He did not care much for this
part of his new task. These engineers might be sincere and
competent, but he had been sent on to judge their work, and the
situation was not pleasant. Neale had observed many engineers come
and go during his experience on the road; and that fact, together
with the authority given him and his loyalty to, the chief, gave him
cause for worry. He hoped, and he was ready to believe, that these
engineers had done their best on an extremely knotty problem.
"We got Lodge's telegram last night," said Coffee. "Kinda sudden. It
jarred us."
"No doubt. I'm sorry. What was the message?"
"Lodge never wastes words," replied the engineer, shortly. But he
did not vouchsafe the information for which Neale had asked.
Neale threw his note-book upon the dusty table and, sitting down on
the box, he looked up at the men. Both engineers were studying him
intently, almost eagerly, Neale imagined.
"Number Ten's a tough nut to crack, eh?" he inquired.
"We've been here three months," replied Blake.
"Wait till you see that quicksand hole," added Coffee.
"Quicksand! It was a dry, solid stream-bed when I ran the line
through here and drew the plans for Number Ten," declared Neale.
Coffee and Blake stared blandly at him. So did the lineman Somers.
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