Page:Hugh Pendexter--The young timber-cruisers.djvu/40

 mouth agape and eardrums singing, stared at the sawdust—covered men bending over and clustered around the discs of flashing steel. The Western sun in burnishing a huge circular saw into silver and gold was unable to reveal its motion. For all the world it was stationary and smooth of rim. And yet, when the huge log was urged upon the table and fed against its edge it divided like a cheese under the knife and only the intense scream of the long, hooked teeth evidenced that it was alive.

When Stanley turned to look for his new found friend he beheld Bub nearby, talking to a square built man, whose eyes were as cold and hard as the monster now severing the log. Although they were within a few feet of him Stanley could hear no word spoken. He saw the motion of Bub’s lips and then knew the manager had uttered some monosyllable. Bub turned and gaining his side said something.

“Can’t hear you,” bellowed Stanley; nor could he hear his own words. Bub smiled and let him outdoors, but it was some seconds before the ringing left his ears and Bub’s voice was very hollow and sounded far off as he informed:

“Good luck. You are to work in the kitchen helping the cook. You’ll have to git to work