We are the fellows that put out the fire, or there would be nothing left of a good part of that section except blackened stumps and dead tree toads." "Seeing as ye admit it, that's all right." Hippy nodded.

Grace and Elfreda had stepped up, just to the rear of Hippy, that they might miss nothing of what was being said.

The second deputy kept a watchful eye on them, presumably to see that they played no tricks on his companion.
"The owner of that section, Hi Dusenbery, reckons as ye've got to pay fer the loss of the timber ye burned, and I'm here, fer one thing, to serve the papers on ye in the suit.

Do ye accept service ?" Hippy reached for the papers that the deputy held out, and, without looking at them, tore them and dropped the fragments on the ground.
"You shouldn't have done that," rebuked Miss Briggs.

"Grace, help me gather up the pieces.