Part 13 (1/2)

”I'll send up a marking hammer, and we'll brand them. Finders keepers.”

”Sure,” said Roaring d.i.c.k.

He nodded and ran out over the logs. The work leaped. Wherever he went the men took hold as though reanimated by an electric current.

”d.i.c.k's a driver,” said Welton, reflectively, ”and he gets out the logs.

But I'm scared he don't take this little job serious.”

He looked out over the animated scene for a moment in silence. Then he seemed suddenly to remember his companion.

”Well, son,” said he, ”that's called 'sacking' the river. The rear crew is the place of honour, let me tell you. The old timers used to take a great pride in belonging to a crack rear on a big drive. When you get one side of the river working against the other, it's great fun. I've seen some fine races in my day.”

At this moment two men swung up the river trail, bending to the broad tump lines that crossed the tops of their heads. These tump lines supported rather bulky wooden boxes running the lengths of the men's backs. Arrived at the rear, they deposited their burdens. One set to building a fire; the other to unpacking from the boxes all the utensils and receptacles of a hearty meal. The food was contained in big lard tins. It was only necessary to re-heat it. In ten minutes the usual call of ”grub pile” rang out across the river. The men came ash.o.r.e. Each group of five or six built its little fire. The wind sucked aloft these innumerable tiny smokes, and scattered them in a thin mist through the trees.

Welton stayed to watch the sacking until after three o'clock. Then he took up the river trail to the rear camp. This Bob found to be much like the other, but larger.

”Ordinarily on drive we have a wanigan,” said Welton. ”A wanigan's a big scow. It carries the camp and supplies to follow the drive. Here we use teams; and it's some of a job, let me tell you! The roads are bad, and sometimes it's a long ways around. Hard sledding, isn't it Billy?” he inquired of the teamster, who was warming his hands by the fire.

”Well, I always get there,” the latter replied with some pride. ”From the Little Fork here I only tipped over six times, all told.”

The cook, who had been listening near by, grunted.

”Only time I wasn't with you, Billy,” said he; ”that's why you got the nerve to tell that!”

”It's a fact!” insisted the driver.

The young fellow who had been ordered off the river sat alone by the drying-fire. Now that he had warmed up and dried off, he was seen to be a rather good-looking boy, dark-skinned, black-eyed, with overhanging, thick, straight brows, like a line from temple to temple. These gave him either the sullen, biding look of an Indian or an air of set determination, as the observer pleased. Just now he contemplated the fire rather gloomily.

Welton sat down on the same log with him.

”Well, bub,” said the old riverman good-naturedly, ”so you thought you'd like to be a riverman?”

”Yes, sir,” replied the boy, with a certain sullen reserve.

”Where did you think you learned to ride a log?”

”I've been around a little at the booms.”

”I see. Well, it's a different proposition when you come to working on 'em in fast water.”

”Yes, sir.”

”Where you from?”

”Down Greenville way.”

”Farm?”

”Yes, sir.”