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"But, men," persisted Parker, "they won't dare to sack your village. Such things are not done in these days. The law " "Law!" burst from Connick, jeeringly. "Law! Law!" echoed his men, with mocking laughter. "Why," yelled Connick, "there ain't deputy sheriffs enough in this county to round us up once we get acrost the Poquette divide!
When the expedition arrived at Sunkhaze at dusk, the postmaster brought the information that Colonel Ward had stormed away on the down-train with certain hints about getting some law on his own account. He had sworn over and over in most ferocious fashion that the Poquette Carry road should not be built so long as law and dynamite could be bought.
One evening just after dusk his foreman scratched on the flap of the engineer's tent, in which he was now living at Poquette. "Come in!" he called. The canvas was lifted and a man entered. Parker turned the reflector of his lantern on the visitor. "Joshua Ward!" he exclaimed, as he started up and seized the old man's outstretched hand. He led him to a camp-stool.
Therefore, on behalf of myself and my associates, I should like to tender you annual passes over our new road. Of course the courtesy is a trifling one, but it will indicate that we shall appreciate your cooperation in turning your freight business our way. We'll save you at least two-thirds of the expense on the haul across Poquette."
When he left the cab of his engine the next forenoon at Poquette, he saw the furred figure of Colonel Ward in front of his carry camp a sort of half-way station for the timber operator's itinerant crews. The lawyer was at his elbow. Parker ignored their presence. A half-hour later the young engineer had established his Spinnaker terminal point, and was running his lines.
The engineer found his little garrison holding the fort at the Poquette Carry camp and confining their attentions wholly to holding the fort. Not an ax blow had been struck since his hurried departure. "We didn't work no more," explained one of the men, "because we'd give up all idea of seein you ag'in.
Then he rang the bell. "All aboard!" he shouted. "First train for Poquette." A nervous little laugh went round at his quiet jest, and twoscore men boarded the sleds. For the first time in his roaring, reckless and quarrelsome life Colonel Gideon Ward found himself in the presence of a man who defied him scornfully and facing an obstacle that promised ridiculous defeat.
"Ah, I don't know anything about your business, nor care!" Connick growled. "I only know there's something about a Poquette railro'd in it. But all that's between you and Gid Ward. You can talk that over with him." "Do you mean to tell me that you and your men have destroyed that railroad property without having any special grudge against the project?"
And the result was that they themselves set the opening date, and promised to be on hand with a party of friends. The rolling-stock of the Poquette Railroad consisted of the Stump Dodger, four flat cars designed especially for the transportation of canoes and bateaux, three box cars for camp supplies and general freight, and the coach transplanted from the P. K. & R. narrow-gage.
"You shut up, Hackett," roared the colonel, who realized Parker's mental reservation better than his man Friday. "I'll show ye all in good time why we should be friends, Parker," he went on, addressing the engineer. "But first of all I'll show ye how much it is goin' to hurt me to have that railroad built acrost Poquette.
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