more chance to catch them
napping.

And as the younger man, on his side, never attempted to overstep his own
rights, the interests of the rival firms rarely clashed. As to the few
disputes that did arise, Thorpe found Mr. Daly singularly anxious to
please. In the desire was no friendliness, however. Thorpe was watchful
for treachery, and could hardly believe the affair finished when at the
end of the fourth year the M. & D. sold out the remainder of its pine to
a firm from Manistee, and transferred its operations to another stream a
few miles east, where it had acquired more considerable holdings.

"They're altogether too confounded anxious to help us on that freight,
Wallace," said Thorpe wrinkling his brow uneasily. "I don't like it. It
isn't natural."

"No," laughed Wallace, "neither is it natural for a dog to draw a
sledge. But he does it--when he has to. They're afraid of you, Harry:
that's all."

Thorpe shook his head, but had to acknowledge that he could evidence no
grounds for his mistrust.

The conversation took place at Camp One, which was celebrated in three
states. Thorpe had set out to gather around him a band of good woodsmen.
Except on a pinch he would employ no others.

"I don't care if I get in only two thousand feet this winter, and if a
boy does that," he answered Shearer's expostulations, "it's got to be a
good boy."

The result of his policy began to show even in the second year. Men were
a little proud to say that they had put in a winter at "Thorpe's
One." Those who had worked there during the first year were loyally
enthusiastic over their boss's grit and resourcefulness, their camp's
order, their cook's good "grub." As they were authorities, others
perforce had to accept the dictum. There grew a desire among the better
class to see what Thorpe's "One" might be like. In the autumn Harry had
more applicants than he knew what to do with. Eighteen of the old men
returned. He took them all, but when it came to distribution, three
found themselves assigned to one or the other of the new camps. And
quietly the rumor gained that these three had shown the least willing
spirit during the previous winter. The other fifteen were sobered to the
industry which their importance as veterans might have impaired.

Tim Shearer was foreman of Camp One; Scotty Parsons was drafted from the
veterans to take charge of Two; Thorpe engaged two men known to Tim to
boss Three and Four. But in selecting the "push"