"We shall obey the law and pay a fine for every stump," the young man continued. "That's square." "N-no," said the Emperor, firmly. "That l-law was intended to p-protect the forest." "You want us to be too -------- honest to live," said young Migley, with an oath. "N-no. I'll t-tell ye what's the matter with y-you," said Strong. "Y-you 'ain't got no r-res-pec' fer God, country, man, er f-fish." "You must agree to stand for us against all comers or get out of here to-morrow," the young man added. "Th-that's quick," said Strong, as he laid down his draw-shave and looked at Thomas Migley. "You can do as you like," said the latter. "We're willing to let you stay here as long as you want to." Strong saw clearly that the words were a bid for his manhood. He weighed it carefully--this thing they were seeking to purchase--he thought of his sister and the children, of his talk with Master on the journey from Bees' Hill. The skin upon his forehead was now gathered into long, deep furrows. His body trembled a little as he rose and slowly crossed the floor. There was a kind of gentleness in his hand as he touched the shoulder of the young man. He spoke almost tenderly one would have thought who heard him stammer out the one word, "Run." Suddenly his big hand shut like the jaws of a bear on Migley's arm and then let go. The young man hesitated and was rudely flung through the open door. He scrambled to his feet and made for the trail in frantic haste. "R-run!" the Emperor shouted, in hot pursuit of young Thomas Migley, whose feet flew with ridiculous animation. Strong stopped at the edge of the clearing. He leaned against a tree-trunk and shook his head and stammered half an oath. Soon he hurried into one of the cabins and sat down. He looked about him--at the fireplace and the mantel, at the straight, smooth timbers of young spruce, at the floor of wooden blocks, patiently fitted together, at the rustic chairs and tables, at the sheathing of riven cedar. He thought of all that these things had cost him and for a moment his eyes filled. He went to the cook-tent and found a map and spread it on the table. He could go over on the State land, pitch a couple of tents and build a shanty with a paper roof and siding, and make out for the rest of the summer. There would be two rivers and some rather wet land to cross. For a few moments he looked thoughtfully at the map. Soon he took out his worn memorandum-book and wrote as follows: _"Sep the 25. Strong has a poor set of feel in's in him Satans ahed but Strong will flore him."_ He took his axe and saw and went to a big birch-tree which he had felled in the edge of the clearing a few days before. He cut a twelve-foot log out of the trunk and began to hollow it. He stuck his axe when he heard Sinth and the children coming. He lifted Socky and Sue in his arms and carried them into camp. "G-goin' t' m-move," he said to Sinth as he put them down.