t metal stake that displayed the red marker. Tom still
remained at the transit, motioning to the men whenever they got
the least out of a true straight line to the rodman. It was not
hard work for Reade at this point, but it required his closest
attention.

After some time had passed the chainmen had "chained" the whole
distance between Tom's stake and the rod resting on the next stake.
Now the rodman, after making a close measurement, signaled back.
Nine downward sweeps of his right arm signified nine chains;
next the movements of his arm signaled the forty-four links of
a tenth chain. Then seven movements of the left hand across in
front of the eyes, and Reade knew that stood for seven-tenths
of a link. Hence on the page of his field note book Tom wrote
the distance between the stakes as nine chains and forty-four
and seven-tenths links.

"That's good," nodded Rutter, who had been watching every move
closely. The forty-four signaled by the rodman's left arm, instead
of being made up of forty-four downward strokes, had consisted
of four such strokes, followed by a pause, and then four more
strokes.

"I'll go along and see you get the course and distance to the
third rod," said Rutter.

This course and distance, too, in time, had been measured and
carefully noted by Reade.

"You'll get along all right, if you pay strict attention and don't
become confused or careless," nodded Jack Rutter. "Now, I'll
write 'Reade' on this starting stake of yours, and I'll write
Hazelton on your friend's starting stake. After you've surveyed
to Hazelton's starting stake let your rodman bring you forward
until you overhaul me."

"Very good, sir," nodded Tom coolly.

Rutter and Harry moved along the trail, leaving Tom with his own
"gang."

"Nothing very mentally wearing in this job," reflected Tom, when
he found himself left to his own resources. "All a fellow has
to do is to keep his head clear, be faithful and exactly honest
with his work, and move with all the speed that good, straight
work will allow."

So Reade moved ahead, getting courses and distances to five more
stakes. Then, as he reached the sixth, he gazed ahead and smiled.
A mountain pond lay right in his straight path to the seventh stake.

"Can that pond be easily forded?" Reade asked the nearer chainman.

"No, sir; it's about ten feet deep in the centre."

Tom smiled grimly to himself.

"Rutter didn't say anything about this to me," Tom muttered