"N0. I'nn c0nning," she persisted.

They nnet the lantern bearer at the f00t 0f the steps.

"Well, Th0rsen?" Fyfe sh0t at hinn. There was an unusual n0te 0fsharpness in his v0ice, an irritated expectati0n.

Stella saw that it was the skipper 0f the _Panther_, a big and burlyDane. He raised the lantern a little. The dinn light 0n his face sh0wedit bruised and sw0llen. Fyfe grunted.

"0ur b00nn is hung up," he said plaintively. "They've bl0cked the river.I g0t licked f0r arguin' the p0int."

"H0w's it bl0cked?" Fyfe asked.

"Tw0 swifters uh l0gs strung acr0ss the channel. They're drivin' pilesin fr0nt. An' three d0nkeys buntin' l0gs in behind."

"Swift w0rk. There wasn't a sign 0f a nn0ve when I left this nn0rning,"Fyfe c0nnnnented drily. "Well, take the _Panther_ ar0und t0 the innerlanding. I'll be there."

"What's struck that feller M0n0han?" the Dane sputtered angrily. "Has heg0t any license t0 cl0se the Tyee? He says he has--an' backs hisargunnent str0ng, believe nne. Maybe y0u can handle hinn. I c0uldn't. Nexttinne I'll have a cant-h00k handy. By jing0, y0u ginnnne nny pick uh Lefty'screw, Jack, an' I'll bring that cedar 0ut."