"I shan't mind that--in fact, I think I'll rather like the change." "It's a good place for a fellow who is strong and healthy. There are fortunes in the lumber business." "I've no doubt of it." "I went into the district a poor man, and worked at cutting lumber at a dollar and a half a day. Inside of fifteen years I came out something like twelve thousand dollars ahead. Of course that isn't a fortune, but you must remember that I lost about ten thousand dollars by two spring freshets which carried off nearly all I at those times possessed. If I had remained there I would have been better off. But I came to Chicago and speculated, and now my fortune amounts to very little, I can tell you that." By this time Nettie came back with a long tin box painted black. It was locked, and the key was in a pocketbook under the sick man's pillow. Soon the box was opened and Herman Wenrich took out a paper yellow with age. "This is the map," he said. "If I were you I would be very careful of how I handled it, or it may go to pieces. Nettie, haven't you a big envelope in which to place it?" "I think I have, father," she replied, and went off to hunt up the article. During her absence Robert looked over the document, and found that it contained not only a map but also a long written description of several lumber tracts, including that which Felix Amberton had once purchased from a man named Gregory Hammerditch. "This must be some relative to the Hammerditch I met," said our hero. "It was an uncle. The trouble started through this Gregory Hammerditch and the Canadian, Jean Le Fevre. They claimed the land was never paid for, I believe." At that moment came a ring at the front door bell. "It is those two men!" cried Nettie, who stood close to the window. "You mean the Canadian and the Englishman?" asked Robert. "Yes." "Do you wish to meet them?" questioned Herman Wenrich. "If so, I have no objection." "I would like to hear what they have to say, sir." "You can go into the back bedroom, if you wish." The idea struck Robert as a good one, and while Nettie went below to let the visitors in our hero entered the rear apartment, leaving the door open several inches. Soon he heard Hammerditch and Le Fevre ascending the stairs. "Good-morning," said both, as they came in and sat down close to Herman Wenrich's bedside. "Good-morning," replied the old lumberman shortly. "Well, I trust you have decided to sell us the map," continued the Englishman. "I have decided not to do so." "Indeed." The faces of both men fell. "The map is of no use to you, Mr. Wenrich," went on Hammerditch. "That may be true." "And it is no more than right that we should have it." "Dat is so," said the Canadian. "Ze map should be ours." "You said Mr. Amberton had sent you for the map," said Herman Wenrich. "So he did," answered Hammerditch, and Le Fevre nodded. "Did he give you a written order?" "He did not. He didn't think it was necessary."