"Large heads!" Master exclaimed, as he turned away. "Like a b-balsam," Strong stammered. "B-big top an' little r-roots." "And they can't stand against the wind," said Master. Before he went to bed the Emperor made these entries in his memorandum-book: _"Strong says he had just as soon be seen with a coon as a congressman also that a fool gits so big in his own eyes he dont never dast quarrell with himself. Strong got to mehoppin. he has fit and conkered_ _"God never intended fer a man to see himself er else hed have set his eyes difernt."_ XXI IN the morning, a little after sunrise, Strong and Master set out across the State land stretching from the railroad to Lost River, a distance of some fourteen miles. Not an hour's walk from the station, at Bees' Hill, they passed another lumber job, where, on the land of the State, nearly a score of men were engaged felling the tall pines and hauling them to skid ways. The Emperor flung off his pack and hurried to the workers. "Who's j-job?" he inquired. "Migley's. We're working on a contract for the dead timber." "Ca-call that dead?" Strong waved his hand in the direction of a number of trees, newly felled, which had been as healthy as any in the forest. "Q-quit, er I'll go to-day an' c-com-plain o' ye," he added. "You can go to ------ if you like," said the foreman, angrily. Quicker than the jaws of a trap Strong's hand caught the boss by the back of his neck and flung him headlong. The dealer in hasty speech rose and took a step towards the Emperor and halted. "B-better think it over," said Strong, coolly. The boss turned to his men. He shouted at some eight or ten of them who had come near, "Are you going to stand there and see me treated that way." "You fight your own battles," said one of them. "For my part, I think the Emp'ror is right." "So do I," said another. "I've pulled the brier for you as long as I want to." The rest of the "gang" stood still and said nothing. "I'll go and see Migley about this," declared the foreman, who was walking hurriedly in the direction of his camp. He turned and shouted to the toilers, "You fellers can go 'histe the turkey.'" One who had to pick up his effects and get out was told to "histe the turkey" there in the woods. Strong and Master had a few words with the men and resumed their journey to Lost River. As they walked on a brush whip hit the Emperor in the face. He stopped and broke it and flung it down with a word of reproof. He often did that kind of thing--as if the trees and brushes were alive and on speaking terms with him. Sometimes he would stop and compliment them for their beauty. Soon the young man spoke. "After all, the law is no better than they who make it," said he. The Emperor turned as if not sure of his meaning. "Bribery!" said Master. "Migley got a law passed which provides a fine so low for cutting State timber that he can pay it and make money."