The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1902-03-13
4 Timber Cruiser 5 Defense.
By Fra.klla welIes calkias.
THE occasional periis enc


Der lands-ars well illustrated by the
experience Of Harvey Seeoin, Of Bel.
trami, Minnesota.
Young Secoin had for some years
served as assistant to his uncle. Lot
Levering, a cruiser of wide experience
and high fees. Lsvering was, how
ever, at last laid the heels by the
cruisers arch-enemy, rheumatism, and
his young pupil was called upon by
the Beltrami Lumber company to re-
turn an estimate of the standing
timber on some 20 odd square miles
of land they had bought, at q ven-
ture. in the heart of Itasca county.
This was a vast territory, the lower
river courses Of which were as yet
but uncertainty traced upon the maps.
While loading a wagon with his
boat and effects at Beltrami, Secoin
was greeted bya smooth-faced strang-
er, wearing a suit Of drab corduroy
and q soft has This man presented
card which read: Frederick Zal-
meier, Real Estate, st. Cloud, Minn.
II came on last evenings train," he
explained. "Just heard you were of
for the upper Big Pork. Yes, well.
I've got a piece Of land up there
want to look at. Struck me we might
kill two birds with one stone on the
livery hire. Besides, I'd like to 90
with man who knows the woods"
AS the man was prepossessing
enough the cruiser consented to &C.
company him, and ten minutes later
Zalmeier was ready with blankets and
gripsack. Then, with an experienced
driver, the two land-lookers set out.
For a number of days they pushed
over bush-grown Surveyors road"
and then travelled by boat for one day
upon the spring flood Of Big Fork.
Then the cruiser searched for a gov
ernment blaze and markings, and
took observations.
"We've passed your line little," he
reported to Zalmcier. "You'Il find
your markings by compass, six miles
east and one and one-half miles south
Of here"
"Bless us, young man." said this
cheerful fellow, "how you know the
woods! I'm going to hire you to do
my job. I'll wait here until you get
back, and I'll take your word for it,
soil, timber stand"
"But I can't do your job now," In
terrupted Secoin.
"Not for e25?"
"Not for twice-ten times 25i" re-
piled the cruiser indignantly. He
thought real estate man ought to
better understand q cruisers duty to
his employers.
Looking keenly at his companion,
he saw swift, involuntary change Of
countenance, and instantly he tingled
with suspicion. Then he said, uncom-
promisingly:
'Mr. Zalmeier, II you know any
thing about cruising, you'll find your
land easily. II you're afraid of the
woods, follow tho river back TO the
government road and 60 home"
"But," said Zalmeier, blankly, II
prefer to 60 on with you now"
"That you can't do," promptly 70
sponded the cruiser. 'I've done by
you as agreed, and shall carry you
no farther"
"Oh, well," said Zalmeier. cheer.
fully, "since I've come SO far, I'll have
to look after my land, Of course" and
he shouldered his grip and blanket
roll and set of into the woods.
Secoin lost no tiwe in padding
down stream, and at about four
o'clock crossed the south line of the
pine lands which he was commits
stoned to estimate. He now exercised
q cruisers caution, hiding his boat
and his camp within the depths Of q
tamarack swamp, and wading to and
from solid ground by the compass.
He soon became much interested
In his work, and after q few days Of
running lines and taking observa-
tions, he began to know that his re-
port was to be very satisfactory in its
final showing-far beyond the ex-
pectation Of his employers.
He had almost forgotten his
quondam companion when, In rum
ming new line through an Immense
stand Of sky-scraping white pines, he
came upon fresh timber "slash"-s
broad. destructive piece of work,
which had laid low many thousands
Of the giants.
Very sharply now he remembered
Frederick Zalmeier. and the gentle
mans anxiety to send him upon for
eign errand. He understood in q fash
that, had he done, that business, he
would have been Left, minus boat and
supplies, to make his way homeward;
and in the meantime o company OF
timber thieves would have got to
Rainy Lake river with their booty.
Perhaps they had already done 80.
Secoin hurriedly followed the slash
to the river, where he discovered
recently abandoned camp in the edge
of the timber. Following the river
several miles, he discovered that the
thieves were driving logs not q great
distance below. Once they got this
timber TO Rninly Tnke river thAro