"Offer the men double pay, and tell them that any man can go home that
wants to, right now, but if they say they'll stay, they've got to see it
through."

Already the laborers were hurrying toward the tool house in a long,
irregular line. Peterson started toward the office, to give the word to
the men before they could hand in their time checks.

"Mr. Bannon."

The foreman turned; Vogel was approaching.

"I wanted to see about that cribbing bill. How much of it's coming down by
boat?"

"Two hundred thousand. You'd better help Peterson get that timber out of
the way. We're holding the men."

"Yes, I've been waiting for directions about that. We can put a big gang
on it, and snake it across in no time."

"You'll have to open up the fence in half a dozen places, and put on every
man you've got. There's no use in making an all-night job of it."

"I'm afraid we'll have trouble with the railroad."

"No, we won't. If they kick, you send them to me. Are your arc lights in?"

"Yes, all but one or two. They were going to finish it today, but they
ain't very spry about it."