of their blood and knew little
of how to handle them, and though Parson Acup was indefatigable, his
face became more and more apprehensive.

"Ef we kin hold 'em at hit till ther crack of day, we've got a right
gay chanst ter save them big sticks," he announced bluntly to Brent
near midnight. "But hit hain't in reason ter expect men ter plum kill
themselves off fer ther profit of somebody else--an' him likely ter be
dead by termorrer."

"Could McGivins have kept them in line himself?" demanded Brent and the
Parson scratched his head. "Wa'al he mout. Thar's somethin' masterful
in thet breed thet kinderly drives men on. I don't know es I could
name what it air though."

Then even as he spoke a group of humanity detached itself from the
force on the dam and moved away as men do who are through with their
jobs. They halted before Acup and one of them spoke somewhat
shame-facedly: "I disgusts ter quit on a man in sore need, Parson, but
us fellers kain't hold up no longer. We're plum fagged ter
death--mebby termorrer mornin'----"

He broke off and Acup answered in a heavy-hearted voice: "So fur as
this hyar job's consarned most likely thar won't be no termorrer. Old
man McGivins lays over thar, mebby a-dyin' an' this means a master lot
to him----"

"If it's a matter of pay," began Brent and left his suggestion
unfinished. A quick glance of warning from Acup cautioned him that
this was a tactless line and one of the men answered shortly, "Pay
hain't skeercely ergoin' ter hold a man up on his legs when them legs
gives out under him, stranger."

"No, Lige, pay won't do it, but upstandin' nerve _will_--an' I knows
ye've got hit. Ef anybody quits now, they're all right apt ter foller
suit."

At the sound of the first words, Brent had pivoted as suddenly as
though a bolt had struck him. They came in a voice so out of keeping
with the surroundings, so totally different from any he had heard that
day, that it was a paradox of sound. In the first place it was a
woman's voice and here were only sweating men. In the second, although
full and clear as if struck from well cast bell metal, it had a rich
sweetness and just now the thrill of deep emotion.

In the red flare of the bonfire that sent up a shower of sparks into
the wet darkness, he saw a figure that brought fresh astonishment.

The woman stood there with a long rubber slicker tight-buttoned from
collar to hem. Below that Brent saw rubber boots. She sto