. We'll crush you like THAT!" He crisped
an envelope vindictively, and threw it in the waste-basket.

"Crush ahead," replied Thorpe with great good humor. "Good-day, Mr.
Morrison," and the two went out.

Wallace was sputtering and trembling with nervous excitement. His was
one of those temperaments which require action to relieve the stress of
a stormy interview. He was brave enough, but he would always tremble in
the presence of danger until the moment for striking arrived. He wanted
to do something at once.

"Hadn't we better see a lawyer?" he asked. "Oughtn't we to look out that
they don't take some of our pine? Oughtn't we--"

"You just leave all that to me," replied Thorpe. "The first thing we
want to do is to rustle some money."

"And you can leave THAT to ME," echoed Wallace. "I know a little of such
things, and I have business connections who know more. You just get the
camp running."

"I'll start for Bay City to-night," submitted Thorpe. "There ought to be
a good lot of lumber-jacks lying around idle at this time of year; and
it's a good place to outfit from because we can probably get freight
rates direct by boat. We'll be a little late in starting, but we'll get
in SOME logs this winter, anyway."

PART III. THE BLAZING OF THE TRAIL

Chapter XXVI

A lumbering town after the drive is a fearful thing. Men just off
the river draw a deep breath, and plunge into the wildest reactionary
dissipation. In droves they invade the cities,--wild, picturesque,
lawless. As long as the money lasts, they blow it in.

"Hot money!" is the cry. "She's burnt holes in all my pockets already!"

The saloons are full, the gambling houses overflow, all the places of
amusement or crime run full blast. A chip rests lightly on everyone's
shoulder. Fights are as common as raspberries in August. Often one of
these formidable men, his muscles toughened and quickened by the active,
strenuous river work, will set out to "take the town apart." For a time
he leaves rack and ruin, black eyes and broken teeth behind him, until
he meets a more redoubtable "knocker" and is pounded and kicked into
unconsciousness. Organized gangs go from house to house forcing the
peaceful inmates to drink from their bottles. Others take possession of
certain sections of the street and resist "a l'outrance" the attempts of
others to pass. Inoffensive citizens are stood on their heads, or shaken
upside down until the contents of their pockets