"Yes," Harding replied. "And I was surprised when your friend here said it belonged to Colonel Mowbray."
"He went too far, but it does belong to him in a sense. The Colonel founded the settlement when very few other people thought of leaving Manitoba, and he had the usual option of cutting all the wood he wanted on unoccupied land. We have always got it here, and as we have done all the road-making and general improvements in the neighborhood, we have come to look upon it as our own."
"Is that your bridge across the creek?"
"Yes; and it's not a bad job, I think. We had a good deal of trouble digging out the grade in the ravine."
"Well, interfering with bridges is not a habit of mine; so we'll let your trail stand. But I could make you divert it to the proper road reserve."
"Ah!" exclaimed Kenwyne. "That sounds significant."
"Precisely. This bluff and the section it stands on belong to me; the transfer was registered at the land office a week ago."
"Then I think there's nothing more to be said."
"Oh," Harding responded with a smile, "you might tell your Colonel that when he wants any lumber he may cut it if he'll let me know!"
Kenwyne laughed.