ught it down. The young man
gathered himself apprehensively, but the expected assault was merely
a slap on his shoulder--a slap with such an unmistakable air of
friendliness about it that Parker gazed up into the man's face with
astonishment. Now he was to experience his first taste of the rude
chivalry of the woods, a chivalry often based on sudden whim, but none
the less sincere and manly--a chivalry of which he was to have further
queer experience.

"My bantam," said the big man, admiringly, "faith, but that was a tidy
bito' footwork ye done down at Sunkhaze." Good-humored grins and rueful
scowls chased one another over his face, according as he patted Parker's
back or rubbed the bump on his own head. "Sure, there's a big knob
there, my boy. There's only one thing that's harder than your fist, an'
that's Spinnaker ice."

Parker attempted some embarrassed reply in way of apology, for this
magnanimity of his foe touched him. The giant put up a protesting hand.

"Ye sartin done it good, my little man, an' I'm glad to know ye better.
But Colonel Gid Ward, sure he lied about ye, or I'd never called ye
names at Sunkhaze."

"You didn't expect that man to tell the truth about me, did you?" Parker
demanded.

"Why, he said ye was a little white-livered sneak that wouldn't dare to
put up your hands to a Sunkhaze mosquito of the June breed, an' that ye
were tryin' to come in here an' do business amongst real men. I couldn't
stand that, I couldn't!"

"But my business--my reasons for being here--my responsibilities!" cried
Parker. "I see he must have lied about that part of it."

"Ah, I don't know anything about your business, nor care!" Connick
growled. "I only know there's something about a Poquette railro'd in
it. But all that's between you and Gid Ward. You can talk that over with
him."

"Do you mean to tell me that you and your men have destroyed that
railroad property without having any special grudge against the
project?"

"Why, railro'ds ain't any of our business," the giant replied, with his
eyes wide open and frank.

"What are you--slaves?" Parker cried, angrily. In addition to his
lesson in woods' thivalry he was getting education regarding the
irresponsibility of these unconventional children of the wild lands.

The taunt did not seem to anger the men.

"This railro'd is Gid Ward's business," said Connick. "We work for Gid
Ward, He owns the Poquette land, don't he? He said he didn't want any
railro'd t