"We aren't doing any banking on that. I've got a notion that the Pages aren't sending out any six-mile-an-hour scow to do their quick work. That timber's got to come over here tonight. May as well put it where the carpenters can get right at it. We'll be on the cupola before long, anyhow."
"But it's five o'clock already. There's the whistle."
Bannon waited while the long blast sounded through the crisp air. Then he said:—
"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."