one another. The weight of the topmost sunk those beneath to the
bed of the stream. This to a certain extent dammed back the water.
Immediately the pressure increased. More logs were piled on top.
The piers locked the structure. Below the improvised dam the water
fell almost to nothing, and above it, swirling in eddies, grumbling
fiercely, bubbling, gurgling, searching busily for an opening, the
river, turned back on itself, gathered its swollen and angry forces.

"That will do, boys," said Orde with satisfaction.

He led the way to the bank and sat down. The men followed his
example. Every moment the water rose, and each instant, as more
logs came down the current, the jam became more formidable.

"Nothing can stand that pressure," breathed Newmark, fascinated.

"The bigger the pressure the tighter she locks," replied Orde,
lighting his pipe.

The high bank where the men sat lay well above the reach of the
water. Not so the flat on which stood Reed's mill. In order to
take full advantage of the water-power developed by the dam, the old
man had caused his structure to be built nearly at a level with the
stream. Now the river, backing up, rapidly overflowed this flat.
As the jam tightened by its own weight and the accumulation of logs,
the water fairly jumped from the lowest floor of the mill to the one
above.

Orde had not long to wait for Reed's appearance. In less than five
minutes the old man descended on the group, somewhat of his martial