ed dismally. "Want to split my
head off? Woodsy's over yonder; talkin' with a man name of Blenham.
Ever hear of him?"

"Over yonder" plainly meant just across the creek where there was a
little flat open space among the trees in which stood one of the larger
shanties. Steve saw a stove-pipe sticking out crookedly through the
shed roof; noted a thin spear of smoke. He spurred across the stream
and to the timber boss's quarters.

Woods heard him and came out into the brightening morning, drawing the
door closed behind him. His eyes, like the cook's though to a lesser
degree, showed indications of a wild night in town. Steve guessed that
he hadn't undressed all night; that he was not entirely sober just now
though he carried himself steadily and spoke well enough.

"I thought you'd show," said Woods quietly, his big hands down in his
pockets, his shoulders against the wall.

"What is Blenham doing here?" Steve asked.

Woods narrowed his eyes in a speculative frown.

"He's damn' near dead. He's waitin' for me to get one of the boys to
hitch up an' haul him to a doctor. He says you an' two other guys
gouged his eye out for him."

"He's a liar," announced Packard angrily. "The thing was an accident.
It was a fair fight between him and Bill Royce. Blenham fell on an old
spur. I promised you I'd be here this morning, Woods."

"Yes," said Woods. "I expected you."

"You were square with me last night," went on Packard quietly. "I
appreciate the fact. If ever I can do you a favor, just say so. So
much for that part of it. Next: Maybe you've heard I'm the owner of
Ranch Number Ten? And that I'm running it myself? I've come over to
tell you this morning that we're knocking off work here. I don't want
any more timber down."

There came a little twitching at the corner of Woods's broad mouth. He
made no answer.

"Hear me?" snapped Steve.

"Sure I hear you," said Woods insolently. "So does Blenham; he's right
inside where he can hear. I guess it's him you want to talk with. I'm
takin' my orders off'n Blenham an' nobody else."

"I've talked already with Blenham. I've told him not to set his hoofs
on my ranch again after to-day. Since he's pretty badly hurt I'll let
you haul him to the doctor but I don't want him hauled back. Further,
I want work stopped here right now. The men will be having breakfast
in a few minutes. After breakfast you can explain to them and let them
go."

Woods shrugge