The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-10-19

the downstream side They short men. plod
ding along with the bent persisency Of the woods
trousers tucked in high laced cruisers; carrying
each bullying meal sack looped by cord across the
scalers' rules The intimation Thorpe received
the presence of these two men was the sound of he
voices.
.sIIullo Charley" said of them what you doing
here Amt you since the Sturgeon district
so But what do you expect to get in this God
forsaken country?"
Beaver. musirat mink otter"
Trapping chg" the man gazed keenly at Thorpes re
cumbent figure. Who's the other fellow"
Thorpe held BREATH then extaed it in long sigh
of relief. = ,
Him white man." Injun Charley was replying, him
hunt He max 'um buckskn."
The andlooker arose lazy and sauntered toward the
..Hody," ne drawled "got any smoln'?"
How you replied one OF the scalers. eyeing him
sharply and rendering his pouch Thorpe filed his pipe
of thanks. To all appearances he was of the lazy
shftless hunters Of the back woods Seized with an
camp for a little flour? Me and Charley's about
I'll bring you meat; or I'LL make boys mecca
sins got some good buckskln
It was the usual proposition
Pretty good, Come up and see, advised the
rcaler "The crews right behind u~5''
I'll send up Charley, drawed Thorpe Tn busy now
the pine and rawhde dead-f falls.
They chatted a few moments. Then two wagons
creaked lurching BY followed by twenty
The of these, evidently the foreman, Joined
by the two scalers
Inun Charley was setting about the splitting of a cedar
You sse'' he remarked. IT big frien'."
In the days that followed Thorpe cruised about the
great woods business. hut fascinating.
knew that should embark his attempt
list considerable capital in an unsght unseen invest
ment he would have to be supplied with statistics.
First all he walked the country at large. to
find where the best timber lay. This was matter of
tra.nping though often on elevation succeeded
climbing tall tree whence he caught bird s-eye views
Next he ascertained the geographical location of the
different cumps and forests entering the sections. the
manifestations the sorties III his
book taking only the descriptions containing the
Finally he wrote accurate notes concerning the topo-
hills, ravnes swanps and valleys the distance
from the river the character of the soil In short he
cunulaed all the Information could by which the cost
Of logging might be estimated.
For this he had already too little experience He knew
whole scheme lay in that going TO be impossible
for him to allow the prospective purchaser chance to
examine the pine That difficulty Thorpe hoped to
by inspiring personal confidence in himself If he
failed to do So he might return with landooker whom
the investor trusted and the two could re-enact the
comedy Of this summer. Thorpe hoped. however, to
avoid the necessity. He about rough estimate of
the timber.
One evening just at sunset Thorpe helping the In
dian shape his craft The two bent there at their
task the dull glow of evening falling upon them Be
hind them the knoll stood in picturesque relief against
the darker pines The river rushed by with reverend
ing roar and turmoil Troush its shouting one per
ceved through mist the still lofty of evening.
A young fellow. hardly more than boy exclaimed with
keen delight OF the picturesque as his canoe shot around
the lend into sight OF [.
The large and powerful, but well filed An
Indian knelt in stern amidships with
dufle of all descriptions the fellow sat in the
bow. He bright faced, saser-eyed. curly-haired
young fellow, all enthusiasm and fire. His figure was
trim and clean but rather slender and his movements
quick but nervous. When he stepped carefully
the fiat rock to which his guide brought the
with swirl of the paddle, initiated would have
that his clothes while strong and servceable had been
bought from sporting catalogue.
This is good place he said to the guide, wen
here Then he turned up the steep bank without
looking back
.Iulo. he called in cheerful unembarrassed fashion
to Thorpe and Charley. How you? Care if I
camp hereo What making: BY Jove!
made before. m going to watch
You. Keep right al it,
He sat one of Inc outcropping boulders and took
Say! you've got great place here! You here all
many of en- here? I'd like to kill a deer
it,.
1--WE only kill the bucks replied Thorpe.
= like fishing. too went the boy. are there
here? In the pool?' John" he called to his guide
In a he whipping the pool with long
graceful drops the fly He proved to be adept Thorpe
and Inj,n Charley stopped work to watch him. At first
the Indians solid countenance seemed trihe doubtful
After time it cleared.
Good" he grunted.
other Indian had not finished the erection of tent
and begun cook supper little sheet-iron
camp stove Thorpe and Charley could smell Ell ham
You've got quite a pantry remarked Thorpe
won't you eat with meg" profered the boy hospi-
tably.
But Thorpe declined.
the course of the evening the boy approached the
older camp, and. with acharming dffidence. asked
permission to sit awhile at their fire.
1T be good to live in the woods he said with
sigh. " to do all things for yourself LIS SO Free.
Il just do love this" he cried again and again. oh.
it's after all that fuss down there and he cried
frevently that the other men present smiled but
genuinely that the smile had in nothing but kind
illness.