grade. You have to have an extry in back to
push."
"Nonsense! I'll build my road from Squaw Creek gulch south through
that valley where those whopping big trees grow. That's the natural
outlet for the timber. See here:" [graphic]
Colonel Pennington took from his pocket the rough sketch-map of the
region which we have reproduced herewith and pointed to the spot
numbered "11."
"But that valley ain't logged yet," explained Henderson.
"Don't worry. Cardigan will sell that valley to me--also a right of
way down his old railroad grade and through his logged-over lands to
tidewater."
"Bet you a chaw o' tobacco he won't. Those big trees in that valley
ain't goin' to be cut for no railroad right o' way. That valley's
John Cardigan's private park; his wife's buried up there. Why,
Colonel, that's the biggest grove of the biggest sequoia sempervirens
in the world, an' many's the time I've heard John say he'd almost as
lief cut off his right hand as fell one o' his giants, as he calls
'em. I tell you, Colonel, John Cardigan's mighty peculiar about them
big trees. Any time he can get a day off he goes up an' looks 'em
over."
"But, my very dear sir," the Colonel protested, "if the man will not
listen to reason, the courts will make him. I can condemn a right of
way, you know.
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