it will be very ordinary compensation, and nothing but our desire
to learn more about mining will tempt us to go into it at the figure
we have named."

"Your price puts your services out of the question for my company,"
replied Mr. Dunlop, with a shake of his head.

"Very good, sir," Tom rejoined pleasantly. "No harm done, and
we need not talk it over any more. We wish you good luck in finding
proper engineers for your work. You will probably motor back to
Dugout tomorrow morning, won't you?"

"We'll have to," Mr. Dunlop answered. "We're not safe here until
we hire a few good men to come out here to keep Gage and his fellows
at a distance."

"That's true, sir," Tom nodded. "As you'll need a good many men
here by the time you start work on your mine you'll do well to
bring at least a score of them down at once. Twenty good, rough
men, used to this life and not afraid of bullets, ought to make
you feel wholly safe and secure on your own property."

There was more talk, but neither Tom nor Harry again referred
to their serving the new company as engineers.

In due course of time Jim Ferrers, with such help as Alf was able
to give, had supper ready to serve. It was a rough meal, of hard
tack, pilot bread, potatoes, canned meats and vegetables, but
outdoor life had given all a good appetite and the meal did not
long remain on the camp table.

For guard duty that night it was arranged that Jim Ferrers and
Joe Timmins should relieve each other. Tom also offered to stay
up with Ferrers, Harry taking the watch trick with Timmins, though
neither of the young engineers was armed or cared to be.

Harry and Timmins were to take the first watch. The others retired
early. Tom Reade was about to begin undressing when Hazelton came
in for a moment.

While the chums were chatting, Alf Drew's forlorn figure showed
at the doorway of the tent.

"Say, boss," complained Alf, "I haven't any place to sleep."

"What?" Reade demanded in pretended surprise, "with nearly all
the ground in Nevada at your disposal?"

"But that isn't a bed," contended Alf.

"Right you are there, lad" agreed Tom.

"Now, see here, boss, only one of you two is going to sleep at a
time tonight. I'm tired---I ache. Why can't I sleep on the other
cot in this tent?"

"Come here," ordered Tom.

Alf wonderingly advanced.

Whiff! whiff! moved the young engineer's nostrils.

"Just as I thought," sighed Reade. "You've been smoking cigarette