Page:Hugh Pendexter--The young timber-cruisers.djvu/25

 Frenchman flung out his hands and with equal rapidity explained the situation insofar as he understood it. The little man, with clouded brow, remained at his end of the saw, seemingly not interested in the scene.

“Say, what do you mean by jumping Big Louey in this way?” demanded the last comer of the pugnacious stranger.

“He lays the blame on me, eh?” panted the youth. “I don’t understand his lingo.”

“’Course he blames you. It’s his place to be working here. It isn’t your place to be here at all. What do you mean by trespassing on the company’s land and picking up rows with innocent workmen?”

“I don’t care what he told you,” answered the stranger, now more composed. “I am in the habit of telling the truth. I was passing along the road and heard a noise. I came here and found this big, hulking fellow trying to take this instrument from the little fellow. I told him to quit it, and let the little man alone. He paid no attention to my orders and I pitched into him. Now, what are you going to do about it? I can’t fight two of you; I’m not a fighter, anyway. But I’ll not stand by and see a small man abused by an overgrown bully.”