Mr. Ford, Paddy and Allen were consulting with the court officer, Will and Frank were discussing a prospective hunting trip, and the girls were planning Christmas surprises as the sled slid on. "Here's the new line," said Paddy, as they came to a pile of stones. "And there's where it ought to be," he added, as they drove across the valuable strip in dispute. There was a difference of nearly a mile. "That is my recollection of it," said Mr. Ford. "Owing to the death of the surveyor, and the destruction of some of his records, I was unable to prove it, though." "Well, you can now," retorted Paddy, significantly. Soon they heard the sound of axes and, in answer to a nod from Mr. Ford, the horses were turned in that direction. Suddenly from behind a tree stepped the burly form of Hank Smither. "You can't go any further!" he growled. "Turn back an' git off this land! You're trespassin'!" "Oh, I think not," said Mr. Ford, pleasantly. "Well, I tell you you be! Git off, 'fore I----" "Now I advise you to go slow, my big friend," put in the constable. "I'm from the court, and I have authority in this matter that goes above even Jallow's." "All I know is that my orders is not to let any one on here exceptin' Mr. Jallow's men," growled Hank. "Where is Mr. Jallow?" asked Mr. Ford. "Over there," and Hank pointed. "Then we'll settle with him. Drive on, Ted." "I don't see how I kin let ye!" whined Hank. He had lost much of his bluster now. "You don't have to let us. We'll do it without, Hank!" spoke Paddy, suddenly. At the sound of his voice--for up to now Hank had not seen the lumberman--the burly guard started slightly. "Paddy Malone!" he gasped. "You back!" "Yes, and I guess Jallow won't be any more glad to see me than you are," was the grim 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?"