Page:Hugh Pendexter--The young timber-cruisers.djvu/301

 initials. This forgery he undoubtedly did himself, not trusting another, Stanley concluded. And in doing it he was cunning enough to give it every appearance of age. Then after a few years had passed and nature had come to his assistance in furthering the deception he had announced his holdings to include the disputed territory.

“I can’t make it seem true even yet,” complained Stanley to a squirrel chattering at him from a nearby limb. “It’s simply ridiculous that I should blunder onto this all-important tree.”

This line of thought led him to a graver one. What should he do with his discovery? Should he hasten to camp, triumphantly bearing the strip of bark as his first impulse urged him; or should he proceed more cautiously and prudently?

“Now, let’s get this thing right,” he pondered, frowning at the bark. “If I leave this here it will be almost too dark to fetch Abner to this spot to-night. I’ve got to tell him to-night or I’d go crazy. If I take it with me and anything should happen a half of my proof and the best half would be lost. For Nace could claim he committed the forgery on this beech, while everyone would know he couldn’t grow