nap I might have trouble to keep
them employed. I could, of course, use a number of men and teams hauling
out logs across the snow, but the heavier stuff won't be needed for some
time, and I can't lock up my money. The small man's trouble is generally
to finance his undertaking."

Charnock looked thoughtful. "Yes; that's where the pinch comes. You
can't work economically unless you have capital. Sadie's a good business
woman, and she often said that if you want to save dollars, you must
spend some."

"Much depends on how you spend."

"Just so," said Charnock, smiling. "Betting against marked cards doesn't
pay, but I've stopped that kind of thing. However, I think I could get
you the money you need."

Festing looked hard at him. "You have none."

"Sadie has a pile. She'd give me enough with pleasure if she thought it
would help towards my reform. But if you take the dollars, you've got to
take me."

"Ah!" said Festing. "But why do you want to join?"

"To begin with, I'm getting avaricious and want to go home with my
wallet full. Then I'm tired of my job. I suppose it's a foreman's
privilege to insult his gang, but the brute we've got is about the
limit. He's truculent but not very big, and some day, if I stop on,
I'll pitch the hog into the river. Then I'll certainly get fired, and
there'll be an end to my dreams of wealth."

Festing was silent for a few moments. He understood Charnock better now,
and knew that when he was serious he often used a careless tone. Bob
wanted to help him as much as he wanted to help himself, and he saw no
reason to reject his plan. He must, however, be warned.

"If you join me, you run some risk of losing your money."

"Of course. It's obvious that you don't think the risk very big, and I'm
willing to take a fighting chance."

"I don't know how big it is. That depends on the weather and accidents."

"Exactly," said Charnock. "If I join you with some money and teams, will
it lessen, or add to, the risk?"

"It will lessen the risk."

"Will it reduce, or increase, your working costs?"

"I think the answer's obvious."

"Then it looks as if you'd be foolish to turn my offer down."

Festing got up and walked about irresolutely for a moment or two. Then
he stopped with some color in his face.

"I called you a shirker, Bob, and ordered Helen to leave you alone. Now
I see you're the better man and I'm a confounded, fault-finding prig.
But you're not vindictive, and we'll let th