The Chinaman looked at the stick of green cottonwood in his hand.
“Too green,” said Hashknife. “Use dry wood.”
“No sabe.”
The Chinaman started to put the green wood into the stove, but Hashknife strode across to him, took the stick off the fire and tossed it out through the open door. Then he picked out some dry wood from the box beside the stove and stuffed it into the fire-box.
“That burns fine,” smiled Hashknife.
The Chinaman’s face did not change expression, and he went back to his pots and pans. Jack and Sleepy had come to the doorway, watching Hashknife, who walked back into the living room with them.
“What was the idea?” queried Sleepy in a whisper.
Hashknife grinned seriously.
“That Chink knows that green wood don’t make a good fire.”
“Wanted smoke, eh?”