And that every ton of it is stuff that won't pay its way out
of the woods. The freight an' the haulin' one way doubles the cost.
An' even if he tried to take it out, he'd have a hundred miles of
tote-road to build. Eureka freight travels only one way on McNabb's
tote-road--an' that way is in!"
Hedin stared at the man in astonishment. "And you can buy it at your
own figure!" he cried. "Why, you can prevent even his empty trucks
from going back. God, man, it will ruin Orcutt!"
"'Tis his own doin's," answered the man. "'Twill serve him right. He
should have 'tended to his bankin' instead of pickin' on poor old John
McNabb, that should be back of his counter sellin' thread, as he told
me himself. Ten cents on the dollar he offered for my tote-road."
"I'll do it!" exclaimed Hedin. "It will be hard, but it will be worth
it, to see that crook get what's coming to him. And then I'm going
away. Murchison will give me a letter, and I'll strike the Company for
a job."
McNabb nodded. "I guess ye're right, about not goin' back to the
store," he said slowly. "Your heart is in the North."
There was a strange lump in Hedin's throat. He glanced into the face
of his employer, and was surprised at a certain softness in the shrewd
gray eyes that gazed far out over the lake. After a time the old man
spoke, more to himself than to him. "Ye could both run down for a
month or two in the winter!"
"What?" asked Hedin, regarding the speaker with a puzzled expression.
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