“I’ve saved my office a great deal of clerical work,” Thorne snapped back at him.  “Report me if you feel like it!”

The debris remained where it had fallen.  Austin did not venture again—­at least while this energetic youth was on the scene.  Nevertheless, after the first anger, even the saloon-keeper had in a way his good word to say.

“If they’s anythin’ worse than a—­of a—­comes out in the next fifty year, he’ll be it!” stormed Austin.  “But, damn it,” he added, “the little devil’s worse’n a catamount for fight!”

Thorne was little communicative, but after he and Bob became better acquainted the Inspector would tell something of his past inspections.  All up and down the Sierras he had unearthed enough petty fraud and inefficiency to send a half-dozen men to jail and to break another half-dozen from the ranks.

“And the Office has upheld me right along,” said Thorne in answer to Bob’s scepticism regarding government sincerity.  “The Office is all right; don’t make any mistake on that.  It’s just a question of getting at it.  I admit the system is all wrong, where the complaints can’t get direct to the chiefs; but that’s what I’m here for.  This Plant is one of the easiest cases I’ve tackled yet.  I’ve got direct evidence six times over to put him over the road.  He’ll go behind the bars sure.  As for the cattle situation, it’s a crying disgrace and a shame.  There’s no earthly reason under the regulations why Simeon Wright should bring cattle in at all; and I’ll see that next year he doesn’t.”

At the end of two weeks Thorne had finished his work and departed.  The mountain people with whom he had come in contact liked and trusted him in spite of his brusque and business-like manners.  He could shoot, pack a horse, ride and follow trail, swing an axe as well as any of them.  He knew what he was talking about.  He was square.  The mountain men “happened around”—­such of them as were not in back with the cattle—­to wish him farewell.

“Good-bye, boys,” said he.  “You’ll see me again.  I’m glad to have had a chance to straighten things out a little.  Don’t lose faith in Uncle Sam.  He’ll do well by you when you attract his attention.”

Fully a week after his departure Plant returned and took his accustomed place in the community.  He surveyed his old constituents with a slightly sardonic eye, but had little to say.

About this time Bob moved up on the mountain.  He breathed in a distinct pleasure over again finding himself among the pines, in the cool air, with the clean, aromatic woods-work.  The Meadow Lake was completely surrounded by camps this year.  Several canvas boats were on the lake.  Bob even welcomed the raucous and confused notes of several phonographs going at full speed.  After the heat and dust and brown of the lower hills, this high country was inexpressibly grateful.

At headquarters he found Welton rolling about, jovial, good-natured, efficient as ever.  With him was Baker.