“Are you giving me orders, Cooley?” Joe demanded in biting tones. “Let me tell you this,” he cried. “Not a man goes out to-night. When I want McCane’s camp burnt I’ll tell you. Yes, and I’ll set fire to it myself. That’s the kind of fellow I am. I won’t hide behind you boys. Now get back, every man of you!”
They hesitated and murmured. Those behind pushed forward. The young man was showing unsuspected qualities. Joe stepped up close.
“Do you men think I’ll let you run this camp?” he demanded. “You’re here to cut logs when I tell you and not to fight till I tell you. Get it through you now and get it clear that I’m Boss. Boss, do you understand? BOSS! What I say goes, day or night.” He drew a furrow in the snow with his moccasin. “The man who crosses that line gets his time. If you all cross you all get it. If half of you cross you all get it, and I’ll shut down this camp. That’s what Clancy and McCane are trying to make me do. If you want to help them and smash me—cross the line!”
“There’s the line. Cross it to-night or try to scrap with McCane’s crew before I tell you to, and I’ll shut down”
His voice rang clear as a trumpet in the frozen stillness. By accident, almost, he had chosen the right course. Pleadings alone would have been in vain; orders alone would have been useless; the placing of this responsibility upon the men turned the scale.
“Aw, now, Mr. Kent,” said big Cooley coaxingly, “what harm to put the run on them high-bankers and burn their dirty camp?”
Joe eyed him coldly. “I won’t argue,” he said. “There’s the line. Cross it to-night or try to scrap with McCane’s crew before I tell you to, and I’ll shut down. I mean it, boys. Goodnight.”
He turned and walked to the foreman’s quarters without looking back. Behind him the men stood huddled foolishly. Then, one by one, they straggled back to the bunk-house. From that moment Joe Kent stood with his crew on his own feet. He was boss.
The following night, when he came in with the crew from the woods, he was served with an injunction restraining him, his servants, agents, or workmen, from entering upon the limits of Clancy Brothers, or injuring or interfering with their property or employees.