“A patent saw for timber work. It's in the papers.”
I started at this. Surely he hadn't invented my patent saw?
“There must be some mistake,” I said. “It wasn't the Captain who invented it.”
“Oh, wasn't it?”
“No it wasn't. But the saw was left with him.”
And I told the Lensmand all about it. He went in to fetch the paper, and we both read what it said: “New Invention.... Our Correspondent on the spot.... Of great importance to owners of timber lands.... Principle of the mechanism is as follows:...”
“You don't mean to say it's your invention?”
“Yes, it is.”
“And the Captain is trying to steal it? Why, this'll be a pretty case, a mighty pretty case. Leave it to me. Did any one see you working on the thing?”
“Yes, all his people on the place did.”