... Find a way or make one for horses to snake down these
timbers. Haul that pile-driver down to the river and set it up. ...
Have the engineer start up steam and try out. ... Look the
blacksmith shop over to see if there's iron enough. If not,
telegraph Benton for more--for whatever you want--and send wagons
back to the end of the rails. ... That's all for this time,
Colohan."
"All right, chief," replied the boss, and he saluted. Then he turned
sneeringly to Blake and Coffee. "Did you hear them orders? I'm not
takin' none from you again. They're from the chief."
Colohan's manner or tone or the word chief amazed Coffee. He looked
nasty.
"Go on and work, then, you big Irish Paddy," he said, violently.
"Your chief-blarney doesn't fool us. You're only working to get on
the right side of your new boss. ... Let me tell you--you're in this
Number Ten deal as deep--as deep as we are."
It had developed that there was hatred between these men. Colohan's
face turned fiery red, and, looming over Coffee, he looked the
quick-tempered and dangerous nature of his class. "Coffee, I'm
sayin' this to your face right now. I ain't deep in this Number Ten
deal. ... I obeyed orders--an' damn strange ones, some of them."
Neale intervened and perhaps prevented a clash.
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