“Jumping crickets! If it ain’t Matt Jackson!”
Mr. Jackson shook the hotel man’s hand heartily.
“I didn’t know you were up here yet, Andrews,” he said. “I used to know Mr. Andrews well, years ago, when I was lumbering around Coboconk,” he said to Tom. “I expect there may be some of my old lumber-jacks here still. If there are they’re just what we need now. I’ve got a little timber proposition on,” he added to the proprietor.
“Sure, I’ll find ye some of the boys,” exclaimed Andrews. “They’ll be powerful glad to work for ye again, too—the more as jobs is scarce around Ormond these days.”
Tom went up to his room to wash, pleased immensely at the reception they had received. Coming down again, he found his father in animated conversation with a group of old residents, and looking more alive and interested than he had seen him for years. Mr. Jackson was tired, indeed, and went early to bed that night; but he was far from exhausted by the journey, and was up the next morning before his son.
Tom found his father down-stairs, consulting with a big, roughly dressed fellow, bull-necked and huge-chested. His hair was grizzling a little, but his strength appeared noway abated with years, and he treated the lumber merchant with marked deference.
“This is Joe Lynch—Big Joe, they used to call him, and likely do yet,” said Mr. Jackson. “He’s one of the best bushmen in the north, and it isn’t the first time he’s worked for me. He’ll be our foreman now, and he thinks he can pick up six or eight men for us right away. We want to get started at once. Teams and supplies can come on later. Remember, Joe,” he added, “I want men who wouldn’t be afraid of a little trouble. Not roughs, you know, but fellows who can fight if they need to. Maybe there’ll be a row where we’re going.”
“Trust me for thot, sorr,” responded Lynch, with a wink. “They’ll like nothing better. I’ll get ye a bunch that’ll fight their weight in wildcats, any day.”
At that moment breakfast was called, and Tom and his father went into the dining-room.
“I’ve heard news of your man Harrison,” said Mr. Jackson. “He was here ten days ago, hiring men and getting supplies. Nobody knew what he wanted them for. He’s got five men and one team of horses, and he can’t have made any great progress at getting out the walnut yet. But I think we’d better hurry ahead as soon as we can. It’ll take some time to get our outfit together here, but I suppose I can leave that to Lynch—though I’d rather see after it myself. Something’s sure to be overlooked.”