"Why?" asked Prenter, opening his eyes wider.

"Because he has raised the mischief on this breakwater job. He has all
the men by their ears, and the camp in open mutiny."

"So?" asked Mr. Prenter, looking astonished.

"Exactly, and therefore I have called upon the young man to resign."

"And he refuses?" queried the treasurer. "Most astounding obstinacy on the
part of so young a man when dealing with his elder."

"I'll try to explain to you, Mr. Prenter," volunteered Reade, "just what
I've been trying to tell Mr. Bascomb."

"I don't know that I need trouble you," replied Mr. Prenter, moving so that
he stood more behind the irate president. "I overheard what you were
telling him."

Then the treasurer did a most unexpected thing. He winked broadly at the
young engineer.

"Yes, Prenter," Mr. Bascomb went on, "this camp is in a state of mutiny.
The men are all at odds with their chief."

"Strange," murmured the treasurer of the Melliston Company. "When I paused
on the porch, before entering, I thought I caught sight of unusual
activity down at the water front. Did you notice it, too, Bascomb?"

"I noticed nothing of the sort," replied the president stiffly. "Am I to
infer, Prenter, that you are going to follow your occasional tactics and
try to laugh me out of my decision as president of the company?"

"Oh, nothing of the sort, I assure you," hastily protested the treasurer.
But he found chance to drive another wink Tom Reade's way. The young chief
engineer could not but feel that an ally had suddenly come his way.

"Now, what is the nature and extent of the mutiny?" asked Mr. Prenter.

"First of all, eight thousand dollars' damage has been done to the
retaining wall of the breakwater," replied Mr. Bascomb. "That is,
according to Mr. Reade's figures, which very likely may prove to be too
low. Also, Mr. Hazelton has been murdered."

"Hazelton---killed?" gasped Mr. Prenter showing genuine concern. "Of
course I know that the telegram to the office said that Hazelton was
missing, but I didn't suppose it was anything as tragic as a killing."

"Well, Hazelton can't be found, so I haven't a doubt he was killed as part
of a general plan of mutiny and revenge on the part of the mixed crews of
men working here," declared Mr. Bascomb.

"Oh, I sincerely hope that Hazelton hasn't lost his life here!" cried Mr.
Prenter. "Reade, aren't you going to take us down to the water front and
show us the extent of the