American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1920-02-21
CHAPTER ~.
The First Encounter.

approval a splendid growth of white
spruce. II was a great timber coun-
try; Hilary had already come to that
conclusion, and to this: that, properly
worked and managed, the st. Boniface
tract had the possibilities of consider
able profits, perpetual ones, If he cut
wisely and carefully.
After driving at slow pace for half
an hour he emerged into little
burned-over district, from which he
could see for good distance on every
side of him. He stopped the pony and
looked about him, trying to get his
bearings
The road must run down to the
gorge, where was the main way be-
tween the mill and the interior of the
seigniory, Hilary decided.
He drove on again. The track had
been disused that season and was over
grown with creeping raspberry briers,
which made progress difficult. Sud
denly the underground fell away, and
the road ran upward again, hard and
firm, toward bridge that spanned "a
wide creek tributary to Rocky river.
Now Hilary knew where he was. It
was the creek which he had passed
that morning when he drove out with
Connell to inspect the seigniory.
He was about to continue his way
along the main road to the mill, but an
impulse urged him to turn the horse
al M and uanly th.a ,.nnI hat InI 60 n
blanc's old concession. Presently he
heard the sound of axes among the
trees. He came upon the clearing, to
find the old camp still standing, and n
great pile of newly hewn timber
stacked up under the trees.
At Hilary's appearance two or three
men looked up from the logs which
they were saving and whispered. They
seemed to draw together. At that mo-
ment Hilary had clearly defined I'M
preston of approaching trouble.
He got down from the buggy and
fastened the horse to tree. He APP
preached little group that had form.
ed. where's Monsieur Leblanc?" he
asked the nearest man.
The man scowled and shrugged his
shoulders He glanced toward the
camp. Hilary, looking that way. saw
Black Pierre emerging from one OF
the huts. lie went toward him, and the
two men met face to face.
Still without reason to believe In
Pierre's hostile intention. Hilary sud-
denly became aware that they were
rlnged by circle of men. who gradu.
ally drew i'm toward them.
Morning" said Hilary, nodding
"Where is Monsieur Leblancf"
IL don know" answered Pierre
scowling. Look for him II you want
him. He's your man, amt he?"
"Ile Is, but you are not. What are
you doing on my land? And these men
are they yours?"
"What you mean. your land?" de-
manded Pierre. 81 work here for Mon
sieur Brousseau, with Monsieur Brous
seau's men,"
Hilary saw, out of the corner of his
eye, that the ring was swiftly con
tracing. II struck him that Pierre ant
he were posted face to face. like prize
fighters. He tried to keep his temper
and to remember Connell's counsel
Pierre thought he was afraid. Ht
sneered openly.
Last time | came here" said Hilar,
calmly, disregarding the others trucu
lence, Monsieur Leblanc was II
charge of this territory. Now l fint
you here in Leblanc's place. have
not hired you. Again l ask what yo'
are doing here"
II don know what you mean" snort
ed Pierre, San | got 40 time to vast,
in damn foolishness. This here Is tn,
Ste. Marie limits. Monsieur Brousseal
an Monsieur Morris run the Ste. MARI
limits. Leblanc he work for them las
year. Now got Leblanc's place"
"The Ste. Marie limits are on tn
other side OF the Riyiere Rocheuse,
said Hilary.
"Holy Name, amt I this side of ri
Were Rocheuse? Didn' you cross hin
coming here?'
"That creek is not the Riyiere Re
cheuse. as you know very well, Pierre.
Black Pierre thrust his face forwar
into Hllary's. SAY, got no Hme {
waste wit you" he snarled. "lf yo
come to fight. say So"
"Tll give you five minutes to get OF
my land"
you wan to fight, Ell? AL right,
growled the other, suddenly strippln
off his short, open jacket.
Hilary had just time TO fasten tn
top button of his coat before Pierre
with a below, charged him, his hea
down, his arms working like fails
Pierre made short, vicious stabs a
him; he was muscle-bound and coul
not extend the elbow joint with an
force, but any of his short blows, deliN
cred from shoulder like a mutto
Joint, would have knocked a man sense
less
Hilary stepped aside as Pierre PR