry up!" he cried. "She can't last much longer!"
Indeed even to the men on the pile-driver, evidences of the pressure sustained by the slender boom piles were not wanting. Above the steady gurgle of the water and the intermittent27 puffing28 and other noises of the work, they could hear a creaking and groaning30 of timbers full of portent31 to those who could read the signs.
The driver's crew laboured desperately32, hoisting33 the piles into the carriage, tripping the heavy hammer, sending it aloft again, binding34 feverishly35 the clumps of piles together by means of cables. Each man worked with an eye over his shoulder, fearful of the power that menaced him.
Two of the clumps had been placed and bound; a third was nearly finished, when suddenly, with a crack and a roar the upper booms gave way, projecting their logs upon the opening and the driver.
The half dozen members of the crew, caught utterly36 unaware37 in spite of the half warning they had been receiving for an hour past, were scattered38 by the winds of a panic. Two or three flung themselves on their faces; several ran from one end of the scow to the other; one leaped into the river! Imminent39 destruction seemed upon them.
Tom North, at the winch that operated the arm of the swing, however, retained his presence of mind. At the first sag40 outward of the boom piles he set in operation the machinery41 that closed the gate. Clumsy and slow as was his mechanism42, he nevertheless succeeded in getting the long arm started. The logs, rushing in back of it, hurried it shut. Immediately they jammed again, and heaped up in a formidable tangle behind the barrier. Tom North, his little black pipe between his teeth, stood calm, the lever of his winch in his hand. A short three feet from the spot on which he stood, the first saw log of the many that might have overwhelmed him thrust forward its ugly head. The wash of the water lifted the huge pile-driver bodily and deposited it with a crash half on the bank and half in the water.
Instantly after the first break Orde had commenced running out over the booms from the shore.
"Good boy, Tom!" he shot at North as he passed.
Across the breast of the jam he hurried, and to the other bank where the pile-driver lay. The crew had recovered from their panic, and were ashore43 gazing curiously44 underneath45 the scow. Captain Aspinwall examined the supports of the derrick on deck.
"That was lucky," said Orde briefly46 to Aspinwall. "How's the damage? Stove you in?"
"I--I don't think so," replied the captain, turning a rather perturbed47 face to Orde.
"That's good. I'll send over the tug48 to help get her afloat. We've got our work cut out for us now. As soon as you're afloat, blow your whistle and I'll come over to tell you what to do."
"You don't expect me to work my driver under the face of that jam!" cried the captain.
"Certainly," snapped Orde, wheeling.
"Not me!" said Aspinwall positively49. "I know when I've got enough!"
"What's the matter?" asked Orde.
"It isn't safe," replied the captain; "and I don't intend to risk my men or my driver."
Orde stood for a moment stock-still; then with a snort of anger he leaped to the deck, seized the man by the neck and thrust him bodily over the side to the bank.
"Safe, you white-livered skunk50!" he roared. "Safe! Go over in the middle of that ten-acre lot and lie down on your face and see if you feel safe there! Get out; the whole pack of you! I'm in charge here now."
Captain Aspinwall picked himself up, his face red with anger.
"Get off my driver," he snarled51. "Put that man off."
Orde seized a short heavy bar.
"This driver is requisitioned," said he. "Get out! I haven't time to fool with you. I've got to save my logs."
They hesitated; and while they did so Tom North and some others of the crew came running across the jam.
"Get a cable to the winch," Orde shouted at these as soon as they were within hearing. "And get Marsh up here with the SPRITE. We've got to get afloat."
He paid no more attention to the ejected crew. The latter, overawed by the rivermen, who now gathered in full force, took the part of spectators.
A few minutes' hard work put the driver afloat. Fortunately its raft of piles had not become detached in the upheaval52.
"Tom," said Orde briskly to North, "you know the pile-driver business. Pick out your crew, and take charge."
In ten seconds of time the situation had changed from one of comparative safety to one of extreme gravity. The logs, broken loose from the upper temporary booms, now jammed against the swing and against the other logs already filling the main booms. Already the pressure was beginning to tell, as the water banked up behind the mass. The fifteen-inch cables tightened53 slowly but mightily54; some of the piles began to groan29 and rub one against the other; here and there a log deliberately55 up-ended above the level.
Orde took charge of the situation in its entirety, as a general might. He set North immediately to driving clumps each of sixteen piles, bound to solidity by chains, and so arranged in angles and slants56 as to direct the enormous pressure toward either bank, thus splitting the enemy's power. The small driver owned by the Boom Company drove similar clumps here, there and everywhere that need arose or weakness developed. Seventy-five men opposed, to the weight of twenty million tons of logs and a river of water, the expedients57 invented by determination and desperation.
As in a virulent58 disease, the symptoms developed rapidly when once the course of the malady59 was assured. After the first rush, when the upper booms broke, nothing spectacular occurred. Steadily and relentlessly60 the logs, packed close together down to the very bed of the stream, pressed outward against the frail61 defences. Orde soon found himself forced from the consideration of definite plans of campaign. He gave over formal defences, and threw his energies to saving the weak places which rapidly developed. By the most tremendous exertions62 he seemed but just able to keep even. So closely balanced was the equilibrium63 between the improvisation64 of defence and the increase of pressure behind the jam that it seemed as if even a moment's breathing spell would bring the deluge65. Piles quivered, bent17 slowly outward--immediately, before the logs behind them could stir, the pile-driver must do its work. Back and forth66 darted67 the SPRITE and her sister-tug the SPRAY towing the pile-drivers or the strings68 of piles. Under the frowning destruction that a breath might loosen, the crews had to do their work. And if ever that breath should come, there would be no chance for escape. Crushed and buried, the men and their craft alike would be borne with the breaking jam to an unknown grave in the Lake. Every man knew it.
Darkness came. No one stopped for food. By the light of lanterns the struggle went on, doubly terrifying in the mystery of night. By day the men, practised in such matters, could at least judge of the probabilities of a break. At night they had to work blindly, uncertain at what moment the forces they could not see would cut loose to overwhelm them.
Morning found no change in the situation. The water rose steadily; the logs grew more and more restive69; the defences weaker and more inadequate70. Orde brought out steaming pails of coffee which the men gulped71 down between moments. No one thought of quitting. They were afire with the flame of combat, and were set obstinately72 on winning even in the face of odds73. About ten o'clock they were reinforced by men from the mills downstream. The Owners of those mills had no mind to lose their logs. Another pile-driver was also sent up from the Government work. Without this assistance the jam must surely have gone out. Spectators marvelled74 how it held as it did. The mass seemed constantly to quiver on the edge of motion. Here and there over the surface of the jam single logs could be seen popping suddenly into the air, propelled as an apple seed is projected from between a boy's thumb and forefinger75. Some of the fifteen-inch cables stretched to the shore parted. One, which passed once around an oak tree before reaching its shore anchorage, actually buried itself out of sight in the hard wood. Bunches of piles bent, twisted, or were cut off as though they had been but shocks of Indian corn. The current had become so swift that the tugs76 could not hold the drivers against it; and as a consequence, before commencing operations, special mooring77 piles had to be driven. Each minute threatened to bring an end to the jam, yet it held; and without rest the dogged little insects under its face toiled78 to gain an inch on the waters.
收听单词发音 |
1
tally
|
|
| n.计数器，记分，一致，测量；vt.计算，记录，使一致；vi.计算，记分，一致 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
conversationally
|
|
| adv.会话地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
considerably
|
|
| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
stationary
|
|
| adj.固定的，静止不动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
almighty
|
|
| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
marsh
|
|
| n.沼泽，湿地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
barge
|
|
| n.平底载货船，驳船 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
salvage
|
|
| v.救助，营救，援救；n.救助，营救 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
croaking
|
|
| v.呱呱地叫( croak的现在分词 )；用粗的声音说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
jack
|
|
| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
busts
|
|
| 半身雕塑像( bust的名词复数 )； 妇女的胸部； 胸围； 突击搜捕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
creek
|
|
| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
buttresses
|
|
| n.扶壁，扶垛( buttress的名词复数 )v.用扶壁支撑，加固( buttress的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
picturesque
|
|
| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
inevitable
|
|
| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
steadily
|
|
| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
overflow
|
|
| v.(使)外溢，(使)溢出；溢出，流出，漫出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
segregate
|
|
| adj.分离的，被隔离的；vt.使分离，使隔离 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
clumps
|
|
| n.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的名词复数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声v.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的第三人称单数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
ERECTED
|
|
| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
tangle
|
|
| n.纠缠；缠结；混乱；v.(使)缠绕；变乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
eddies
|
|
| （水、烟等的）漩涡，涡流( eddy的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
inspection
|
|
| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
intermittent
|
|
| adj.间歇的，断断续续的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
puffing
|
|
| v.使喷出( puff的现在分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
groan
|
|
| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
groaning
|
|
| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
portent
|
|
| n.预兆；恶兆；怪事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
desperately
|
|
| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
hoisting
|
|
| 起重，提升 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
binding
|
|
| 有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
feverishly
|
|
| adv. 兴奋地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
utterly
|
|
| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
unaware
|
|
| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
scattered
|
|
| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
imminent
|
|
| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
sag
|
|
| v.下垂，下跌，消沉；n.下垂，下跌，凹陷，[航海]随风漂流 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
machinery
|
|
| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
mechanism
|
|
| n.机械装置；机构，结构 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
ashore
|
|
| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
curiously
|
|
| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
underneath
|
|
| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
briefly
|
|
| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
perturbed
|
|
| adj.烦燥不安的v.使（某人）烦恼，不安( perturb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
tug
|
|
| v.用力拖(或拉)；苦干；n.拖；苦干；拖船 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
positively
|
|
| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
skunk
|
|
| n.臭鼬，黄鼠狼；v.使惨败，使得零分；烂醉如泥 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
snarled
|
|
| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
upheaval
|
|
| n.胀起，(地壳)的隆起；剧变，动乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
tightened
|
|
| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
mightily
|
|
| ad.强烈地；非常地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
deliberately
|
|
| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
slants
|
|
| （使）倾斜，歪斜( slant的第三人称单数 )； 有倾向性地编写或报道 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
expedients
|
|
| n.应急有效的，权宜之计的( expedient的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
virulent
|
|
| adj.有毒的，有恶意的，充满敌意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
malady
|
|
| n.病，疾病(通常做比喻) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
relentlessly
|
|
| adv.不屈不挠地；残酷地；不间断 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
frail
|
|
| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
exertions
|
|
| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
equilibrium
|
|
| n.平衡，均衡，相称，均势，平静 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
improvisation
|
|
| n.即席演奏(或演唱)；即兴创作 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
deluge
|
|
| n./vt.洪水，暴雨，使泛滥 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
darted
|
|
| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
strings
|
|
| n.弦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
restive
|
|
| adj.不安宁的，不安静的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
inadequate
|
|
| adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
gulped
|
|
| v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的过去式和过去分词 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
obstinately
|
|
| ad.固执地，顽固地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
odds
|
|
| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
marvelled
|
|
| v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
forefinger
|
|
| n.食指 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
tugs
|
|
| n.猛拉( tug的名词复数 )；猛拖；拖船v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
mooring
|
|
| n.停泊处；系泊用具，系船具；下锚v.停泊，系泊（船只）(moor的现在分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
toiled
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |