n you. I can go right on into the field and talk
with you there."

"It won't be necessary, sir," Tom answered, with another smile.
"I'm not doing anything in particular."

"Nothing in particular? Why, I thought-----"

"I don't do any tearing around myself," laughed Reade. "Since
you were kind enough to make me acting chief engineer here I've
kept the other fellows driving pretty hard, and I have every bit
of work done right up to the minute. Yet, as for myself, I have
little to do, most of the day, except to sit in a camp easy chair,
or else I ride a bit over the ground and see just where the fellows
are working."

"You take it mighty easily," murmured President Newnham.

"A chief may, if he has the sense to know how to work his
subordinates," Tom continued. "I don't believe, sir, that you'll
find any fault with the way matters have gone forward."

"Let me see the latest reports," urged Mr. Newnham.

"Certainly, sir, if you'll come into the head-quarters tent."

Leading the way into the tent where Harry Hazelton and his draughting
force were at work, Tom announced:

"Gentlemen, Mr. Newnham, president of the S.B. & L., wishes to
look over the reports and the maps with me. You may lay off until
called back to work."

As the others filed out of the tent, Tom made Harry a sign to
remain. Then the three went over the details of what the field
survey party was doing.

"From all I can see," remarked President Newnham, "you have done
wonderfully well, Reade. I can certainly find no fault with Tim
Thurston for recommending that you be placed in charge. Thurston
will certainly be jealous when he gets on his feet again. You
have driven the work ahead in faster time than Thurston himself
was able to do."

"It's very likely, sir," replied Tom Reade, "that I have had an
easier part of the country to work through than Mr. Thurston had.
Then, again, the taking on of the engineer student party from
the State University has enabled us to get ahead with much greater
speed."

"I wonder why Thurston never thought to take on the students,"
murmured Mr. Newnham.

Bang! sounded an explosion, a mile or two to the westward.

"I didn't know that you were doing any blasting, Reade," observed
the president of the S.B. & L.

"Neither did I, sir," Tom replied, rising and listening.

Bang! bang! bang! sounded a series of sharp reports.

Tom ran out into the open Mr. Newnham following at a slower gait.

Bang! bang!