ad gone to pieces in the face of a
crisis; discipline was relaxed; grumblers were getting noisy. Bob
plunged joyously head over ears in his task. By now he knew every man by
name, and he addressed each personally. He had no idea of what was to be
done to start this riverful of logs smoothly and surely on its way; he
did not need to. Afloat on the river was technical knowledge enough, and
to spare. Bob threw his men at the logs as he used to throw his backs at
the opposing line. And they went. Even in the whole-souled, frantic
absorption of the good coach he found time to wonder at the likeness of
all men. These rivermen differed in no essential from the members of the
squad. They responded to the same authority; they could be hurled as a
unit against opposing obstacles.

Bob felt a heavy hand on his shoulder and whirled to stare straight into
the bloodshot eyes of Roaring Dick. The man was still drunk, but only
with the lees of the debauch. He knew perfectly what he was about, but
the bad whiskey still hummed through his head. Bob met the baleful glare
from under his square brows, as the man teetered back and forth on his
heels.

"You got a hell of a nerve!" said Roaring Dick, thickly. "You talk like
you was boss of this river."

Bob looked back at him steadily for a full half-minute.

"I am," said he at last.

XVI

Roaring Dick had not been brought up in the knowledge of protocols or
ultimatums. Scarcely had Bob uttered the last words of his brief speech
before he was hit twice in the face, good smashing blows that sent him
staggering. The blows were followed by a savage rush. Roaring Dick was
on his man with the quickness and ferocity of a wildcat. He hit, kicked,
wrestled, even bit. Bob was whirled back by the very impetuosity of the
attack. Before he could collect his wits he was badly punished and
dazed. He tripped and Roaring Dick, with a bellow of satisfaction, began
to kick at his body even before he reached the ground.

But strangely enough this fall served to clear Bob's head. Thousands of
times he had gone down just like this on the football field, and had
then been called upon to struggle on with the ball as far as he was
able. A slight hint of the accustomed will sometimes steady us in the
most difficult positions. The mind, bumping aimlessly, falls into its
groove, and instinctively shoots forward with tremendous velocity. Bob
hit the ground, half turned on his shoulder, rolled over twice w