these
logs, we'll win out in the stock exchange; and they're not such fools as
to let us save them if it can be helped. I have a score to settle with
those fellows; and when I get through with this thing I'll settle it all
right."

"What are you going to do now?"

"The only thing there is to be done. We'll string heavy booms, chained
together, between the cribs, and then trust to heaven they'll hold. I
think we can hold the jam. The water will begin to flow over the bank
before long, so there won't be much increase of pressure over what we
have now; and as there won't be any shock to withstand, I think our
heavy booms will do the business."

He turned to direct the boring of some long boom logs in preparation
for the chains. Suddenly he whirled again to Wallace with so strange
an expression in his face that the young man almost cried out. The
uncertain light of the lanterns showed dimly the streaks of rain across
his countenance, and, his eye flared with a look almost of panic.

"I never thought of it!" he said in a low voice. "Fool that I am! I
don't see how I missed it. Wallace, don't you see what those devils will
do next?"

"No, what do you mean?" gasped the younger man.

"There are twelve million feet of logs up river in Sadler & Smith's
drive. Don't you see what they'll do?"

"No, I don't believe--"

"Just as soon as they find out that the river is booming, and that we
are going to have a hard time to hold our jam, they'll let loose
those twelve million on us. They'll break the jam, or dynamite it, or
something. And let me tell you, that a very few logs hitting the tail
of our jam will start the whole shooting match so that no power on earth
can stop it."

"I don't imagine they'd think of doing that--" began Wallace by way of
assurance.

"Think of it! You don't know them. They've thought of everything. You
don't know that man Daly. Ask Tim, he'll tell you."

"Well, the--"

"I've got to send a man up there right away. Perhaps we can get there in
time to head them off. They have to send their man over--By the way," he
queried, struck with a new idea, "how long have you been driving piles?"

"Since about three o'clock."

"Six hours," computed Thorpe. "I wish you'd come for me sooner."

He cast his eye rapidly over the men.

"I don't know just who to send. There isn't a good enough woodsman in
the lot to make Siscoe Falls through the woods a night like this. The
river trail is too long; and a cut