The troops and horses and
camps and trails--the Indian country with its threats from out of
the air--the wild places with their deer, buffalo, panthers,
trappers like Slingerland, scouts, and desperadoes. It began to get
such a hold on me that I was wild. That might have been bad for me
but for my work. I did well. Allie, I ran lines for the U. P. that
no other engineer could run."
Neale paused, as much from the squeeze Allie suddenly gave him as
for an instant's rest to catch his breath.
"I mean I had the nerve to tackle cliffs and dangerous slopes," he
went on. Then he told how Larry Red King had saved his life, and
that recollection brought back his service to the cowboy; then
naturally followed the two dominating incidents of the summer.
Allie lifted a blanched face and darkening eyes. "Neale! You were in
danger."
"Oh, not much, I guess. But Red thought so."
"He saved you again! ... I--I'll never forget that."
"Anyway, we're square, for he'd have got shot sure the day the
Indian sneaked up on him." Allie shuddered and shrank back to Neale,
while he hastily resumed his story. "We're great pards now, Red and
I. He doesn't say much, but his acts tell. He will not let me alone.
He follows me everywhere. It's a joke among the men.... Well Allie,
it seems unbelievable that we have crossed the mountains and the
desert--grade ninety feet to the mile! The railroad can and will be
built.
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