leader recognized
the deep-cut mark of the White Pine Mine on one floating stick after
another.

"Hold on!" he shouted. "Where are you going with that log?"

"None of your business!" answered one of the two men, who was old and
white-headed. "What are you doing here, anyway?"

"I've come after these logs."

"Well, you can't have them, and you want to get out of here quicker
than you came in!" With this the man spoke a few words to his
assistant, who immediately ran up the trail and disappeared, while
Peveril, with a hot flush mounting to his forehead, ordered his crew
to pull for the shore.

CHAPTER XIV

A VAIN EFFORT TO RECOVER STOLEN PROPERTY

Leaping ashore the moment his skiff grated on the beach, Peveril
stepped directly up to the old man and said:

"I do not know who you are, sir, nor what claim you make to ownership
in those logs. I do know, however, that they bear the private mark of
the White Pine Mining Company, and formed part of a raft recently
wrecked on this coast. Having been sent here expressly to secure this
property, I am determined to use every endeavor to carry out my
instructions. Such being the case, I trust that you will not interfere
with the performance of my duty."

"I shall, though," answered the old man, gruffly. "I have need of this
timber, and consider that I have a just claim to it, seeing that it
was cast up by the sea on my land. I have also expended a great amount
of labor in bringing it to this place; so that if I had no other claim
I have one for salvage."

"Which will doubtless be allowed when presented in proper form,"
replied Peveril. "In the meantime I am ordered to take possession of
all logs that I may find bearing the W. P. mark."

"Supposing I forbid you to do so?"

"I am also authorized to use force, if necessary, to carry out my
instructions."

"That sounds very much like a threat, my young friend; but I decline
to be frightened by it, and still forbid you to touch those logs."

Joe Pintaud had followed his young leader ashore, and stood close
beside him during the foregoing interview, while the Bohemians still
remained in the skiff. Now, without deigning any further reply to the
old man, Peveril, in a low tone, ordered the Canadian to provide
himself and the others with poles, and, if possible, shove the raft
off from shore, adding that he would join in their efforts the moment
he had cast loose its moorings.

As Joe started to obey these instru