So he had overheard the riverman’s remark that morning.  Bob laughed.

“That’s right,” approved Welton, “take it easy.  Necessities is a great comfort, but you can do without even them.”

After supper all sprawled around a fire.  Welton’s big bulk extended in the acme of comfort.  He puffed his pipe straight up toward the stars, and swore gently from time to time when the ashes dropped back into his eyes.

“Now that’s a good kid,” he said, waving a pipe toward the other fire where the would-be riverman was helping wash the dishes.  “He’ll never be a first-class riverman, but he’s a good kid.”

“Why won’t he make a good riverman?” asked Bob.

“Same reason you wouldn’t,” said Welton bluntly.  “A good white water man has to start younger.  Besides, what’s the use?  There won’t be any rivermen ten year from now.  Say, you,” he raised his voice peremptorily, “what do you call yourself?”

The boy looked up startled, saw that he was indicated, stammered, and caught his voice.

“John Harvey, sir,” he replied.

“Son of old John who used to be on the Marquette back in the seventies?”

“Yes, sir; I suppose so.”

“He ought to be a good kid:  he comes of good stock,” muttered Welton; “but he’ll never be a riverman.  No use trying to shove that shape peg in a round hole!”

XIV

Near noon of the following day a man came upstream to report a jam beyond the powers of the outlying rivermen.  Roaring Dick, after a short absence for examination, returned to call off the rear.  All repaired to the scene of obstruction.

Bob noticed the slack water a mile or so above the jam.  The river was quite covered with logs pressed tight against each other by the force of the interrupted current, but still floating.  A little farther along the increasing pressure had lifted some of them clear of the water.  They upended slightly, or lay in hollows between the others.  Still farther downstream the salient features of a jam multiplied.  More timbers stuck out at angles from the surface; some were even lifted bodily.  An abattis formed, menacing and formidable, against which even the mighty dynamics of the river pushed in vain.  Then at last the little group arrived at the “breast” itself—­a sullen and fearful tangle like a gigantic pile of jackstraws.  Beneath it the diminished river boiled out angrily.  By the very fact of its lessened volume Bob could guess at the pressure above.  Immediately the rivermen ran out on this tangle, and, after a moment devoted to inspection, set to work with their peavies.  Bob started to follow, but Welton held him back.

“It’s dangerous for a man not used to it.  The jam may go out at any time, and when she goes, she goes sky-hooting.”