the riverman- 第1部分

The　Riverman


by　Stewart　Edward　White









I





The　time　was　the　year　1872；　and　the　place　a　bend　in　the　river　above　

a　long　pond　terminating　in　a　dam。　　Beyond　this　dam；　and　on　a　flat　

lower　than　it；　stood　a　two…story　mill　structure。　　Save　for　a　small；　

stump…dotted　clearing；　and　the　road　that　led　from　it；　all　else　was　

forest。　　Here　in　the　bottom…lands；　following　the　course　of　the　

stream；　the　hardwoods　grew　dense；　their　uppermost　branches　just　

beginning　to　spray　out　in　the　first　green　of　spring。　　Farther　back；　

where　the　higher　lands　arose　from　the　swamp；　could　be　discerned　the　

graceful　frond　of　white　pines　and　hemlock；　and　the　sturdy　tops　of　

Norways　and　spruce。



A　strong　wind　blew　up　the　length　of　the　pond。　　It　ruffled　the　

surface　of　the　water；　swooping　down　in　fan…shaped；　scurrying　cat's…

paws；　turning　the　dark…blue　surface　as　one　turns　the　nap　of　velvet。　　

At　the　upper　end　of　the　pond　it　even　succeeded　in　raising　quite　

respectable　wavelets；　which　LAP　LAP　LAPPED　eagerly　against　a　barrier　

of　floating　logs　that　filled　completely　the　mouth　of　the　inlet　

river。　　And　behind　this　barrier　were　other　logs；　and　yet　others；　as　

far　as　the　eye　could　see；　so　that　the　entire　surface　of　the　stream　

was　carpeted　by　the　brown　timbers。　　A　man　could　have　walked　down　the　

middle　of　that　river　as　down　a　highway。



On　the　bank；　and　in　a　small　woods…opening；　burned　two　fires；　their　

smoke　ducking　and　twisting　under　the　buffeting　of　the　wind。　　The　

first　of　these　fires　occupied　a　shallow　trench　dug　for　its　

accommodation；　and　was　overarched　by　a　rustic　framework　from　which　

hung　several　pails；　kettles；　and　pots。　　An　injured…looking；　chubby　

man　in　a　battered　brown　derby　hat　moved　here　and　there。　　He　divided　

his　time　between　the　utensils　and　an　indifferent　youthhis　

〃cookee。〃　　The　other；　and　larger；　fire　centred　a　rectangle　composed　

of　tall　racks；　built　of　saplings　and　intended　for　the　drying　of　

clothes。　　Two　large　tents　gleamed　white　among　the　trees。



About　the　drying…fire　were　gathered　thirty…odd　men。　　Some　were　half…

reclining　before　the　blaze；　others　sat　in　rows　on　logs　drawn　close　

for　the　purpose；　still　others　squatted　like　Indians　on　their　heels；　

their　hands　thrown　forward　to　keep　the　balance。　　Nearly　all　were　

smoking　pipes。



Every　age　was　represented　in　this　group；　but　young　men　predominated。　　

All　wore　woollen　trousers　stuffed　into　leather　boots　reaching　just　

to　the　knee。　　These　boots　were　armed　on　the　soles　with　rows　of　

formidable　sharp　spikes　or　caulks；　a　half　and　sometimes　even　three　

quarters　of　an　inch　in　length。　　The　tight　driver's　shoe　and　

〃stagged〃　trousers　had　not　then　come　into　use。　　From　the　waist　down　

these　men　wore　all　alike；　as　though　in　a　uniform；　the　outward　symbol　

of　their　calling。　　From　the　waist　up　was　more　latitude　of　personal　

taste。　　One　young　fellow　sported　a　bright…coloured　Mackinaw　blanket　

jacket；　another　wore　a　red　knit　sash；　with　tasselled　ends；　a　third's　

fancy　ran　to　a　bright　bandana　about　his　neck。　　Head…gear；　too；　

covered　wide　variations　of　broader　or　narrower　brim；　of　higher　or　

lower　crown；　and　the　faces　beneath　those　hats　differed　as　everywhere　

the　human　countenance　differs。　　Only　when　the　inspection；　passing　

the　gradations　of　broad　or　narrow；　thick　or　thin；　bony　or　rounded；　

rested　finally　on　the　eyes；　would　the　observer　have　caught　again　the　

caste…mark　which　stamped　these　men　as　belonging　to　a　distinct　order；　

and　separated　them　essentially　from　other　men　in　other　occupations。　　

Blue　and　brown　and　black　and　gray　these　eyes　were；　but　all　steady　

and　clear　with　the　steadiness　and　clarity　that　comes　to　those　whose　

daily　work　compels　them　under　penalty　to　pay　close　and　undeviating　

attention　to　their　surroundings。　　This　is　true　of　sailors；　hunters；　

plainsmen；　cowboys；　and　tugboat　captains。　　It　was　especially　true　of　

the　old…fashioned　river…driver；　for　a　misstep；　a　miscalculation；　a　

moment's　forgetfulness　of　the　sullen　forces　shifting　and　changing　

about　him　could　mean　for　him　maiming　or　destruction。　　So；　finally；　

to　one　of　an　imaginative　bent；　these　eyes；　like　the　〃cork　boots；〃　

grew　to　seem　part　of　the　uniform；　one　of　the　marks　of　their　caste；　

the　outward　symbol　of　their　calling。



〃Blow；　you　son　of　a　gun！〃　cried　disgustedly　one　young　fellow　with　a　

red　bandana；　apostrophising　the　wind。　　〃I　wonder　if　there's　ANY　side　

of　this　fire　that　ain't　smoky！〃



〃Keep　your　hair　on；　bub；〃　advised　a　calm　and　grizzled　old…timer。　　

〃There's　never　no　smoke　on　the　OTHER　side　of　the　firewhichever　

that　happens　to　be。　　And　as　for　windshe　just　makes　holiday　for　the　

river…hogs。〃



〃Holiday；　hell！〃　snorted　the　younger　man。　　〃We　ought　to　be　down　to　

Bull's　Dam　before　now〃



〃And　Bull's　Dam　is　half…way　to　Redding；〃　mocked　a　reptilian　and　red…

headed　giant　on　the　log；　〃and　Redding　is　the　happy　childhood　home　

of〃



The　young　man　leaped　to　his　feet　and　seized　from　a　pile　of　tools　a　

peavya　dangerous　weapon；　like　a　heavy　cant…hook；　but　armed　at　the　

end　with　a　sharp　steel　shoe。



〃That's　about　enough！〃　he　warned；　raising　his　weapon；　his　face　

suffused　and　angry。　　The　red…headed　man；　quite　unafraid；　rose　slowly　

from　the　log　and　advanced；　bare…handed；　his　small　eyes　narrowed　and　

watchful。



But　immediately　a　dozen　men　interfered。



〃Dry　up！〃　advised　the　grizzled　old…timerTom　North　by　name。　　〃You；　

Purdy；　set　down；　and　you；　young　squirt；　subside！　　If　you're　going　to　

have　ructions；　why；　have　'em；　but　not　on　drive。　　If　you　don't　look　

out；　I'll　set　you　both　to　rustling　wood　for　the　doctor。〃



At　this　threat　the　belligerents　dropped　muttering　to　their　places。　　

The　wind　continued　to　blow；　the　fire　continued　to　flare　up　and　down；　

the　men　continued　to　smoke；　exchanging　from　time　to　time　desultory　

and　aimless　remarks。　　Only　Tom　North　carried　on　a　consecutive；　low…

voiced　conversation　with　another　of　about　his　own　age。



〃　Just　the　same；　Jim；〃　he　was　saying；　〃　it　is　a　little　tough　on　the　

boysthis　new　sluice…gate　business。　　They've　been　sort　of　expectin'　

a　chance　for　a　day　or　two　at　Redding；　and　now；　if　this　son　of　a　gun　

of　a　wind　hangs　out；　I　don't　know　when　we'll　make　her。　　The　shallows　

at　Bull's　was　always　bad　enough；　but　this　is　worse。〃



〃Yes；　I　expected　to　pick　you　up　'way　below；〃　admitted　Jim；　whose　

〃turkey；〃　or　clothes…bag；　at　his　side　proclaimed　him　a　newcomer。　　

〃Had　quite　a　tramp　to　find　you。〃



〃This　stretch　of　slack　water　was　always　a　terror；〃　went　on　North；　

〃and　we　had　fairly　to　pike…pole　every　stick　through　when　the　wind　

blew；　but　now　that　dam's　backed　the　water　up　until　there　reely　ain't　

no　current　at　all。　　And　this　breeze　has　just　stopped　the　drive　dead　

as　a　smelt。〃



〃Don't　opening　the　sluice…gates　give　her　a　draw？〃　inquired　the　

newcomer。



〃Not　against　this　windand　not　much　of　a　draw；　anyway；　I　should　

guess。〃



〃How　long　you　been　hung？〃



〃Just　to…day。　　I　expect　Jack　will　be　down　from　the　rear　shortly。　　

Ought　to　see　something's　wrong　when　he　runs　against　the　tail　of　this　

jam　of　ours。〃



At　this　moment　the　lugubrious；　round…faced　man　in　the　derby　hat　

stepped　aside　from　the　row　of　steaming　utensils　he　had　been　

arranging。



〃Grub　pile；〃　he　remarked　in　a　conversational　tone　of　voice。



The　group　arose　as　one　man　and　moved　upon　the　heap　of　cutlery　and　of　

tin　plates　and　cups。　　From　the　open　fifty…pound　lard　pails　and　

kettles　they　helped　themselves　liberally；　then　retired　to　squat　in　

little　groups　here　and　there　near　the　sources　of　supply。　　Mere　

conversation　yielded　to　an　industrious　silence。　　Sadly　the　cook　

surveyed　the　scene；　his　arms　folded　across　the　dirty　white　apron；　an　

immense　mental　reservation　accenting　the　melancholy　of　his　

countenance。　　After　some　moments　of　contemplation　he　mixed　a　

fizzling　concoction　of　vinegar　and　soda；　which　he　drank。　　His　

rotundity　to　the　contrary　notwithstanding；　he　was　ravaged　by　a　

gnawing　dyspepsia；　and　the　sight　of　six　eggs　eaten　as　a　side　dish　to　

substantials　carried　consternation　to　his　interior。



So　busily　engaged　was　each　after　his　own　fashion　that　nobody　

observed　the　approach　of　a　solitary　figure　down　the　highway　of　the　

river。　　The　man　appeared　tiny　around　the　upper　bend；　momently　

growing　larger　as　he　approached。　　His　progress　was　jerky　and　on　an　

uneven　zigzag；　according　as　the　logs　lay；　by　leaps；　short　runs；　

brief　pauses；　as　a　riverman　goes。　　Finally　he　stepped　ashore　just　

below　the　camp；　stamped　his　feet　vigorously　free　of　water；　and　

approached　the　group　around　the　cooking…fire。



No　one　saw　him　save　the　cook；　who　vouchsafed　him　a　stately　and　

lugubrious　inclination　of　the　head。



The　newcomer　was　a　man　somewhere　about　thirty　years　of　age；　squarely　

built；　big　of　bone；　compact　in　bulk。　　His　face　was　burly；　jolly；　and　

reddened　rather　than　tanned　by　long　exposure。　　A　pair　of　twinkling　

blue　eyes　and　a　humorously　quirked　mouth　redeemed　his　countenance　

from　commonplaceness。



He　spread　his　feet　apart　and　surveyed　the　scene。



〃Well；　boys；〃　he　remarked　at　last　in　a　rollicking　big　voice；　〃I'm　

glad　to　see　the　situation　hasn't　spoiled　your　appetites。〃



At　this　they　looked　up　with　a　spontaneous　answering　grin。　　Tom　North　

laid　aside　his　plate　and　started　to　arise。



〃Sit　still；　Tom；〃　interposed　the　newcomer。　　〃Eat　hearty。　　I'm　going　

to　feed　yet　myself。　　Then　we'll　see　what's　to　be　done。　　I　think　

first　thing　you'd　better　see　to　having　this　wind　turned　off。〃



After　the　meal　was　finished；　North　and　his　principal　sauntered　to　

the　water's　edge；　where　they　stood　for　a　minute　looking　at　the　logs　

and　the　ruffled　expanse　of　water　below。



〃Might　as　well　have　sails　on　them　and　be　done　with　it；〃　remarked　

Jack　Orde　reflectively。　　〃Couldn't　hold　'em　any　tighter。　　It's　a　

pity　that　old　mossback　had　to　put　in　a　mill。　　The　water　was　slack　

enough　before；　but　now　there　seems　to　be　no　curre