Elfreda wrote down his statement and made Peg swear to it, after Hippy had promised that, in the event of his recovery, there would be no prosecution.
Tatem declared that he had acted wholly under the orders of Hiram Dusenbery, of the Dusenbery Lumber Company; that it was his jacks who had turned the skidway loose on the Overland camp, and that it was Tatem himself, acting under orders, who had dynamited the big pine and tumbled it over on the Overlanders.

He said that Dusenbery and Chet Ainsworth were partners in the business of timber-stealing, and that the dynamiting was Ainsworth's scheme.
"Why did they wish to be rid of us ?" asked Miss Briggs.
"They reckoned they'd spoil yer game.

T'other reason was that they wanted this 'ere section fer themselves." "Good! We will send both to jail," promised Elfreda.

"Now what I wish are the names of witnesses who can verify at least part of your story." After some thought Peg named several lumberjacks, fellows who were still in the employ of the Dusenbery Company.

The Overlanders then ceased their questioning to give Peg a much-needed rest, and left him in the care of two jacks, with the reminder that they would be held fully accountable for the safety and good care of the prisoner.
Willy Horse was started that night for the nearest fire warden's station, there to have the warden telephone for a doctor, and also for the sheriff of the county, as it was thought best to hold Tatem as a material witness.