ou may want to stroll
about the country a bit, and see the odd bits of natural beauty
in these mountains, before you give too serious thought to work."

"But that is not our way, Don Luis," Tom objected. "When we are
paid a thousand dollars a month apiece we expect to do an honest
day's work six days in every week."

"Ah, then, to-morrow, perhaps we will talk about the work. And
now, if you will pardon me, I will go inside for a few minutes
in order to see about some business matters."

Readers of the "_Grammar School Boys Series_," the "_High School
Boys Series_" and of the preceding volumes in the present series,
will feel that they are already intimately acquainted with Tom
Reade and Harry Hazelton, a pair of young civil engineers who,
through sheer grit, persistence and hard study had already made
themselves well known in their profession.

In the first volume of the "_Grammar School Boys Series_," Dick
Prescott and his five boy chums, Greg Holmes, Dave Darrin, Dan
Dalzell, Tom Reade and Harry Hazelton, were introduced under the
name of Dick & Co. These six chums, standing shoulder to shoulder,
made a famous sextette in school athletics. Their start was made
during their grammar school days, when they had many adventures
and did much in the field of junior sport. Their high school
life, as set forth in the series of that name, was one of athletics,
mixed with much study and efforts to find their true paths in
life. In high school athletics the members of Dick & Co. won
a statewide reputation, as to-day members of winning high school
athletic teams are bound to do. It was during their high school
days that Dick & Co. determined on their professions through life.
Dick Prescott and Greg Holmes both secured competitive appointments
to the United States Military Academy, and their further doings
are set forth in the "_West Point Series_." Dave Darrin and Dalzell,
with a burning desire for naval life, obtained appointments to
the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. What befell them
is fully told in the "_Annapolis Series_." As for Tom Reade and
Harry Hazelton, while still in high school they became seized
with a strong desire for careers as civil engineers. They were
fortunate enough to secure their first practice and training in
a local engineering office in the home town of Gridley. Then,
with vastly more courage than training, Tom and Harry went forth
into the world to stand or fall as engineers.