A Damaged Reputation

by Harold Bindloss

  XXIX.

  A FINAL EFFORT.

  A dim, grey light was creeping through the rain when Brooke stopped on aridge of hillside that broke off from the parent range above the mine.The pines were slowly growing into shape, though as yet they showed asmere spires of blackness in the sliding haze, and there was a faintglimmer in the hollow beneath him, while the sound of running waterdrowned the splashing of the rain. The snow upon the lower slopes hadmostly melted now, though that on the great hill shoulders would swellthe frothing rivers for months to come, and, sinking ankle-deep inquaggy mould, he went down through the dripping undergrowth until hestopped again on the verge of what had become in the last few days amuddy lake.

  The wreckage of the higher forests was strewn upon it, but Brookenoticed that it drifted steadily in one direction, and floundering alongthe water's edge, he reached a narrow gully, which had served as outletfor the stream through the ridge that hemmed in the valley. The passagewas, however, now choked by a mass of groaning timber, which wasapparently growing every hour, and it already seemed scarcely possibleto cut through that pile of wreckage by any means at his command. Oncethe pent-up water, which seemed rising rapidly, burst the jam, it wouldcome down in an overwhelming torrent upon the mine, and he sat down on afallen redwood to consider how the difficulty could be grappled with.

  He, however, found it no easy matter to keep his mind upon the questionat all. His head was aching, he felt unpleasantly limp, as well as wetand cold, and the distressful stiffness of his back suggested that hehad by no means recovered from the effects of his fall. The long monthsof strenuous physical toil, the scanty, and, when the freighter couldnot get in, often wholly insufficient food, and exposure to bitter frostand snow, had left their mark on him, while now, worn out in mind andbody as he was, he realized that a last grim effort was demanded fromhim. How it was to be made he did not know, and he was sitting still,shivering, with the rain running from him, when Jimmy and another manfrom the mine appeared. It was almost light now, and the miner glancedat the gathering water with evident concern.

  "I guess something has got to be done," he said.

  Brooke lifted himself shakily to his feet, and blinked in a curious,heavy fashion at the man.

  "It has, and if you'll bring the boys up we'll make a start," he said."Now I don't know that we could cut that jam, and if we did it wouldonly turn the lake loose on the mine. What I purpose is to break a newcut through the rise where it's thinnest, and run enough water off toease the pressure. Then we might, if it appeared advisable, get at thejam. In the meanwhile every man I can spare from here will start incutting out a ten-foot trench at the mine. That would take away a gooddeal of any water that did come down."

  "I've been at this kind of work 'most all my life, and that's 'bout howI would fix it," said the other man.

  "Well," said Brooke, "there's just another point. Once you get started,you'll go right on, and there'll be very little sleep for any one untilit's done, but we'll credit you with half extra on every hour's time inthe pay-bill."

  The man laughed and waved his hand. "You needn't worry 'bout that. Iguess the boys will see you through," he said.

  He disappeared into the rain, and the struggle commenced when he cameback with the men. There were but a handful of them in all, and theirtask appeared almost beyond accomplishment, even to those born in acountry where man and Nature unsubdued come to the closest grapple, andhuman daring and endurance must make head against the tremendous forcesthat unloose the rivers and slowly grind the ranges down. It is acontinuous struggle, primitive and elemental, in which brute strengthand the animal courage that plies axe and drill with worn-out muscle andbleeding hands plays at least an equal part with ingenuity, for man hasarrayed against him sun and frost, roaring water, crushing ice, andsliding snow; and those who fall in it lie thick by towering trestlebridge and along each railroad track. Worn out, aching in every limb,and with heavy eyes, Brooke braced himself to bear his part in it.

  For three days they toiled with pick and shovel and clinking drill, andthe roar of the blasting charges shook the wet hillside, but while thetrenches deepened slowly the water rose. By night the big fires snappedand sputtered, and the feeble lanterns blinked through the rain, whilewild figures, stained with mire and dripping water, moved amidst thesmoke, and those who dragged themselves out of the workings lay down onthe wet ground for a brief hour's sleep. Brooke, however, so far as hecould afterwards remember, did not close his eyes at all, and where hisdripping figure appeared the shovels swung more rapidly, and the ringingof the drills grew a trifle louder. The pace was, however, too fierce tolast, and, though even the men who work for another toil strenuously inthat land, it was evident to him that while their task was less thanhalf-done, they could not sustain it long.

  Baffled in one direction, he had also changed his plans, for the ridgewas singularly hard to cut through, even with giant powder, and he hadwithdrawn most of the men from it and sent them to the trench, whichwould, he hoped, afford a passage to, at least, part of the water thatmust eventually come down upon the mine. It was late on the third nightwhen it became evident that this would very shortly happen, and he sat,wet through and very weary, in his tent on the hillside, when Jimmy andanother man came in.

  "Water's riz another foot since sundown, and I guess there's lakes of itready to come down yonder," said the miner, who stretched out a wethand, and pointed towards the dripping canvas above him, though Brookesurmised that he intended to indicate the range. "So far as I could makeout, there's quite a forest of smashed-up logs sailing along to pile upin the jam."

  Brooke lifted a wet, grey face, and blinked at him with half-closedeyes.

  "Then I'm afraid there are only two courses open to us," he said. "Wecan wait until the jam breaks up, when there'll be water enough to fillthe Dayspring up and wash the plant above ground right down into thecanyon, or we must try to cut it now."

  "And turn the lake loose on us with the trench 'bout half big enough totake it away?" said Jimmy.

  "Yes," said Brooke, grimly. "You have a six-foot dam thrown up. I'm notsure it will stand, but it's a good deal less likely to do it when thelake is twice as big."

  Jimmy looked at the other man, who nodded. "The boss is right," he said."You can't stop to look for the nicest way out when you're in a blametight place. No, sir, you've got to take the quickest one. When do youfigure on starting on the jam, Mr. Brooke?"

  "Now."

  The man appeared astonished, and shook his head. "It can't be done inthe dark," he said. "I guess nobody could find the king log that'skeying up the jam, and though the boys aren't nervous, I'm not sureyou'd get one of them to crawl down that gulley and over the live logsuntil it's light. They couldn't see to do anything with the axe anyway."

  Brooke smiled drily. "Since they will not be asked to do it, that doesnot count. I purposed trying giant-powder, and going myself; that is,unless Jimmy feels anxious to come along with me."

  "I don't," said Jimmy, with decision in his tone. "If it was anybodyelse, watching him would be quite good enough for me. Still, as itisn't, I guess I'll have to see you through."

  "Thanks!" said Brooke. "You can let them know what to expect at themine, Cropper. I'll want you to put the detonators on the fuses with me,Jimmy."

  The other man went out, and the two who were left proceeded to nip downthe fulminating caps on the strips of snaky fuse, after which theycarefully embedded them in sundry plastic rolls, which looked very likebig candles made of yellow wax. These they packed in an iron case, andthen, carrying an axe and a big auger, went out of the tent. The rest ofthe men left at the ridge were waiting them, for every one understoodthe perilous nature of the attempt, though, as two men were sufficientfor the work, there was nothing that they could do, and they proceededin a body through the dripping undergrowth towards the gully. Here a bigfire of resinous wood was lighted, and when at last the smoky glareflickered upon the wet rocks in the hollow, Brooke, who stripped toshirt and trousers, flung h
imself over the edge.

  He dropped upon a little ledge, and made another yard or two down acranny, then a bold leap landed him on a second ledge, and the groaningtrunks were close beneath him when he dropped again. The glare of thefire scarcely reached him now, and Jimmy, who alighted close by him,looked up longingly at the flickering light above.

  "It wasn't easy getting down, and I'd feel better if I knew just how wewere going back," he said. "I guess it's not quite wise either to bangthat can about on the rocks."

  This was incontrovertible, for while giant powder, which is dynamite,is, with due precaution, comparatively safe to handle, and cannot beexploded without a detonator, so those who make it claim, it is stilladdicted to going off with disastrous results on very small provocation.Brooke, who had the case containing it slung round his back, was,however, looking down on the logs that stirred and heaved beneath himwith the water spouting up through the interstices between. He could seethem when the fire grew brighter.

  "The king should not be far away, from the look of the jam," he said."If we can't cut it, we may jar it loose. Giant powder strikes down. Letme have the axe."

  Jimmy glanced at him, and shook his head, for Brooke's face showed drawnand grey in the flickering light.

  "I'll do any chopping that's wanted, and be glad when I get you out ofthis," he said.

  He dropped upon the timber, and the gap he splashed into closed upsuddenly as he whipped out his leg. Then, with Brooke behind him, hecrawled over the grinding logs, and by and by drove the point of theauger into one that seemed to run downwards through the midst of them.It was a good many feet in girth, and Brooke gasped heavily when he alsolaid hold of the auger crutch. The hole they made was charged with oneof the yellow rolls, and, moving to a second log, they bored another,while the mass shook and trembled under them, and twice a great spout ofwater fell splashing upon them. The logs were apparently endued withvitality, for they moved under and over their fellows, and ground uponthem with the pulsations of the stream that brought down freshaccessions and found a fresh channel that promptly closed again. The jammight resist the pressure for another week, or break up at any moment,and whirl down the gully in chaotic ruin. Still, with the rain beatingdown upon them, the pair toiled on until several sticks of explosive hadbeen embedded, when Brooke rose very stiffly and straightened himself ashe took a little case out of his pocket.

  "I don't know that we've got the king, but the general shake-up ought toloosen it," he said. "Light your fuse, Jimmy, and then get up. I'll comein a moment or two, when I'm ready."

  Jimmy looked up, and saw a cluster of dark figures outlined against theglow of the fire, for the men had crowded to the edge of the gully.

  "Stand by to give us a lift up, boys," he said.

  Then he turned away, and was rather longer than he liked persuading adamp match to ignite. The fuse, however, sparkled readily, and, gropinghis way across the logs, he clutched a ledge of rock. It was wet andslippery, and he slid back from it, hurting one arm, while, when heregained the narrow shelf, a voice was raised warningly above.

  "Let her go," it said. "Jimmy's fuse will be on to the powder beforeyou're through."

  Jimmy turned, and dimly saw his comrade still apparently stooping overone of the logs.

  "Have I got to come back and bring you?" he shouted.

  Brooke stood up, and a faint sparkling broke out at his feet. "Go on,"he said. "It's burning now."

  Jimmy said nothing further. Those fuses were short, and he was anxiousto be clear of the gully. Still, even though he decided to sacrifice theaxe, it was not an easy matter to ascend the almost precipitous slope ofslippery rock, and as he climbed higher the glare of the fire in hiseyes confused him. He had, however, almost reached the top when therewas a crash and a rattle of stones below him, and he twisted himselfpartly round, while a hoarse shout rang out.

  "Get hold of him!" cried one of the men. "Oh, jump for it. He'll be overthe ledge!"

  For a moment Jimmy had a glimpse of a wet, white face, and a hand,apparently clinging to a cranny, and then the flicker of firelight sankand left him in black darkness. He did not understand exactly what hadtaken place, but it was unpleasantly evident that the fuses would soonreach the powder, while his comrade, whom he could no longer see, wasapparently unable to ascend the gully.

  "Can't you get him?" shouted somebody.

  "Jump down. Put the fuses out!" said another man.

  Jimmy was, fortunately, one of the slow men who usually keep theirheads, and while he glanced down at the twinkling fuses in the dark pitbeneath him, he swung up a warning hand.

  "Light right out of that, boys. It can't be done," he said. "Hold on,partner. Let me know where you are--I'm coming along."

  A faint shout answered him, and Jimmy made his way downwards until hecould discern a dusky blur, which he surmised was Brooke, close beneathhim. Taking a firm hold with one hand, he leaned down and clutched atit, and then, with every muscle strained, strove to drag his comrade up.Jimmy was a strong man, but Brooke, it seemed, was able to do verylittle to help him, and Jimmy's fingers commenced to slacken under thetension. Then Brooke, who made a convulsive flounder, lost the grip hehad, and the arm Jimmy clung to was torn away from him. A dull soundthat was unpleasantly suggestive rose from a ledge below, and there wassilence that was more so after it.

  Then while Jimmy leaned down, blinking into the darkness and ignoringthe risk he ran, a yellow flash leapt out below, and there was astunning detonation. It was followed almost in the same moment byanother, and the solid rock seemed to heave a shiver, while the hollowwas filled with overwhelming sound and a nauseating vapor. Giant-powderstrikes chiefly downwards, which was especially fortunate for two menjust then, but the rock was swept by flying fragments of shatteredtrunks, and Jimmy cowered against it half-dazed. Then another sound roseout of the acrid haze as the rent trunks crushed beneath the pressure,and there was an appalling grinding and smashing of timber. It wassucceeded by a furious roar of water.

  A minute had probably slipped by when once more a man who showed faintlyblack against the firelight leaned over the edge of the gully, and hisvoice reached Jimmy brokenly.

  "Hallo! Are either of you alive?" he cried.

  Jimmy roused himself with an effort. "Well," he said, hoarsely, "I guessI am. I don't quite know whether Brooke is."

  "Then I'm coming down," said the other man. "We have got to get him outof the stink if there's anything left of him."

  Jimmy grasped the necessity for this, since the fumes of giant-powderare in confined spaces usually sufficient to prostrate a strong man, andseveral of his comrades apparently came down instead of one, bringinglanterns and blazing brands with them. There was a slippery ledge alittle lower down the gully, and while the nauseating vapor eddied aboutthem and the shattered wreckage went thundering past below, they madetheir way along it until they came on Brooke.

  He was lying partly up on the ledge with his feet in the swirlingtorrent and his shirt rent open. There was a big red smear on it, hislips were bloodless, and one arm was doubled limply under him. Jimmystooped and shook him gently, but Brooke made no sign, and his head sankforward until his face was hidden. Then Jimmy, who slipped his handinside the torn shirt, withdrew it, smeared and warm, with a littleshiver.

  "He's bleeding quite hard, and that shows there's life in him. We havegot to get him out of this right now," he said.

  None of them quite remembered how they did it, for few men unaccustomedto the ranges would have cared to ascend that gully unencumbered bydaylight, but it was accomplished, and when a litter of fir branches hadbeen hastily lashed together they plodded behind it in silence down thehillside. If anything could be done, and they were very uncertain onthat point, it could only be done in the shanty.

  As they floundered down the trail a man met them with the news that verylittle of the water had got into the mine, but that did not appear ofmuch importance to any one just then. After all, the Dayspring belongedto an English company, and it was Brook
e, who lay in the litteroblivious of everything, they had worked for.