By way of answer the fat man dropped his paper, and mopped his brow.
"We"ve rented our sheep grazing to Mr. Lejeune, here, as I understand we"ve been doing for some years. He tells me you have refused him permission to cross the Forest Reserve with his flocks."
"That"s right," grunted Plant.
"What for?"
"I believe, young man, granting permits is discretionary with the Supervisor," stated that individual.
"I suppose so," agreed Bob. "But Mr. Lejeune has always had permission before. What reason do you a.s.sign for refusing it?"
"Wilful trespa.s.s," wheezed Plant. "That"s what, young man. His sheep grazed over our line. He"s lucky that I don"t have him up before the United States courts for damages as well."
Lejeune started to speak, but Bob motioned him to silence.
"I"m sure we could arrange for past damages, and guarantee against any future trespa.s.s," said he.
"Well, I"m sure you can"t," stated Plant positively. "Good day."
But Bob was not willing to give up thus easily. He gave his best efforts either to arguing Plant into a better frame of mind, or to discovering some tangible reason for his sudden change of front in regard to the sheep.
"It"s no use," he told Lejeune, later, as they walked down the street together. "He"s undoubtedly the right to refuse permits for cause; and technically he has cause if your sheep got over the line."
"But what shall I do!" cried Lejeune. "My ship mus" have feed!"
"You pasture them or feed them somewhere for a week or so, and I"ll let you know," said Bob. "We"ll get you on the land or see you through somewhere else."
He mounted his horse stiffly and rode back up the street. Plant still sat in his armchair like a bloated spider. On catching sight of Bob, however, he heaved himself to his feet and waddled to the gate.
"Here!" he called. Bob drew rein. "It has been reported to me that your firm has constructed a flume across 36, and a wagon road across 14, 22, 28, and 32. Those are government sections. I suppose, of course, your firm has permits from Washington to build said improvements?"
"Naturally," said Bob, who, however, knew nothing whatever of those details.
"Well, I"ll send a man up to examine them to-morrow," said Plant, and turned his back.
V
Bob took supper at Auntie Belle"s, and rode up the mountain after dark.
He did not attempt short cuts, but allowed his horse to follow the plain grade of the road. After a time the moon crept over the zenith, and at once the forest took on a fairylike strangeness, as though at the touch of night new worlds had taken the place of the vanished old. Somewhere near midnight, his body shivering with the mountain cold, his legs stiff and chafed from the long, unaccustomed riding, but his mind filled with the wonder and beauty of the mountain night, Bob drew rein beside the corrals. After turning in his horse, he walked through the bright moonlight to Welton"s door, on which he hammered.
"Hey!" called the lumberman from within.
"It"s I, Bob."
Welton scratched a match.
"Why in blazes didn"t you come up in the morning?" he inquired.
"I"ve found out another and perhaps important hole we"re in."
"Can we do anything to help ourselves out before morning?" demanded Welton. "No? Well, sleep tight! I"ll see you at six."
Next morning Welton rolled out, as good-humoured and deliberate as ever.
"My boy," said he. "When you get to be as old as I am, you"ll never stir up trouble at night unless you can fix it then. What is it?"
Bob detailed his conversation with Plant.
"Do you mean to tell me that that old, fat _skunk_ had the nerve to tell you he was going to send a ranger to look at our permit?" he demanded.
"Yes. That"s what he said."
"The miserable hound! Why I went to see him a year ago about crossing this strip with our road--we had to haul a lot of stuff in. He told me to go ahead and haul, and that he"d fix it up when the time came. Since then I"ve tackled him two or three times about it, but he"s always told me to go ahead; that it was all right. So we went ahead. It"s always been a matter of form, this crossing permit business. It"s _meant_ to be a matter of form!"
After breakfast Welton ordered his buckboard and, in company with Bob, drove down the mountain again. Plant was discovered directing the activities of several men, who were loading a light wagon with provisions and living utensils.
"Moving up to our summer camp," one of them told Bob. "Getting too hot down here."
Plant received them, his fat face expressionless, and led them into the stuffy little office.
"Look here, Plant," said Welton, without a trace of irritation on his weatherbeaten, round countenance. "What"s all this about seeing a permit to cross those government sections? You know very well I haven"t any permit."
"I have been informed by my men that you have constructed or caused to be constructed a water flume through section 36, and a road through sections 14, 22, 28 and 32. If this has been done without due authorization you are liable for trespa.s.s. Fine of not less than $200 or imprisonment for not less than twelve months--or both." He delivered this in a voice absolutely devoid of expression.
"But you told me to go ahead, and that you"d attend to the details, and it would be all right," said Welton.
"You must have misunderstood me," replied Plant blandly. "It is against my sworn duty to permit such occupation of public land without due conformity to law. It is within my discretion whether to report the trespa.s.s for legal action. I am willing to believe that you have acted in this matter without malicious intent. But the trespa.s.s must cease."
"What do you mean by that?" asked Welton.
"You must not use that road as a highway, nor the flume, and you must remove the flume within a reasonable time. Or else you may still get a permit."
"How long would that take?" asked Welton. "Could it be done by wire?"
Plant lifted a glazed and fishy eye to survey him.
"You would be required to submit in writing specifications of the length and location of said road and flume. This must be accompanied by a topographical map and details of construction. I shall then send out field men to investigate, after which, endorsed with my approval, it goes for final decision to the Secretary of the Interior."
"Good Lord, man!" cried Welton, aghast. "That would take all summer! And besides, I made out all that tomfoolery last summer. I supposed you must have unwound all that red tape long ago!"
Plant for the first time looked his interlocutor square in the eye.
"I find among my records no such application," he said deliberately.
Welton stared at him a moment, then laughed.