after stating the case: The defendant demurred to the complaint ore tenus, because, under the contract, the damages, if any, should have been arbitrated; but 'a demurrer admits all facts well pleaded, and in this complaint it is alleged how much timber was cut and the value thereof, and as this is admitted by the demurrer, there was no dispute at that stage of the ease, or no disagreement, as to the amount of recovery, if there was any liability of defendant for the lumber; so that arbitration was necessary, as it was conditional upon a dispute as to the amount. This defense, if available at all, should have been set up in the answer, and a proper issue submitted as to it; but this was not done. Besides, there appears to be no practical difference between the parties as to the amount of timber cut by defendant, and in this respect the case has been tried upon its real merits.
The motion to nonsuit was properly overruled, as the plaintiffs were, upon the evidence, if believed, entitled to recover something, and the court, in its charge, states that the defendant admitted that after making the proper estimates of the timber which was cut and deducting the credit, or $395, they are liable for $235.74. If the plaintiffs were entitled to recover any amount, there should not have been a nonsuit, which is the correct judgment only where they are not entitled to anything. But there was evidence for the jury to consider, apart from the admission, and for this reason an involuntary nonsuit would have been erroneous.
There was sufficient evidence of the execution of the contract. Besides, the land belonged to the plaintiffs, and the timber was cut therefrom by the defendant, with plaintiffs’ permission, for a stipulated price per thousand feet. There was no dispute as to the price, or value *545of tbe timber, or its reasonableness. Under these circumstances defendant would be liable to the plaintiffs for the value of the timber which was cut from the land, upon a quasi or implied assumpsit to pay what the timber was reasonably worth, he having received the benefit of the transaction and retained the same. Clark on Contracts (2 Ed.), p. 551. Keener on Quasi Contracts says, at page 24: “When it is for any reason conceded — e. g., illegality, the statute of frauds, impossibility of performance — that a defendant is not liable to a. plaintiff for a failure to perform a contract made with the plaintiff, and yet it is held that he is liable in assumpsit, or other contractual remedy, for benefits conferred by the plaintiff under the contract, such liability is necessarily quasi-contraetual, and rests on the doctrine of unjust enrichment. Of this character also is the liability of a defendant for benefits received which, though requested by him, were not conferred under a contract, because of some misunderstanding of the parties, or other reason, pre-preventing the. creation of a contract.” Eut we need not further consider this feature of the case, as we hold that there was evidence of the contract under which defendant cut the timber. The other objections of the appellant, except one, are overruled, as they do not relate to any material question; and are of no practical importance.
The real controversy between the parties relates to the liability of the defendant for the uncut timber, and the defendant’s exception, as to this charge, is sustained. The contract does not require the defendant to cut all the. timber or any designated part thereof.' It amounts to no more than the grant of a right or privilege to cut timber on the land within the period specified, and to pay only for the timber so cut at a given price per thousand feet. It does not provide for the payment of any sum except the price of the timber which is cut under it. The timber left standing at the end of the time limited for cutting belonged to the plaintiff; and if he conveyed the land, it passed to his grantee. Hornthal v. Howcutt, 154 N. C., 228; Midyette v. Grubbs, 145 N. C. at p. 90; Bunch v. Lumber Co., 184 N. C., 116; Hawkins v. Lumber Co., 189 N. C., 160. The vendor could not enlarge his vendee’s liability by conveying the land, upon which the timber stood, to another. The contract was that for as much timber as the vendee should cut on the land he would pay to the vendor so much per thousand trees, and no more. We cannot perceive upon what sound reason can be based any claim of damages for the uncut timber. The timber left uncut at the expiration of the fixed period does not belong to the vendee, and he has no interest therein, the same having determined when his time for cutting was out. It then became the property of the vendor, or of his assignee if he has conveyed the land. McIntyre v. Barnard, 1 *546Sandford’s Oh., 52; Strasson v. Montgomery, 32 Wis., 52; Young v. Lego, 36 id., 394; Kemble v. Dresser, 42 Mass. (1 Metc.), 271. Tbe plaintiff must abide by tbe fair and reasonable construction of bis own contract and tbe only one tbat can be put upon tbe terms cbosen by them to express it. We must ascertain tbe intention of tbe parties by a natural, not forced, interpretation of all tbe provisions of tbe writing, so tbat tbe entire instrument will be kept in view, and every part be allowed its proper weight in reaching a conclusion as to tbe meaning. “If'a plaintiff sue on a written or special contract, so as to make it the basis of bis action, it must regulate bis right to recover as well as tbe amount.” Bush v. Chapman, 2 Green (Ia.), 661; Engine Co. v. Paschal, 151 N. C., 27; 8 A. and E. Enc., 636. “If a contract is expressed in plain - and unambiguous language, neither courts nor juries may disregard it and by construction or otherwise substitute a new contract in the place of tbat deliberately made by tbe parties.” Engine Co. v. Paschal, supra; 7 A. and E. Enc., 118; Dwight v. Ins. Co., 103 N. Y., 347. It was said in Wiley v. Lumber Co., 156 N. C., 210, applying tbe above stated rule: “When one has bought and paid for a lot- of growing timber and -the same has been conveyed to him with tbe privilege of removal within a given time, tbe contract as to tbe removal is so far unilateral tbat tbe purchaser is not obliged to cut and remove tbe timber. If be fails to do so within tbe time, bis right or estate therein is forfeited and inures as a rule to tbe owner of tbe land- We have so held in two cases at tbe last term. Hornthal v. Howcutt, 154 N. C., 228; Bateman v. Lumber Co., 154 N. C., 248.” This case differs from Wiley v. Lumber Co., because there tbe stipulation was tbat tbe plaintiff would cut, and deliver at log-bed of defendant’s tramroad, all tbe timber on tbe land, a part of which tbe latter refused to receive, although the plaintiff was ready, willing, and able to deliver it.
It follows, therefore, tbat the' item of $475 included in tbe recovery for tbe uncut timber should be stricken out, and tbat plaintiff is entitled only to tbe balance, with costs, and it is so adjudged.
Error.