His practical experience was sufficient to solve readily such problems of broken tackle, extra expedients, or facility which the days brought forth.

The fact that in him was vested the power to discharge kept the men at work.
Dyer was in the habit of starting for the marsh an hour or so after sunrise.

The crew, of course, were at work by daylight.

Dyer heard them often through his doze, just as he heard the chore-boy come in to build the fire and fill the water pail afresh.

After a time the fire, built of kerosene and pitchy jack pine, would get so hot that in self-defense he would arise and dress.