al fancy pictured those furs and coon tails as bristling and
fluffing like the hair of an angry cat.

[Illustration: Appearance of an enraged Polar bear 078-100]

The young man wondered what card his antagonists were preparing to play.
He found out promptly when he ordered his swampers to advance with their
axes and begin chopping down the trees on the right of way. At the first
"chock" ringing out on the crisp silence of the woods Ward came running
down the snowy stretch of tote-road, presenting much the same appearance
as would an up reared and enraged polar bear. The lawyer hurried after
him, and several woodsmen followed more leisurely.

"Not another chip from those trees! Not another chip!" bawled the
colonel. The men stopped chopping and looked at each other doubtfully.

"We've been told to go ahead here," said the "boss."

"I don't care what yeh've been told. You all know me, don't you?" Ward
slapped his breast. "You know me? Well, I say stop that chopping on
my--understand?--on _my_ land."

Parker, who was in advance of the choppers with his instruments, heard,
and came plowing through the snow. He found Colonel Ward roaring oaths
and abuse, brandishing his fists, and backing the crew of a dozen men
fairly off the right of way. Ward's own band of "Gideonites" stood at a
little distance, grinning admiringly.

Parker set himself squarely in front of the old man, elbowing aside
a woodsman to whom the colonel was addressing himself. The young
engineer's gaze was level and determined.

"Colonel Ward," he said, "you are interfering with my men."

The answer was a wordless snarl of ire and contempt.

"There's no mistaking your disposition," continued Parker. "You have set
yourself to balk this enterprise. But I haven't any time to spend in a
quarrel with you."

"Then get off my land."

"Now, see here, Colonel Ward, you know as well as I that my principals
have complied with all the provisions of law in taking this location.
This road is going through. I am going to put it through."

"Talk back to me, will you? Talk to me! ni--I'll--" Ward's rage choked
his utterance.

"Certainly I'll talk to you, sir, and I am perfectly qualified to boss
my men. Go ahead there, boys!" he called.

"A moment, Mr. Parker," broke in the suave voice of the lawyer. "I see
you don't understand the entire situation. Briefly, then, Mr. Ward has
a telephone-line across this carry. You may see the wires from where
you stand. I f