Two Young Lumbermen by Edward Stratemeyer

"One thing we ought not to forget to do," said Dale. "That is to keep an eye on Foxy Hildan."

"Yes, I'll watch him," replied Owen. "But it is more than likely that he will make himself scarce when he finds out how the wind has shifted."

It soon became noised around that Owen had been appointed to represent Mr. Wilbur at the camp, and that Andy Westmore had been made head yardmaster. This was followed by a general order from Owen that all lumber at the yards and at the flume should be shipped down to the Columbia as fast as the cars and the creek could carry the sticks. In addition to this a notice was posted up at the Tunley station that fellers and sawyers were wanted immediately, and an advertisement to that effect was likewise inserted in the Portland daily newspapers.

Some of the men, influenced doubtless by Ulmer Balasco, were inclined to resent Owen's authority, but when one hook-tender was promptly discharged, the others reconsidered the matter, and after that there was little or no trouble among the hands. Some took the matter as a joke, for lumbermen are as a class light-hearted, and the Scandinavians waited on the new boss in a body, and demanded that he show his authority in the proper manner -- by giving them a spread with plenty to drink.

"You shall have a spread," said Owen. "But it will be after this railroad contract is filled. Get this through on time, and on Mr. Wilbur's behalf I promise you that every worker shall receive a substantial bonus for his labor."

This announcement caused a cheer, and the men went to work with renewed vigor. Soon some new hands came in, and were taken on promptly by Owen, and the ring of the axes and the sound of the saws came early and late from the yards and the forest. The men on the railroad were kept at work two hours extra out of twenty-four, and three extra men were placed at the river to see that all the lumber went forward to the railroad company without delay.

"Using more cars now, I see," said one of the railroad officials, to Dale, at the end of the second day of the new order of things.

"Yes, sir, and you'll have to give us more yet by day after to-morrow."

"Balasco wasn't in such a hurry."

"Well, we are bound to make a sure thing of this contract. Remember, thirty cars to-morrow, and forty after that."

Mr. Rice had come up and was much pleased to see that Owen had matters in hand.

"You are doing just right," he said. "Keep it up, and you are bound to come out on top."

"Did you arrest Ducrot?"

"No, he got away from us, but not before one of the men blackened one of his eyes and broke his nose for him. You see, I fancy he smelt a mouse, and one night he tried to leave our place on the sly. He took with him a suit of clothing belonging to one man, and some gold belonging to another. The clothes owner went after him and collared him near the river, and they had a free fight. Ducrot had to give up the stuff, and was nearly pounded to death before he escaped to a boat that was leaving. We tried to trace him up, but it did no good."

"Well, I am glad the man gave him a sound beating," answered Owen. "Perhaps it will do him good."

Philip Rice wanted to know what had become of Foxy Hildan, and was told that he had gone away with Ulmer Balasco the night before.

"Balasco said he would be back to-night," said Dale. "But perhaps he won't come."

"He gave me the combination of the safe," said Owen. "I didn't want it, but he insisted that if I was going to run things, I should know about everything."

"Humph! You just keep your eyes open."

"What do you mean?"