“There must be some mistake,” I said. “It wasn't the Captain who
invented it.”
“Oh, wasn't it?”
“No it wasn't. But the saw was left with him.”
And I told the Lensmand all about it. He went in to fetch the paper, and
we both read what it said: “New Invention.... Our Correspondent on the
spot.... Of great importance to owners of timber lands.... Principle of
the mechanism is as follows:...”
“You don't mean to say it's your invention?”
“Yes, it is.”
“And the Captain is trying to steal it? Why, this'll be a pretty case,
a mighty pretty case. Leave it to me. Did any one see you working on the
thing?”
“Yes, all his people on the place did.”
“Lord save me if it's not the stiffest bit of business I've heard for a
long time. Walk off with another man's invention! And the money, too ...
why, it might bring you in a million!”