登陆注册
15328100000109

第109章

For a moment Thorpe could not make out what had happened.This turmoil was so different from the dead quiet of desertion he had expected, that he was unable to gather his faculties.All about him were familiar faces upturned to his own.He distinguished the broad, square shoulders of Scotty Parsons, Jack Hyland, Kerlie, Bryan Moloney; Ellis grinned at him from the press; Billy Camp, the fat and shiny drive cook; Mason, the foreman of the mill; over beyond howled Solly, the tug captain, Rollway Charley, Shorty, the chore-boy; everywhere were features that he knew.As his dimming eyes travelled here and there, one by one the Fighting Forty, the best crew of men ever gathered in the northland, impressed themselves on his consciousness.Saginaw birlers, Flat River drivers, woodsmen from the forests of Lower Canada, bully boys out of the Muskegon waters, peavey men from Au Sable, white-water dare-devils from the rapids of the Menominee--all were there to do him honor, him in whom they had learned to see the supreme qualities of their calling.On the outskirts sauntered the tall form of Tim Shearer, a straw peeping from beneath his flax-white mustache, his eyes glimmering under his flax-white eyebrows.He did not evidence as much excitement as the others, but the very bearing of the man expressed the deepest satisfaction.Perhaps he remembered that zero morning so many years before when he had watched the thinly-clad, shivering chore-boy set his face for the first time towards the dark forest.

Big Junko and Anderson deposited their burden on the raised platform of the office steps.Thorpe turned and fronted the crowd.

At once pandemonium broke loose, as though the previous performance had been nothing but a low-voiced rehearsal.

The men looked upon their leader and gave voice to the enthusiasm that was in them.He stood alone there, straight and tall, the muscles of his brown face set to hide his emotion, his head thrust back proudly, the lines of his strong figure tense with power,--the glorification in finer matter of the hardy, reliant men who did him honor.

"Oh, aren't you PROUD of him?" gasped Hilda, squeezing Helen's arm with a little sob.

In a moment Wallace Carpenter, his countenance glowing with pride and pleasure, mounted the platform and stood beside his friend, while Morton and the two young ladies stopped half way up the steps.

At once the racket ceased.Everyone stood at attention.

"Mr.Thorpe," Wallace began, "at the request of your friends here, I have a most pleasant duty to fulfill.They have asked me to tell you how glad they are to see you; that is surely unnecessary.They have also asked me to congratulate you on having won the fight with our rivals.""You done 'em good." "Can't down the Old Fellow," muttered joyous voices.

"But," said Wallace, "I think that I first have a story to tell on my own account.

"At the time the jam broke this spring, we owed the men here for a year's work.At that time I considered their demand for wages ill-timed and grasping.I wish to apologize.After the money was paid them, instead of scattering, they set to work under Jack Radway and Tim Shearer to salvage your logs.They have worked long hours all summer.They have invested every cent of their year's earnings in supplies and tools, and now they are prepared to show you in the Company's booms, three million feet of logs, rescued by their grit and hard labor from total loss."At this point the speaker was interrupted."Saw off," "Shut up,""Give us a rest," growled the audience."Three million feet ain't worth talkin' about," "You make me tired," "Say your little say the way you oughter," "Found purty nigh two millions pocketed on Mare's Island, or we wouldn't a had that much," "Damn-fool undertaking, anyhow.""Men," cried Thorpe, "I have been very fortunate.From failure success has come.But never have I been more fortunate than in my friends.The firm is now on its feet.It could afford to lose three times the logs it lost this year---"He paused and scanned their faces.

"But," he continued suddenly, "it cannot now, nor ever can afford to lose what those three million feet represent,--the friends it has made.I can pay you back the money you have spent and the time you have put in---" Again he looked them over, and then for the first time since they have known him his face lighted up with a rare and tender smile of affection."But, comrades, I shall not offer to do it: the gift is accepted in the spirit with which it was offered---"He got no further.The air was rent with sound.Even the members of his own party cheered.From every direction the crowd surged inward.

The women and Morton were forced up the platform to Thorpe.The latter motioned for silence.

"Now, boys, we have done it," said he, "and so will go back to work.

From now on you are my comrades in the fight."His eyes were dim; his breast heaved; his voice shook.Hilda was weeping from excitement.Through the tears she saw them all looking at their leader, and in the worn, hard faces glowed the affection and admiration of a dog for its master.Something there was especially touching in this, for strong men rarely show it.

She felt a great wave of excitement sweep over her.Instantly she was standing by Thorpe, her eyes streaming, her breast trobbing with emotion.

"Oh!" she cried, stretching her arms out to them passionately, "Oh!

I love you; I love you all!"

End

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 周凯的英雄联盟之路

    周凯的英雄联盟之路

    专科学校电竞专业,本想安安稳稳过日子的周凯阴差阳错却卷入了英雄联盟职业赛场的争斗中,做逃避的懦夫,还是不屈的强者?是为了女神放弃职业还是女神职业双收?一起都还未定,周凯的英雄联盟之路正在演绎
  • 毒步天下:废柴小姐要逆天

    毒步天下:废柴小姐要逆天

    (全文免费)她,是金牌杀手,拥有着萝莉的面貌,邪恶的性子,外貌天真可爱,杀人毫不犹豫。在一次背叛中穿越成了一棵废柴小萝莉,废柴?绝无仅有的修炼天赋,望尘莫及的修炼速度,她怎么能成为废柴?在这个弱肉强食的大陆,她又会给这片大陆带来怎样的变故?
  • 向北不归

    向北不归

    古老的青丘之国,与蛟龙族世代交好。而蛟龙族却背叛两族的情意,将青丘狐族屠戮至灭族。狐族少年与白龙少年的友情在刀刃下破碎。狐族少年带着族人的灵魂漂泊千年。白龙少年只求狐族少年亲手杀死他为青丘报仇。然而所有都在一个人的操控下改变了轨道。命运早已背离原有的路线。时间的掌权者蠢蠢欲动。漂泊的灵魂将回归故乡。
  • 王俊凯沫上篱人归不归

    王俊凯沫上篱人归不归

    蝉在树上拼命的叫,好像也在诉说着这个夏天的悲哀,也许注定是悲剧,呢又何必苦苦支撑呢,风吹过来,她没有理一理她的长发,让画面看起来更加唯美吧,谁也不知道,只是她的心里藏了一位少年……
  • 迟来

    迟来

    愚钝的人开悟之后写下的书,写给多年后浮躁的灵魂。
  • 龙脉龙忍

    龙脉龙忍

    额,额额,额额额,曲项向易哥。你们还在修炼啊,哥我有火影系统,打怪什么的就可以赚取查克拉,兑换修为什么的太简单了。什么,你们炼丹炼药要好几天?我也就一瞬间。你们也想要啊?你们知道飞雷神之斩么,八岐大蛇知道么?那,轮回天生呢?秽土转生,千手神通,幻龙九封尽?尸鬼封尽你造么?我靠,不造你伸手要个屁啊。哥累了,要去找纲手,照美冥,雏田,去啦。加纳~
  • 鬓云香腮雪

    鬓云香腮雪

    前世,姑父跟她说:“初瑶啊,你年纪还小,将军府总要有人打理,我们都是你的亲人,对吧?”于是姑父一家占去了她的府邸。嫁人时,姑妈和她说:“初瑶啊,你看你和梦竹如同亲姐妹一般,让她陪你嫁了如何?”于是表妹抢了她的男人。当一切回到十五岁,她从将军府踏入花轿之时,她叶初瑶只有一个念头。全部,她都要拿回来。
  • 权王寻妻:王妃太凶猛

    权王寻妻:王妃太凶猛

    她,是暗杀组织的头号杀手,却因情而死;他,是天下暗涌的操作者,冷血无情;一朝穿越,她竟被说成是破鞋,呵呵……不想死就给我闭嘴!
  • 式仙

    式仙

    元始法会,六道洞开。姜名应劫兵解转生。真龙血池卵胎中塑道婴,神藏经义种道宫神胎。步道神兵驭式神,真龙九变铸血脉。战道统,争夺大道真名之力;炼神兵,铭刻持咒符文之种。秘术,仙藏,神兵,杀人红尘中,争渡超脱术,踏足真仙唯“一”。
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)