ut my real task would have been easy if I had been here
on deck, and had got Thurston to turn matters over to me. Reade
will be easy! He's only a cub---a booby. Even if he proved
shrewd---well, I have at my disposal several ways of getting rid
of him!"

Then, aloud, Black went on:

"Reade, I'm a candidate for the post of acting assistant chief
engineer."

"That goes to Rutter, if he'll take it," replied Tom, with a smile.

"Oh, I'll take it," nodded Jack Rutter. "I can follow orders, when
I have someone else to give them."

Tom was intentionally pleasant with 'Gene Black. He intended
to remain pleasant---until he was quite ready to act.

Immediately after supper Tom ordered one of the chainmen to saddle
a pony and be ready to take a message back to the telegraph service
that was rapidly overtaking them.

"I want you to be sure to get a receipt for the message from the
operator," Tom explained. "Direct the operator to get the message
through to New York at once."

"What's the use?" demanded the chainman. "It's night in New York,
the same as it is here. If the message goes through at any time
tonight it will do."

"I didn't ask you that," Tom replied quietly. "I told you to
instruct the operator, from me, to send the message at once.
Then, if there is any delay on the way, the message will still
be in New York in the morning when the company's offices open."

Then Tom Reade went to the new headquarters' tent, seated himself
at the desk and picked up a pen.

"Whew!" he muttered suddenly. "This message is going to be harder
to write than I thought! When the president of the S.B. & L. gets
my telegram, informing him that a cub is in command here, he'll blow
up! If he recovers he'll wire me that he's sending a grown man for
the job!"

CHAPTER XIII

BLACK TURNS OTHER COLORS

Through the night Tom Reade managed to get some sound sleep.

Had he been less exhausted physically the excitement caused by
his sudden and dizzying promotion might have interfered with his
rest. As it was, he slept like a log, though, by his own orders,
he was called twice in the night to be informed as to the condition
of the two sick men.

In the morning a male nurse for whom Dr. Gitney had arranged arrived
in camp. Thereafter the physician had a little opportunity for rest.

Mr. Thurston reached the delirium stage in his illness that forenoon.

"Reade, I don't feel like going out this morning," announced '