rouse his wrath, for the
reputation he had acquired by his treatment of Ola Klemmerud made them
afraid to risk a collision.

This was the situation when the great floods of 188- came, and
introduced a spice of danger into Bonnyboy's monotonous life. The
mill-races were now kept open night and day, and yet the water burst
like a roaring cascade over the tops of dams, and the river-bed was
filled to overflowing with a swiftly-hurrying tawny torrent, which
filled the air with its rush and swash, and sent hissing showers of
spray flying through the tree-tops. Bonnyboy and a gang of twenty men
were working as they had never worked before in their lives, under the
direction of an engineer, who had been summoned by the mill-owner to
strengthen the dams; for if but one of them burst, the whole tremendous
volume of water would be precipitated upon the valley, and the village
by the lower falls and every farm within half a mile of the river-banks
would be swept out of existence. Guards were stationed all the way up
the river to intercept any stray lumber that might be afloat. For if
a log jam were added to the terrific strain of the flood, there would
surely be no salvation possible. Yet in spite of all precautions, big
logs now and then came bumping against the dams, and shot with wild
gyrations and somersaults down into the brown eddies below.

The engineer, who was standing on the top of a log pile, had shouted
until he was hoarse, and gesticulated with his cane until his arms were
lame, but yet there was a great deal to do before he could go to bed
with an easy conscience. Bonnyboy and his comrades, who had had by far
the harder part of the task, were ready to drop with fatigue. It was
now eight o'clock in the evening, and they had worked since six in the
morning, and had scarcely had time to swallow their scant rations. Some
of them began to grumble, and the engineer had to coax and threaten them
to induce them to persevere for another hour. The moon was just rising
behind the mountain ridges, and the beautiful valley lay, with its green
fields, sprouting forests, and red-painted farm-houses, at Bonnyboy's
feet. It was terrible to think that perhaps destruction was to overtake
those happy and peaceful homes, where men had lived and died for many
hundred years. Bonnyboy could scarcely keep back the tears when this
fear suddenly came over him. Was it not strange that, though they knew
that danger was threatening, they made n