some time.

"If we could clear out the splinters and rubbish, we might spike a
couple of saplings on each side for the gate to slide down into,"
speculated North. "Might try her on."

The logs were held up in the pond, and a crew of men set to work to
cut away, as well as they might in the rush of water, the splintered
ends of the old sill and apron. It was hard work. Newmark,
watching, thought it impracticable. The current rendered footing
impossible, so all the work had to be done from above. Wet wood
gripped the long saws vice-like, so that a man's utmost strength
could scarcely budge them. The water deadened the force of axe-
blows. Nevertheless, with the sure persistence of the riverman,
they held to it. Orde, watching them a few moments, satisfied
himself that they would succeed, and so departed up river to take
charge of the rear.

This crew he found working busily among some overflowed woods. They
were herding the laggards of the flock. The subsidence of the water
consequent upon the opening of the sluice-gate had left stranded and
in shallows many hundreds of the logs. These the men sometimes,
waist deep in the icy water, owing to the extreme inequality of the
bottom, were rolling over and over with their peavies until once
more they floated. Some few the rivermen were forced to carry
bodily, ten men to a side, the peavies clamped in as handles. When
once they were afloat, the task became easier. From the advantage
of deadwood, stumps, or other logs the "sackers" pushed the unwieldy
timbers forward, leaping, splashing, heaving, shoving, until at last
the steady current of the main river seized the logs and bore them