Miss Strong, as if this reflection had quite overcome her, gathered up her knitting and hastened into the cook-tent, where for a moment she seemed to be venting her spite on the flat-irons and the tea-kettle. Strong sat alone, smoking thoughtfully. Soon he heard footsteps on the trail. A stranger, approaching, bade him good-evening.
"From the Migley Lumber Company," the stranger began, as he gave a card to Strong. "We have bought the Smith & Gordon tract. I have come to bring this letter and have a talk with you."
Strong read the letter carefully. Then he rose and put his hands in his pockets, and, with a sly wink at the stranger, walked slowly down the trail. He wished to go where Sinth would not be able to hear them. Some twenty rods away both sat down upon a log. The letter was, in effect, an order of eviction.
"I got t' g-go?" the Emperor inquired.
"That's about the size of it," said the stranger.
"Can't," Strong answered.
"Well, there's no hurry," said the other. "We shall be cutting here in the fall. I won't disturb you this year."
Silas rose and stood erect before the lumberman.
"Cut everyth-thing?" he inquired, his hand sweeping outward in a gesture of peculiar eloquence.
"Everything from Round Ridge to Carter's Plain," said the other.