"Orders may come any minute," said Toomey, looking anxiously over his
shoulder. "We'll have to pull out and go ahead. You couldn't--stay here
at Argenta, could you?"

"I may _have_ to. Here's Cullin now."

"But no orders," said Toomey, with a gasp of relief, for from far over
the tracks, catching sight of his watchful engineer, Cullin had waved
his hand, palm towards them, twice to and fro, a gesture so like the
Indian sign "No go" that Geordie knew its meaning at a glance. Silently
they awaited his coming and listened, breathless, for his tidings when
he came.

"What's the row about?" asked Ben, as Cullin reached them, breathing
hard.

"Why, about their boss, it seems. The company gave him the bounce
yesterday, and ordered him off the premises. He demanded fair play and
a hearing, and then young Breifogle, who had gone up with the order for
his discharge, began abusing him. Nolan--that's the man's name--called
him down, and then Breifogle broke loose and cursed him, called him
traitor and all manner of names, and ordered some of his men to throw
him out. They did it, too, and brought on a fight. Breifogle and his
friends were armed and the men were not. They shot two miners, arrested
the 'ringleaders,' as they called 'em, and locked 'em up. Then the men
quit the mine and laid for Breifogle when he tried to get out. He hired
a rig and drove t'other way, out to Miners' Joy, slid out on the Narrow
Gauge last night, and there was a dozen of 'em headed him off down at
the Junction. Nolan and his crowd had come down here to see the
directors and get their rights. Of course some of them did it, and
there you are!"

"Where's Nolan now?" asked Toomey.

"Where _is_ he? Over at the company's office waiting for the directors,
when he ought to be making tracks for Mexico."

Graham's heart had been beating harder with every word. It bounded with
wrath as he listened to this, yet listened in silence and stern
self-control. But Toomey got a dig in the ribs that plainly said, "Make
him say why."

"'Twouldn't be like Long Nolan to be skipping when he's needed by his
friends," growled Toomey. "He's no quitter, if he _was_ at Powder
River," whereby it was Cullin's turn to get a dig, and little did he
relish it.

"That's another I owe you, Toomey," said he, "and we'll settle it
by-and-by. Just now I'm thinking for your friend, if you are not. I
knew him before ever you did, and would go ten miles to your one to
help him. What