t cuts across the lower canon
of the River, to see Baker seated on the top of a round boulder. The
incongruity, however, brought a smile to his lips. The sight of the
round, smooth face, the humorous eyes, and the stout, city-fed figure of
this very urban individual on a rock in a howling figure of this very
urban individual on a rock in a howling wilderness, with the eternal
mountains for a background, was inexpressibly comical.

"Hullo, merry sunshine!" called Baker, waving his hand as soon as he was
certain Bob had seen him. "Welcome to our thriving little hamlet."

"Hullo, Baker," said Bob; "what are you doing 'way off here?"

"Just drifting down the Grand Canal and listening to the gondoliers; and
incidentally, waiting for you. Climb off your horse and come up here and
get a tailor-made cigarette."

"I'm on my way over to Spruce Top," said Bob, "and I've got to keep
moving."

"Haste not, hump not, hustle not," said Baker, with the air of one
quoting a hand-illuminated motto. "It will only get you somewhere. Come,
gentle stranger, I would converse with thee; and I've come a long way to
do it."

"I live nearer home than this," grinned Bob.

"I wanted to see you in your office," grinned back Baker appreciatively,
"and this is strictly business."

Bob dismounted, threw the reins over his horse's head, and ascended to
the top of the boulder.

"Fire ahead," said he; "I keep union hours."

[Footnote A: Pronounced Hone-kal.]

XVII

"Union hours suit me," said Baker. "Why work while papa has his health?
What I want to know is, how high is the limit on this game anyway?"

"What do you mean?"

"This confounded so-called 'investigation' of yours? In other words, do
you intend to get after me?"

"As how?"

Baker's shrewd eyes looked at him gravely from out his smiling fat face.

"Modoc Mining Company's lands."

"Then you are the Modoc Mining Company?" asked Bob.

Baker eyed him again.

"Look here, my angel child," said he in a tone of good-humoured pity, "I
can make all that kind of talk in a witness box--if necessary. In any
case, I didn't come 'way out here to exchange that sort with you. You
know perfectly well I'm the Modoc Mining Company, and that I've got a
fine body of timber under the mineral act, and all the rest of it. You
know all this not only because you've got some sense, but because I told
you so before a competent witness. It stands to reason that I don't mind
telling you aga