"The food was certainly poor," answered Owen. "And he worked me harder than I ever worked before, and I've done some pretty hard hustling in the woods of Maine."
"Did you leave on account of the work and the poor food?"
"Yes."
"That's enough, then; I don't sign," came from Bond.
"Nor I," said Martin. "I said I'd heard about poor feed up there."
"See here!" stormed John Hoover, turning to Owen and Dale. "What do you mean by spoiling my business? I've a good mind to have the law on you!"
"These men only asked us some questions, and we told the truth," answered Dale. He turned to the others. "Because we wouldn't stay the season out he wouldn't pay us a cent," he went on.
"That was mighty mean," answered Bond.
"How are you fixed?" said Martin. "Perhaps we can help you a bit. One good turn deserves another, they say."
"Oh, we're not suffering, thank you," replied Dale. "But we told you this just to let you know how mean this man is."