the
firewood that's got to be cut for to-morrow, which is Sunday, when we
don't want to be cuttin' wood; and if you'll go to work and cut it into
pieces to fit this stove, I'll give you your supper. You can go to the
other camp and sleep where you have been sleepin', if you want to, and in
the mornin' I'll give you your breakfast. I 'ain't got no right to give
you Mr. Archibald's victuals, but what you eat I'll pay for out of my own
pocket, considerin' that you'll do my work. Then to-morrow I'll give you
just one hour after you've finished your breakfast to get out of this camp
altogether, entirely out of my sight. I tried to have you sent away
before, but other people took you up, and so I said no more; but now
things are different. When a man pulls up what I've drove down, and sets
loose what I've locked up, and the same as snaps his fingers in my face
when I'm attendin' to my business, then I don't let that man stay in my
camp."

"Excuse me," said the bishop, "but in case I should not go away within the
time specified, what would be your course?"

In a few brief remarks, inelegant but expressive, the guide outlined his
intentions of taking measures which would utterly eliminate the physical
energy of the other.

"I haven't taken no advantage of you," he said, "I haven't come down on
you when you hadn't no clothes to go away in; and now that you've got good
clothes, I don't want to spile them if I can help it; but they're not
goin' to save you--mind my words. What I've said I'll stick to."

"Mr. Matlack," said the bishop, "I consider that you are entirely correct
in all your positions. As to that unfortunate affair of the boat, I had
intended coming to you and apologizing most sincerely for my share in it.
It was an act of great foolishness, but that does not in the least excuse
me. I apologize now, and beg that you will believe that I truly regret
having interfered with your arrangements."

"That won't do!" exclaimed the guide. "When a man as much as snaps his
fingers in my face, it's no use for him to come and apologize. That's not
what I want."

"Nevertheless," said the bishop, "you will pardon me if I insist upon
expressing my regrets. I do that for my own sake as well as yours; but we
will drop that subject. When you ask me to cut wood to pay for my meals,
you are entirely right, and I honor your sound opinion upon this subject.
I will cut the wood and earn my meals, but there is one amendment to your
plan