"We may never get here again," said Dale. "So we may as well take in everything worth seeing." The young lumbermen had not gone far, however, before it began to rain. To get in out of the wet, they entered a restaurant, attached to a small hotel, where they ordered a glass of milk and a piece of pie. Next to the dining room was the smoking room, and looking into this they were surprised to see John Hoover, sitting there in company with several individuals who looked like lumbermen. "I'll wager he is after those men," whispered Owen. "Let us listen to what he has to say." They took another table which was close to a large doorway. As John Hoover's back was toward them, the lumberman did not notice them. "You'll be perfectly satisfied at my place," Hoover was saying. "All of my men like it very much." "Oh, listen to that!" said Dale, in a low voice. "How can he be so barefaced?" "I heard a little about poor eating up there," said one of the lumbermen. "Now, I allow as how I like good feed." "You won't be disappointed, Martin. Just you sign a contract with me and you'll be perfectly satisfied, and you can go up to the camp in the morning." "I never signed a contract before," said another of the lumbermen cautiously. "Oh, that don't amount to much, Bond," answered John Hoover lightly. "But our company requires it, that's all." "I reckon it's O.K., boys," put in a fourth lumberman. "We might as well sign and have done with it." "That's the talk," said John Hoover eagerly. "Let's have the business over with, and I'll stand treat at the bar." He drew a folded paper from his pocket and asked for the use of the pen and ink at the desk. Just at that moment two lumbermen came in. The older was a man Dale and Owen had met at the camp--one of the fellows who had helped them to take their trunks to the river. "Hullo, Martin, what's up here?" he called out. "This aint none of your business, Peterson," cried John Hoover, in alarm. "We're going to contract for the rest of the season with Hoover," answered the lumberman named Martin. "Don't you do it, boys." "Why not?" demanded the four, simultaneously. "If you do, you'll be sorry for it." "You clear out!" roared John Hoover, his face growing as red as a beet. "This is my business affair, you haven't any right to interfere." "But I'll take the right," returned the newcomer. "Why, only two days ago I helped two young fellows to get away. They said they wouldn't stand it up to the camp. I'm going to leave myself as soon as my month is up." "You're telling what aint so!" stormed John Hoover. "Aint I telling the truth?" "No." "I am--and I can prove it," said the newcomer. He pointed to where Dale and Owen were sitting. John Hoover looked in the direction and started. "Wha--where did they come from?" "From your camp. If you don't believe it, boys, ask the young fellows themselves." "We will," said Bond, and called to Dale and Owen. "Please come here a minute, will you?"