To Sexton's annoyance and secret apprehension, Bryce Cardigan and
Buck Ogilvy promptly appeared on the scene, both very cheerful and
lavish with expert advice as to the best method of expediting the job
in hand. To Bryce's surprise Jules Rondeau appeared to take secret
enjoyment of this good-natured chaffing of the Laguna Grande manager.
Occasionally he eyed Bryce curiously but without animus, and
presently he flashed the latter a lightning wink, as if to say: "What
a fool Sexton is to oppose you!"
"Well, Rondeau," Bryce hailed the woods-boss cheerfully, "I see you
have quite recovered from that working over I gave you some time ago.
No hard feelings, I trust. I shouldn't care to have that job to do
over again. You're a tough one."
"By gar, she don' pay for have hard feelings wiz you, M'sieur,"
Rondeau answered bluntly. "We have one fine fight, but"--he shrugged
--"I don' want some more."
"Yes, by gar, an' she don' pay for cut other people's trees,
M'sieur," Bryce mimicked him. "I shouldn't wonder if I took the value
of that tree out of your hide."
"I t'enk so, M'sieur." He approached Bryce and lowered his voice.
"For one month I am no good all ze tam. We don' fight some more,
M'sieur. And I have feel ashame' for dose Black Minorca feller.
Always wiz him eet is ze knife or ze club--and now eet is ze rifle.
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