"And my cookin' is good enough for anybody," came shrilly from his wife. "I've given you more than you deserve."
A perfect war of words followed, and in the end Mrs. Hoover ordered both of the young lumbermen "to pack their traps an' git out to once," or she'd "go after 'em with a broom."
"Now, Maria, let me settle this," interposed John Hoover, who did not want to lose them. "They can board at one of the other cabins, but they must stay the season out."
"I shan't stay another day," replied Dale. "I am going away inside of the next hour."
"Then I shan't pay you a cent," snarled John Hoover.
"Very well, you can keep the money."
"I'm going with Dale," said Owen. "If you are mean enough to keep what wages are coming to us, you are welcome to the amount, Uncle Jack."
After this both Dale and Owen refused to talk. Both packed their belongings, and soon had them out of the cabin. As John Hoover refused to transport either them or their baggage to the railroad station, they, with the assistance of two men who were not afraid to lend a hand, took their trunks and valises down the creek to the river. John Hoover followed them, and begged them to come back, but they paid no attention to him, and soon after secured passage on a lumber barge bound for Saginaw.
"Well, we are well out of that," declared Dale, when on the way. "That is an experience I don't care to repeat."
"I'm afraid I'm responsible," began Owen, when his chum stopped him.