"Kind of expected that, boys," said he. "Let's see. The next train
out from Redding--They'll be here by five in the morning at soonest.
Hope it'll be later."

"What will you do?" asked Newmark.

"Take chances," replied Orde. "All you boys get to work. Zeke," he
commanded one of the cookees, "go up road, and report if Morris
comes back. I reckon this time we'll have to scatter if he comes
after us. I hope we won't have to, though. Like to keep everything
square on account of this State troop business."

The sun had dropped below the fringe of trees, which immediately
etched their delicate outlines against a pale, translucent green
sky. Two straight, thin columns of smoke rose from the neglected
camp-fires. Orde, glancing around him, noticed these.

"Doctor," he commanded sharply, "get at your grub! Make some coffee
right off, and bring it down. Get the lanterns from the wanigan,
and bring them to the dam. Come on, boys!"

Over a score of men attacked the sluice-way, for by now part of the
rear crew had come down river. The pond above had recovered its
volume. Water was beginning to trickle over the top of the gate.
In a short time progress became difficult, almost impossible, The
men worked up to their knees in swift water. They could not see,
and the strokes of axe or pick lost much of their force against the
liquid. Dusk fell. The fringe of the forest became mysterious in
its velvet dark. Silver streaks, of a supernal calm, suggested the