Bob continued on his way, but had not proceeded more than a few hundred feet before he was overtaken by Lejeune.

“You’re the man I was looking for,” said Bob.  “I see you got your sheep in all right.  Have any trouble?”

The sheepman’s teeth flashed.

“Not’tall,” he replied.  “I snik in ver’ easy up by Beeg Rock.”

At the mill, Bob, while luxuriously splashing the ice cold water on his face and throat, took time to call to Welton in the next room.

“Saw your sheep man,” he proffered.  “He got in all right, sheep and all.”

Welton appeared in the doorway, mopping his round, red face with a towel.

“Funny we haven’t heard from Plant, then,” said he.  “That fat man must be keeping track of Leejune’s where-abouts, or he’s easier than I thought he was.”

VIII

The week slipped by.  Welton seemed to be completely immersed in the business of cutting lumber.  In due time Orde senior had replied by wire, giving assurance that he would see to the matter of the crossing permits.

“So that’s settled,” quoth Welton.  “You bet-you Jack Orde will make the red tape fly.  It’ll take a couple of weeks, I suppose—­time for the mail to get there and back.  Meantime, we’ll get a cut ahead.”

But at the end of ten days came a letter from the congressman.

“Don’t know just what is the hitch,” wrote Jack Orde.  “It ought to be the simplest matter in the world, and so I told Russell in the Land Office to-day.  They seem inclined to fall back on their technicalities, which is all rot, of course.  The man wants to be annoying for some reason, but I’ll take it higher at once.  Have an appointment with the Chief this afternoon....”

The next letter came by the following mail.

“This seems to be a bad mess.  I can’t understand it, nor get to the bottom of it.  On the face of the showing here we’ve just bulled ahead without any regard whatever for law or regulations.  Of course, I showed your letter stating your agreement and talks with Plant, but the department has his specific denial that you ever approached him.  They stand pat on that, and while they’re very polite, they insist on a detailed investigation.  I’m going to see the Secretary this morning.”

Close on the heels of this came a wire: 

“Plant submits reports of alleged sheep trespass committed this spring by your orders.  Wire denial.”

“My Lord!” said Welton, as he took this.  “That’s why we never heard from that!  Bobby, that was a fool move, certainly; but I couldn’t turn Leejune down after I’d agreed to graze him.”

“How about these lumber contracts?” suggested Bob.

“We’ve got to straighten this matter out,” said Welton soberly.