comment.

There was no further hindrance to their progress. The sound of chopping
grew louder, and a little later the sled turned into a clearing, about
which were strewn many big, fallen trees. Mr. Ford's eyes sparkled at
the sight.

"They haven't hauled out much of my timber," he said. "We are just in
time!"

A man came running from a group. He held up a warning hand.

"You'll have to get out of here!" he cried.

"Who says so?" asked Mr. Ford.

"Mr. Jallow sent me to tell you."

"Well, you tell Mr. Jallow to come here himself. We want to see him."

The man hesitated a minute and then set off on the run.

"Here comes Jallow now," observed Will.

"Oh, I hope there won't be any trouble," murmured Amy.

"Don't worry," said Mr. Blackford, who sat beside her.

"Here, what do you want?" blustered Mr. Jallow, as he came up. "Oh, it's
you; is it, Ford? Well, you haven't any more right here than any one
else. Get off. This is my land--the courts have awarded it to me."

"Under a misapprehension--yes. Because of false boundary lines--yes, Jim
Jallow!"

"Who says the boundary lines are false?"

"I do!" cried Paddy Malone, standing up in the sled, and leaning on his
crutch. "I say the lines were changed, Jim Jallow, and you know it! I
saw the right marks put, but they were shifted, and I'm ready to testify
that you paid me to keep out of the country while you changed 'em."

"That isn't so!" stormed Jallow. "Who would believe you?" but he paled,
and was obviously ill at ease.

"I guess they'll believe me when Mr. Ford and Dick Norbury testify to
the same thing," said Paddy, coolly.

"Dick Norbury--why, he's--dead!" gasped Jallow.

"Not much!" cried Paddy. "He's very much alive, and I've got a letter
from him in my pocket now, saying he'll come on any time he's wanted and
testify as to the right boundaries."

Mr. Jallow stood with open mouth. As the saying goes, all the wind had
been taken out of his sails.

"I guess you had better give up, Mr. Jallow," said the court officer.
"I'm here to take charge of this land until the matter is officially
settled. In the meanwhile no more trees must be cut. That is a court
order, and here is a copy of it. I serve it on you, and violation of it
means contempt, with heavy penalties."

"The jig is up, Jim!" cried Paddy. "I told you I'd get even with you!"

Mr. Jallow said not another word. He was beaten at every point, and he
knew it. His men crowded up around him.