108 THE LOG OP A TIMBER CRUISER 



his digestive organs having rested, he began to grow 

 better. 



Frazer held a heart to heart talk with him as 

 soon as he was convalescent. 



"I think you'd better get ready to go, Wetherby," 

 the chief told him, "as soon as you feel well enough 

 to ride." 



Horace was dumbfounded. 



"W-why, what's the matter ?" he stammered, 

 scarcely able to believe his ears. 



"Your work has been unsatisfactory, that's the 

 matter, " replied the chief, bluntly. "And it's be- 

 cause you're not only ignorant of what you're sup- 

 posed to do but because you won't try to learn any- 

 thing about it. You've got an idea you know it all 

 in advance. You won't listen to men who have for- 

 gotten more about timber than you could learn in ten 

 years. You undoubtedly know more than any of us 

 in certain lines, but your special knowledge is of no 

 more use in this life we're leading than Brown's 

 talents would be if he were placed behind the steer- 

 ing wheel of a motor car. 



"Don't think I'm trying to rub it in. I've simply 

 made up my mind to let you go and I want you to 

 know why. Wallace and Conway are getting sore 

 on the deal. It's not fair to have them do part of 

 your work as well as their own, and that's about 

 what's been going on right along. So as soon as the 

 packers go in to town after chuck you can go along 

 with them." 



