dings? I'm a law-abiding man, I am, but I'm going to let
nobody tramp on me."

A burst of laughter filled the rear of the building when one of
Hudson's supporters pulled him down by main force, and held him fast,
observing, "You just sit right there, and look wise instead of talking
too much. I guess you've said enough already to mix everything up."

The official raised his hand. "I am here to ask questions and not
answer them," he said. "Any more speeches resembling the last would be
likely to get the inquirer into trouble. I must also remind Mr. Hudson
that, after one inundation, he signed a document signifying his
approval of the scheme, and I desire to ask him what has caused the
change in his opinions."

Again there was laughter followed by a few derisive comments from the
party favoring Thurston's cause, while one voice was audible above the
rest, "Hudson's been buying horses. Some Vancouver speculator's check!"

The rancher, shaking off his follower's grasp, bounded to his feet, and
glared at the men behind him. "I'll get square with some of you
fellows later on," he threatened. Turning towards the officer, he went
on: "Just because I'm getting tired of being washed out I've changed my
mind. When he's had two crops ruined, a man begins to get uneasy about
the third one--see?"

"It is a sufficient reason," answered the official. "Now, gentlemen, I
gather that some of you have benefited by this scheme. If you have any
information to give me, I shall be pleased to hear it."

Several men told how they had added to their holdings many acres of
fertile soil, which had once been swamp, and the Crown official said:

"I am convinced that two small ranches have been temporarily inundated,
and six or seven benefited. So much for that side of the question. I
must now ascertain whether the work is carried out in the most
efficient manner, and how many have suffered in minor ways by the
contractors' willful neglect, as the petitioners allege."

Hudson and his comrades testified at length, but each in turn, after
making the most of the accidental upset of a barrow-load of earth among
their crops, or the blundering of a steer into a trench, harked back to
the broken sluice. When amid some laughter they concluded, others who
favored Savine described the precautions Thurston had taken. Then the
inquirer turned over his papers, and Thomas Savine whispered to
Geoffrey: "It's all in our favor so far, but I'm an