ing; and Geoffrey asked: "How did it happen?"

"The sluice gate wasn't strong enough, river rose a foot yesterday, and
she just busted. I was around bright and early and found her
splitting. Got a line round the pieces--they're floating beneath you."

"Heave them up!" ordered Geoffrey.

He was obeyed, and for a few minutes glanced at the timber frame with a
puzzled expression, then turning to Gillow, he said: "You know I
condemned that mode of scarting, and the whole thing's too light. What
carpenters made it?"

"It's one of Mr. Savine's gates, sir. I've got the drawing for it
somewhere," was the answer, and Geoffrey frowned.

"Then you will keep that fact carefully to yourself," he replied. "It
is particularly unfortunate. This is about the only gate I have not
overhauled personally, but one cannot see to quite everything, and
naturally the breakage takes place at that especial point."

"Very good, sir," remarked Gillow. "Things generally do happen in just
that way. Here's rancher Hudson coming, and he looks tolerably angry."

The man who strode along the dyke was evidently infuriated, a fact
which was hardly surprising, considering that he owned the flooded
property. The workmen, who now leaned upon their shovels, waited for
the meeting between him and their master in the expectation of
amusement.

"What in the name of thunder do you mean by turning your infernal river
loose on my ranch?" inquired the newcomer. Thurston rejoined:

"May I suggest that you try to master your temper and consider the case
coolly before you ask any further questions."

"Consider it coolly!" shouted Hudson. "Coolly! when the blame water's
washing out my good potatoes by the hundred bushel, and slooshing mud
and shingle all over my hay. Great Columbus! I'll make things red hot
for you."

"See here!" and there were signs that Thurston was losing his temper.
"What we have done was most unfortunately necessary, but, while I
regret it at least as much as you do, you will not be a loser
financially. As soon as the river falls, we'll run off the water,
measure up the flooded land, and pay you current price? for the crop
at average acre yield. As you will thus sell it without gathering or
hauling to market, it's a fair offer."

Most of the forest ranchers in that region would have closed with the
offer forthwith, but there were reasons why the one in question, who
was, moreover, an obstinate, cantankerous man, should s