As though satisfied with this
damage, the ice-flood quickly dropped to its old level and began to
slacken its pace. The noise likewise eased down, and the others could
hear Donald shouting from his eyrie to look down-stream. As forecast,
the jam had come among the islands in the bend, and the ice was piling up
in a great barrier which stretched from shore to shore. The river came
to a standstill, and the water finding no outlet began to rise. It
rushed up till the island was awash, the men splashing around up to their
knees, and the dogs swimming to the ruins of the cabin. At this stage it
abruptly became stationary, with no perceptible rise or fall.
Montana Kid shook his head. "It's jammed above, and no more's coming
down."
"And the gamble is, which jam will break first," Sutherland added.
"Exactly," the Kid affirmed. "If the upper jam breaks first, we haven't
a chance. Nothing will stand before it."
The Minook men turned away in silence, but soon "Rumsky Ho" floated upon
the quiet air, followed by "The Orange and the Black." Room was made in
the circle for Montana Kid and the policeman, and they quickly caught the
ringing rhythm of the choruses as they drifted on from song to song.
Pages:
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216