Part 23 (1/2)
”Exactly! Can't you see the river will tear all this part of the d.y.k.e away unless we equalize the pressure on both sides of it? Go ahead at once and get it done.”
The man from Mattawa wondered at the bold order, but his master demanded swift obedience and he proceeded to execute it, while Geoffrey stood fast watching two more huge sheets of froth leap out. He knew that very shortly rancher Hudson's low-level possessions would be buried under several feet of water.
”It's done, sir, and a blamed bad job it is!” said the foreman, returning; and Geoffrey asked: ”How did it happen?”
”The sluice gate wasn't strong enough, river rose a foot yesterday, and she just busted. I was around bright and early and found her splitting. Got a line round the pieces--they're floating beneath you.”
”Heave them up!” ordered Geoffrey.
He was obeyed, and for a few minutes glanced at the timber frame with a puzzled expression, then turning to Gillow, he said: ”You know I condemned that mode of scarting, and the whole thing's too light. What carpenters made it?”
”It's one of Mr. Savine's gates, sir. I've got the drawing for it somewhere,” was the answer, and Geoffrey frowned.
”Then you will keep that fact carefully to yourself,” he replied. ”It is particularly unfortunate. This is about the only gate I have not overhauled personally, but one cannot see to quite everything, and naturally the breakage takes place at that especial point.”
”Very good, sir,” remarked Gillow. ”Things generally do happen in just that way. Here's rancher Hudson coming, and he looks tolerably angry.”
The man who strode along the d.y.k.e was evidently infuriated, a fact which was hardly surprising, considering that he owned the flooded property. The workmen, who now leaned upon their shovels, waited for the meeting between him and their master in the expectation of amus.e.m.e.nt.
”What in the name of thunder do you mean by turning your infernal river loose on my ranch?” inquired the newcomer. Thurston rejoined:
”May I suggest that you try to master your temper and consider the case coolly before you ask any further questions.”
”Consider it coolly!” shouted Hudson. ”Coolly! when the blame water's was.h.i.+ng out my good potatoes by the hundred bushel, and sloos.h.i.+ng mud and s.h.i.+ngle all over my hay. Great Columbus! I'll make things red hot for you.”
”See here!” and there were signs that Thurston was losing his temper.
”What we have done was most unfortunately necessary, but, while I regret it at least as much as you do, you will not be a loser financially. As soon as the river falls, we'll run off the water, measure up the flooded land, and pay you current price? for the crop at average acre yield. As you will thus sell it without gathering or hauling to market, it's a fair offer.”
Most of the forest ranchers in that region would have closed with the offer forthwith, but there were reasons why the one in question, who was, moreover, an obstinate, cantankerous man, should seize the opportunity to hara.s.s Thurston.
”It's not half good enough for me,” he said. ”How'm I going to make sure you won't play the same trick again, while it's tolerably certain you can't keep on paying up for damage done forever. Then when you're cleaned out where'll I be? This scheme which you'll never put through's a menace to the whole valley, and----”
”You'll be rich, I hope, by that time, but if you'll confine yourself to your legitimate grievance or come along to my tent I'll talk to you,” said Geoffrey. ”If, on the other hand, you cast doubt upon my financial position or predict my failure before my men, I'll take decided measures to stop you. You have my word that you will be repaid every cent's worth of damage done, and that should be enough for any reasonable person.”
”It's not--not enough for me by a long way,” shouted the rancher.
”I'll demand a Government inspection, I'll--I'll break you.”
”Will you show Mr. Hudson the quickest and safest way off this embankment, Tom,” requested Geoffrey, coolly, and there was laughter mingled with growls of approval from the men, as the irate rancher, hurling threats over his shoulder, was solemnly escorted along the d.y.k.e by the stalwart foreman. He turned before descending, and shook his fist at those who watched him.
”I think you can close the sluices,” said Geoffrey, when the foreman returned. ”Then set all hands filling in this hole. I want you, Gillow.”
”We are going to have trouble,” he predicted, when English Jim stood before him in his tent. ”Hudson unfortunately is either connected with our enemies, or in their clutches, and he'll try to persuade his neighbors to join him in an appeal to the authorities. Send a messenger off at once with this telegram to Vancouver, but stay--first find me the drawing of the defective gate.”
English Jim spent several minutes searching before he answered: ”I'm sorry I can't quite lay my hands upon it. It may be in Vancouver, and I'll write a note to the folks down there.”
He did so, and when he went out shook his head ruefully. ”That confounded sketch must have been the one I lost on board the steamer,”
he decided with a qualm of misgiving. ”However, there is no use meeting trouble half-way by telling Thurston so, until I'm sure beyond a doubt.”
Some time had pa.s.sed, and the greater portion of Hudson's ranch still lay under water when, in consequence of representations made by its owner and some of his friends, a Government official armed with full powers to investigate held an informal court of inquiry in the big store shed, at which most of the neighboring ranchers were present.
Geoffrey and Thomas Savine, who brought a lawyer with him, awaited the proceedings with some impatience.