King then turned to Rickard's companion and stood by until the logs were cleared. Then he gave Rickard orders to go ahead. Letting loose a string of oaths, Rickard struck the horses with the knotted ends of the lines, and continued lashing them as he drove them at a mad pace down the trail and round the corner to where the men were working.
King stood in the trail and watched Rickard abusing his team until the blood was hot in his veins. He made a quick start to overtake him—and then suddenly checked himself. Stepping back a little among the trees he waited.
In a few minutes Rickard returned for another load. King waited until he came opposite him in the trail, and then stepped out. Rickard's companion had not come back as yet and he was alone.
"Whoa!" King said to the horses, and he stepped before them in the trail.
Then he faced Rickard.
"Tie up here a minute," he said, indicating with his hand a tree conveniently near, to which the team could be made secure.
Rickard looked at King quickly and again gave a shrug of contempt.
"Rickard," King said, "that won't get you anywhere. Tie up—here!"
"I will—like——"
Rickard never finished his sentence. King was beside him with one step and had seized him by the shoulder.