“How can he?”
“He’s my guest.”
“Then Strange will go.”
“Not if you stay.”
“What’s the use?”
“You see this forest? Strange has made up his mind to cut down every tree in it. I’m alone against him. I want your backing. I want you to help me keep him here occupied, until I have time to upset his plan.”
“Hmmm! He won’t listen to me if I argue against it,” said Jeff. “He’s mule-headed.”
“Precisely. Then argue for it. Stay here and help me.”
“I’m on the brute’s pay-roll,” Jeff objected.
“All right, give him his money’s worth. Show him what the forest would be worth to an exploiter.”
“Let me take him by the neck and throw him into the first train leaving for Bombay!”
“The worst thing you could do,” said Ommony. “You’d rouse all the monster in him. If he couldn’t ruin you——”
“He can’t. I’m independent, thank the Lord!”
“—he’d make me deputy and have revenge on me. He’d have to vent his spleen on something, so he’d steal or buy a concession and make this place a howling wilderness.”
“I think he would,” Jeff answered. “Would it break you?”
“Oh, no. I’ve saved a competence. But look.” He took Jeff’s arm and turned him toward the fairest view of nursed and well-loved timber. “Perhaps a hundred years from now——”
Jeff nodded.
“Yes. I’ve seen him at it. I’ve exploited for him; but that was gold and silver—you can take them any time. All right, Ommony.”
THEY did not shake hands. An understanding that was much too deep and elemental for surface expression had made them partners. Both men were conscious of a pact that might involve immeasurable consequences. The law of hospitality, that says a guest may not be allowed to betray himself; the law of loyalty, that grants the same grace to the employer; Jeff’s habit of open dealing, and Ommony’s of absolute reliance on a Destiny he trusted, were all in danger and both men knew it.
They had pledged themselves to the lesser of two evils, for lack of an obvious third course, and neither liked it, but both were resolute. Jeff strode away to the stables to let his anger cool, there being something about horses that comforts and restores the self-control of out-door men. Ommony looked for Charley, and found him packing his camera in the improvised dark-room.
“You’ll stay, of course,” he said, abruptly, divining instantly that Charley would not.
“You bet! I’ll stay away from him. If this wasn’t your house——”
“But it is,” said Ommony.
“I’d lick him first! Maybe I can’t, but I’d treat myself to the attempt.”
“I’d have to protect him, of course.”
“Sure. I’ve no quarrel with you.”
“What’s your plan, then?”
“Nothing. Pull out of here, and then think. Lend me your rig to the station, soon as I get this stuff packed. If I see him again there’ll be trouble.”
“Have you money?”
“Not much. But I’ll take no more of his.”
“Let me help out.”
“Thanks. No. I’ve enough to get to Delhi. Zelmira’s there. Maybe she’ll finance a scheme for——”
Ommony whistled softly, so that Diana, close at heel, became alert for the unforeseen. She knew that signal of her master’s changing mood.
“Why, what’s up?” asked Charley.
“The flag,” said Ommony. “It’s nailed up. Any port in a storm, and any friend in——. Tell me: to what extent do you feel beholden to your late employer?”
“From now on? Nix! He’s mud for all of me.”
“So if Madame Poulakis should ask you for news of Strange’s whereabouts, you’d——”
“Tell her he’s not fit to run with. Gee! What a woman like her can see in him——”
“Isn’t that her affair?” asked Ommony.
“Maybe. It’s mine to tell her what I think, and I will if she freezes me for it.”
“But you’ll tell her where he is?”
“Maybe—if she wants to know, after I’m through knocking him.”
“Let me pay your fare to Delhi!”
Charley made a hand-spring to the work-bench, and sat there looking at Ommony with those sky-bright eyes that read vague nuances between the light and shadow.
“What’s up?” he asked again. “I’d do a lot to help you.”
“Is Madame Poulakis clever?”
“As blazes! Only dumb thing about her is she wants Strange. Cave-man stuff, I reckon.”
“Well: suppose you warn her against Strange——”
“I’ll do that sure, first thing! What then?”
“If she persists after that; would you give her a message from me, as an absolute stranger?”
“I’ll tell her anything you say.”
“Say this: That Strange contemplates using his money and influence to grab this forest, and she can have me for ally on sole condition that she helps me to prevent that, by using her influence with Strange.”
“If, as and when!” said Charley. “Sure. I get you. If that’s his game, why don’t you go straight to headquarters and spike it?”
“Daren’t. If I should leave here Strange would jump to the right conclusion. Knowledge that I was opposing him would only make him keener, and he can beat us all with his money and hidden influence. He could buy some politicians and the native press—pull strings—and have the forest. This fight has got to be personal, between Meldrum Strange and me. I’m looking for allies.”
“I’m one,” said Charley.
“Let’s hope she’ll be another.”
“Yes. But listen here,” said Charley. “I reserve the right to warn her first. I’m going to tell her what I think of Strange, and why.”
“Agreed.”
“I’ll warn her he’s no good, and that if she ever gets him she’ll regret it from the minute they sign up. I’ll rub it in good, with illustrations and a lecture on the side, and give her a day and a night to think it over. After that, if she’s still nuts on him, I’ll tell her I know she’s crazy, and chip in.”
“Satisfactory to me,” said Ommony.
“What’ll I tell her to do, though?”
“Leave that to her. Tell her she can count on me to help her, but on what terms, and say we’ve only got thirty days to win or lose in. Now, let me provide you with money.”
“No. I’ve enough for the present.”
“Have lunch before you go, then. There’s no train till two o’clock.”
“No.