an angry look advanced along the line.

"Why don't you warn folks before you shoot off your rocks?" he asked.

"My partner whistled," Charnock answered. "What's the matter, anyhow?
Did the shot jar your nerves?"

"A rock a foot across mighty near jarred my head! A smaller piece got me
plumb on the ribs."

Festing thought this unlikely, in view of the fellow's distance from the
explosion, but could not be certain he was not struck.

"I'm sorry if you got hurt," he said. "You ought to have heard the
whistle."

"Anyhow, I didn't. You want to stop shooting rocks when there are men
around. Then you've mussed up the track and can't put her straight. Why
don't you hire more boys and rush the job? Can't see why the bosses let
two deadbeats like you and your partner have the contract!"

"We have got it. How we mean to carry it out is our business, not
yours."

"Then it's certainly our business if we work or not," the other
rejoined. "As the bosses will find out if they reckon we're going to
lose our time to help you save your dollars!"

He went away grumbling, and Charnock looked at Festing.

"Was that bluff? Do you think he means it?"

"I don't know. They haven't lost much time through our fault, but the
frost has interfered with other jobs, and I expect there'll be trouble
if it lasts. I'm puzzled, because they're not a bad-tempered lot, and I
understand that Wilkinson is not a favorite. Your throwing him down the
bank wouldn't strengthen his influence."

"It's easy to work on men's feelings when they're discontented,"
Charnock replied. "The worst is that Kerr can't stand by us if the gang
put down their tools. Labor's scarce in the mountains, and he'll be
forced to do what they want."

Festing gloomily agreed. "I'm afraid so. However, we must do the best we
can in the time we have left."

They worked by a blast-lamp until late at night and began again before
daybreak in the morning. The weakened frame had been replaced, but
others needed strengthening and the rockwork must be built up among the
timbers. The stones required careful fitting, and it was impossible to
dress them to rough shape. The frozen surface resisted the tool and
they broke if much force was used. Fires were made, but the rock thawed
irregularly and much time was lost.

Festing's bruised hand gave him trouble, his mittens wore to rags,
and his numbed fingers cracked and bled, but he worked savagely until
evening. Then he walked stiffly to