As he stepped out into the clearing, he stopped and faced his men, and it was evident to the watchers that he was giving them orders, but he spoke too low for them to hear what he said. He talked only a moment and then started across the open space.
“Come on. We’ll go mate him,” Tom said, as he stepped out from behind a big spruce and closely followed by the boys advanced to meet him. With a face as black as a thunder cloud, the big man came to within six feet of them before he spoke.
“So you thought you’d better quit, hey?” he sneered, as he came to a halt.
“Ye kin put it thot way if ye wish,” Tom replied in a sharp tone.
“And it’s a mighty lucky thing for you that ye did quit. If ye hadn’t ye’d have been made to.”
“Mebby and mebby not,” Tom grinned.
“I’d advise ye to keep a civil tongue in your head or the fact that ye got cold feet may not do any good. It isn’t too late for a fight yet, and my boys are spoiling for one,” and the big man nodded his head in the direction of his crew.
“Just a moment, Mr. Donahue,” Bob broke in as the man was about to continue. “We do not wish to have any trouble and that is the reason that we stopped cutting on that tract. But you will agree that this piece of land belongs to Father, and if any of your men step foot on it we shall hold you responsible.”
“Responsible be hanged,” Big Ben snorted. “I’ll have you to understand that I go where I like, and take my men with me too. Now ye say ye don’t want to fight. Well, there’s jest one way ye can get around it.”
“And that is?”