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Updated: June 26, 2025
"Jim's right! You've got to fight, Bill! That's fair!" and many more exclamations of like character, showed the drift of popular sentiment so plainly that Goodine exclaimed, "Well, if you sez so, it's got to be! But I don't want to hurt you, Jim Reddin; an' lick you I kin, every day in the week, an' you know it!"
Laurette was gazing at him in a way that pierced his jealous pain and thrilled his heart strangely; and as he looked at her he began to forget Bill Goodine altogether. But Goodine was not to be forgotten. "I said," he cried, in a loud voice, "that you, Jim Reddin, jest dasn't cut out them logs. You think yourself some punkins, you do; but ye're a coward!"
We're goin' to be powerful well occupied, all hands, when we git a start on them logs, I tell you!" At this suggestion a huge young woodsman who was standing behind some of the others, out of Laurette's range of vision, started eagerly forward. Bill Goodine was acknowledged to be the best-looking man on the Big Aspohegan, an opinion in which he himself most heartily concurred.
As she turned to her father, big tears forced themselves into her eyes. But the episode had passed quickly; and her distress was not observed, as all attention now turned to Goodine and his perilous undertaking. Only McElvey, who had suspected the girl's sentiments for some time, said in an undertone, "Jim Reddin ain't no coward, and don't you forget it, sis.
Reddin became very fidgety. He watched the logs, and shouted earnestly, "Better come out o' that right now and finish on this 'ere nigh pile." Goodine looked up, eyed first his adviser, then very narrowly the logs, and answered, tersely, "Go to h ll!" "That's just like the both of 'em," muttered McElvey, as Goodine turned and resumed his chopping.
As the two dripping men approached the camp, she looked up to see a reconciliation. Presently Goodine emerged from a little knot of his companions, approached Reddin, and held out his hand. "I ask yer pardon," said he. "You're a man, an' no mistake. It is my life I owe to you; an' I'm proud to owe it to sech as you!" But Reddin took no notice of the outstretched hand.
And, swinging his great form round insolently, Goodine picked up his axe and sauntered down the bank. Now, Laurette, as well as most of the hands, looked to see this insult promptly resented in the only way consistent with honor. Reddin, though tender-hearted and slow to anger, was regarded as being, with the possible exception of Goodine, the strongest man in that section of the country.
The effect of this speech was instantaneous. Fully half the hands stepped forward, exclaiming, "I'll do it! I'll do it, boss! I'm your man, Mr. McElvey!" But Bill Goodine sprang to the front with a vigor that brushed aside all in his path. Thrusting himself in front of the laughing McElvey, he shouted, "I spoke first! I claim the job!" And, snatching up an axe, he started down the bank.
"You're a liar!" remarked Jim Reddin, in a business-like voice, as the hands formed a ring. At this some of the hands laughed, and Goodine, glancing around, caught the ghost of a smile on Laurette's face. This was all that was needed. The blood boiled up to his temples, and with an oath under his breath he sprang upon his adversary.
She was casting quick glances of anger and disappointment in the direction of Jim Reddin, who leaned on a sled-stake and appeared to take no interest in the proceedings. Goodine flushed with jealous wrath, and was about to fling some gibe at Reddin, when McElvey remarked, "That's all very well, sis; and has kinder simplified matters a lot.
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