g?"

"Mr. Blaisdell, I'll answer you by saying, sir, that though Hazelton
and I are nothing but cubs, we have the success of this railroad
building game at heart. We're deeply in earnest. We'll work
ourselves to our very bones in order to see this road get through
in time. I don't ask you, sir, to take our word about these sights,
but we both beg you, sir, to go out with a gang of men and go
over some of the work yourself. Keep on surveying, sir, until
you're satisfied that Black is wrong and that Hazelton and I are
right. You know what it would mean, sir, if we're right and you
don't find it out in time. Then you simply couldn't get the cut
through Section Nineteen in time and the S.B. & L. would lose
its charter."

"By Jove, you're right," muttered Blaisdell uneasily, as he slowly
stood up. "Reade, I'm going to take men and go out, carrying
your notes and Black's. Let me warn you, however, that if I find
that Black is right and you're wrong, then it will give you two
cubs such a black eye that the chief will run you out of camp."

"If we had made any such gigantic blunder as that," returned Tom
firmly, "then we'd deserve to be run out. We wouldn't have the
nerve to put in another night in camp."

"Hey, you, don't unsaddle those ponies. Hold yourselves ready
to go out," called Blaisdell from the doorway of the tent.

"Will you give us our orders on drawing before you go, sir?" asked
Reade.

"No," smiled Blaisdell. "If you've made a blunder out on Nineteen,
then you're not to be trusted with drawing. Wait until I return.
Take it easy until then."

"Very good."

"And---Reade!"

"Yes, sir."

"Neither you nor Hazelton are to let a word cross your lips regarding
the disagreement over Section Nineteen."

"You'll never have any trouble, sir, over our talking when we ought
not to do it," promised Reade.

Two minutes later the assistant engineer rode out with a pair of
rodmen whom he picked up on the way to Nineteen.

"What happened?" asked Harry, coming into the big tent.

Tom told him all that had taken place, adding the caution that
nothing was to be said about the matter for the present.

"Whew! I wish Mr. Blaisdell had let me go along," murmured Hazelton.
"I'd like to have seen his face when he finds out!"

Hearing footsteps approaching outside, Reade signaled for silence.
Then the flap of the tent was pulled back and Bad Pete glanced in.

"Howdy, pardners?" was the greeting from the ba