unwilling as was Bob that the work should be done in any way which could
be called illegal. "Bob can go to the torpedo people, pay them for the
charge, get the cartridges and glycerine, with the express understanding
that he is to do the work himself. That would make matters right all
around, and you can fancy that you are moonlighting again."

It was a happy thought, this one of George's, and every one present,
even including Mr. Simpson, hailed it with joy. It was an arrangement
which would please all of them very much better than to have any
strangers doing the work, and Bob would have started at once to attend
to it, if Ralph had not stopped him by telling him of the examination
which he would be obliged to attend next day.

"Since you will be obliged to go with us, you had better wait until
to-morrow. You can have the tubing started on the road at the same time,
and on the next day we can shoot the well," suggested George.

Bob was not at all inclined to wait forty-eight hours when half that
time would suffice to decide whether "The Harnett" was a wonderful
success or a dismal failure; but since he would be obliged to be present
at the examination, which would occupy a portion of the day, he tried to
content himself as best he could.

The remainder of that day was spent in discussing plans for the future,
Bob entering into a profound calculation of the amount of material they
would need to build a tank, for he was so certain they would strike oil,
that he would have had no hesitation in beginning work on the tank even
before the well was opened.

On the following morning, George was feeling so well and looking so
bright that there could no longer be any fear he had over-exerted
himself the day before, and preparations were begun at once for the ride
into town.

Ralph and George were to drive in with the latter's team, while the old
firm of moonlighters, with Mr. Simpson, were to go in Bob's
double-seated wagon. Everything was taken which it was thought the
invalid might need, and the party started, all of them wishing the
journey had some other motive than that of assuring punishment to
others, even though they were guilty.

On arriving in town, they were met by the officer whom they had spoken
with the day before, and he told them, after they had found a
comfortable seat in the court-room, of all that had been learned of the
prisoners.

Their names were William Dean and Henry Ramsdell, and they had worke