e extraordinary expenses incidental to the defence and to the
subsequent salvaging, untangling and sorting would more than eat up the
profits of the drive. Orde would then be forced to ask for an extension
of time on his notes.

On arriving in Monrovia, he drove to his own house. To Mallock he issued
orders.

"Go to the office and tell them I am ill," said he, "and then hunt
up Mr. Heinzman, wherever he is, and tell him I want to see him
immediately."

He did not trouble to send word directly to Orde, up river; but left
him to be informed by the slow process of filtration through the
bookkeepers. The interim of several hours before Heinzman appeared he
spent very comfortably in his easy chair, dipping into a small volume of
Montaigne.

At length the German was announced. He entered rather red and
breathless, obviously surprised to find Newmark at home.

"Dot was a terrible jam," said he, mopping his brow and sinking into a
chair. "I got lots of logs in it."

Newmark dismissed the subject with an abrupt flip of his unlighted
cigar.

"Heinzman," said he, "in three weeks at the latest Orde will come to you
asking for a renewal of the notes you hold against our firm. You must
refuse to make such a renewal."

"All righdt," agreed Heinzman.

"He'll probably offer you higher interest. You must refuse that. Then
when the notes are overdue you must begin suit in foreclosure."

"All righdt," repeated Heinzman a little restlessly. "Do you think he
vill hold that jam?"

Newmark shrugged his shoulders swiftly.

"I got lots of logs in that jam. If that jam goes out I vill lose a heap
of money."

"Well, you'll make quite a heap on this deal," said Newmark carelessly.

"Suppose he holds it," said Heinzman, pausing. "I hate like the mischief
to joomp on him."

"Rot!" said Newmark decisively. "That's what he's there for." He looked
at the German sharply. "I suppose you know just how deep you're in
this?"

"Oh, I ain't backing oudt," negatived Heinzman. "Not a bit."

"Well, then, you know what to do," said Newmark, terminating the
interview.

XLIII

Little by little the water went down. The pressure, already considerably
relieved by the channel into Stearn's Bayou, slackened every hour. Orde,
still half dazed with his long-delayed sleep, drove back along the marsh
road to town.

His faculties were still in the torpor that follows rest after
exhaustion. The warm July sun, the breeze from the Lake, the f