same explanation he had furnished Tom.

"How does it seem to be an army officer?" Harry continued.

"I believe it to be the finest career on earth," Prescott answered.
"Still, as you can guess, I'm utterly without experience so far. After a
few days more I shall have my first day as an officer on duty with troops.
But do you and Tom continue to find engineering the grandest career on
earth?"

"We certainly do," affirmed Hazelton.

"It must be very interesting," agreed Dick. "Still, I imagine there is
yet enough of the primitive savage in the average man to make him enjoy a
real fight once in a while. That's an experience you're denied in your
calling, but an army officer may always look forward to the chance of
seeing a little fighting."

Hazelton glanced humorously at his partner before he replied:

"At present there's a very good chance of a fight right here at this camp."

"So?" Dick Prescott asked, sitting up with a look of interest.

"Not so much chance as there was," said Tom gravely. "The fight came off
to-night. Harry, I met the big black---caught him redhanded."

"You did?" cried Hazelton, leaping up. "And you never called me?"

"There wasn't any chance," Tom assured him. "The meeting and the fight
didn't take place on this porch."

Tom now had two very interested auditors. For Prescott's benefit Reade
first sketched a brief outline of the troubles that had led up to the
present, including an account of the wrecking of substantial portions of
the retaining wall. Then he came down to the events of the night.

"Oh, and I had to miss it," sighed Harry, disappointedly. "I'd have missed
a week of sleep just to have been in to-night's doings. And, if I had been
with you, Tom, we'd now have Mr. Sambo Ebony in jail."

"I think we've blocked the black rascal's game on the wall, anyway," said
Tom.

"There's just a fair chance that you haven't yet blocked it," remarked the
young army officer thoughtfully. "Of course this Sambo of yours merely
represents a well-organized gang. This gang may have more ways than one
of damaging the property of the Melliston Company. From all I can see, Tom
and Harry, you're likely to need to be more vigilant than ever. Whew! But
I'm glad that I can be with you a few days. I'm likely to come in for a
choice lot of excitement. Also, I may very likely be able to help out a
lot."

"We wouldn't put you to that trouble, Dick," protested Tom. "You're to be
our gu