safety of the investment he was about making, coming from a man like Mr. Page, would have effectually prevented its being made, for Jordan would not have rested until he understood the very nature and groundwork of the objection.  He would then have seen a new statement of figures, heard a new relation of facts and probabilities, and learned that Barnaby was selling at the suggestion of Mr. Page, after being fully convinced of the folly of proceeding another step.

But no warning came.  The self-esteem of old Matthew Page, who felt himself to be something of an oracle in S—­, was touched, because the young man had not consulted him; and now he might go to the dogs, for all he cared.

The preliminaries of sale were soon arranged.  Jordan was as eager to enter upon his money-making as Barnaby was to get rid of his money-losing scheme.  Three thousand dollars cash were paid, and notes given for the balance.  An overseer, or manager of the whole business to be entered upon, was engaged at five hundred dollars a year; some twenty hands to cut timber, haul it to the mill, and saw it up when there, were hired; and twenty yokes of oxen bought for the purpose of hauling the logs from the woods, a distance of two miles.  The price of a dollar a log, which Barnaby expected to pay for timber floated down the river, had been considered so dear a rate as to preclude all hope of profit in the business.  The great advantages which Jordan felt that he possessed was in himself owning the timber, which had only to be cut and taken to the mill.  He had, strangely enough, forgotten to make a calculation of what each log would cost him to cut and haul two miles.  There were the wood-choppers at a dollar a day, the teamsters at seventy-five cents a day, and four pairs of oxen to each log to feed.  Eight logs a day he was told that each team would haul, and he believed it.  But two or three logs were the utmost that could be accomplished, for in the whole distance there was not a quarter of a mile of good solid road.

Six months in time, and a thousand dollars in money, over and above wages to his men, were spent in getting the mill into running order.  Jordan had bought under the representation that it was all ready for starting.  After he had got in possession, he learned that Barnaby had tried, but in vain, to get the mill to work.

In the mean time, the young man was extending his circle of acquaintance among the families of the place in most of which he was well received and well liked.  Old Matthew Page had an only daughter, a beautiful young girl, who was the pride of the village.  The first time she and Jordan met, they took a fancy to each other.  But as Jordan was rather a modest young man, he did not make very bold advances toward the maiden, although he felt as if he should like to do so, were there any hope of his advances being met in a right spirit.