The next day it rained, but they went out as before, John Hoover declaring that men could cut and move timber just as well in the wet as when the sun shone. One man, who had a heavy cold, demurred, and a regular quarrel ensued, first concerning the work and then about wages. At last the man packed his box and went off, declaring that he would sue the camp owner if he did not get the wages that were coming to him. The rainy weather made Mrs. Hoover irritable, and she scolded, not only her husband, but also the young lumbermen, for tracking the mud into the living room. "I've got enough work to do without clearing up such dirt!" she snapped to her nephew. "If you bring any more in you'll not get a mouthful to eat." "I guess I'll get what's coming to me, Aunt Maria," said Owen, whose temper had reached the danger point. "No, you shan't have a thing." "Then I'll go down to one of the other cabins and live." "And I'll go with Owen," put in Dale. "I'm tired of this place, anyway." At this both John Hoover and his wife stared at the two young lumbermen in amazement. "Do you mean to say you aint satisfied here?" gasped the master of the camp. "No, I am not, Uncle Jack," said Owen bravely. "And we might as well come to an understanding at once. I'm going to look around for another job, and as soon as I can find it I'm going to leave your employ." CHAPTER XXI AN UNSIGNED CONTRACT For the moment after Owen made the declaration that he was going to leave his uncle and his aunt, the pair were speechless with amazement and anger. "Going to leave?" said John Hoover slowly. "Going to leave?" "That is what I said, Uncle Jack." "And I'm going with him," said Dale. "To hear them--after all we have done for them!" ejaculated Mrs. Hoover, her eyes flashing fire. "I don't think you have done so very much for us," said Dale, who felt it his duty to take his full share of whatever blame was coming. "Don't you, now?" sneered the lady of the cabin. "I suppose I've cooked for you just for the fun of it." "It was the worst cooking I ever had to put up with." "You aint going to leave me, nohow!" fumed John Hoover. "You've contracted to stay here for the season, and you've got to stay. You aint going to leave me in a hole--with so much timber contracted for." "We are not under contract with you, Mr. Hoover. You said in your letter that you would give us a trial, and we wrote back that we'd come on for a trial. If our work hadn't suited, you would have discharged us in double-quick order." "Well, I'd have that right." "Exactly, and we have the right to go away too." "To be sure we have," came from Owen. "I don't see it that way at all," roared the claim owner. "If I want to keep you, it is your duty to stay." "And my cookin' is good enough for anybody," came shrilly from his wife. "I've given you more than you deserve."