Standing
on the bridge there, watching the men at work among the logs, he looked
like an admiral on board a ship, young and strong, with power to command.
The ladies with him stopped willingly, and stood there on the bridge,
though the rush of water was often enough to make one giddy. And the roar
of it was such that they had to put their heads together when they spoke.
But just in this position, at his post on the bridge, standing there and
turning this way and that, there was something smallish and unhandsome
about his figure; his sports jacket, fitting tightly at the waist, seemed
to pinch, and showed up over-heavy contours behind.
The very first evening, after he'd given me my orders to start off up the
river next day, I met him out walking with two ladies. At sight of me he
stopped, and kept his companions waiting there, too, while he gave me the
same instructions all over again. "Just as well I happened to meet you,"
he said. "You'll start off early, then, tomorrow morning, take a hooking
pole with you, and clear all the logs you can manage.
Pages:
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301