As has been stated, the edge of the disputed track came nearly to the clearing, and they hoped that by cutting only on the upper end that they might get in two or three day’s work before Ben learned of it.
“He’ll never know a thing about it unless someone happens to go by and tells him,” Jack declared as he and Bob followed the crew to the new cutting.
Here the big spruces grew close to the edge of the lake, and as Tom had said no hauling would be necessary for several days.
“It’s no wonder Ben tried to get possession of this lot,” Bob declared as he looked up at the towering trees, their trunks reaching far up as straight as an arrow. “There’ll be hardly a bit of waste to these trees,” he added.
The men fell to with a will and by the time the first hint of the approaching night stole over the forest, Tom vowed that they had cut not less than twenty thousand feet.
That evening Bob and Tom had just completed a draw game when a heavy knock sounded on the door of the office.
“Come in,” Tom shouted.
The door immediately swung open and Big Ben Donahue entered.
“A fine avenin’ to yez,” Tom said, getting up and waving his visitor to a chair near the stove.
That Big Ben was mad and meant trouble was plain to be seen. He paid no attention to the greeting nor did he accept the chair.