The Young Engineers in Nevada; Or, Seeking Fortune on the Turn of a Pick

it could do any harm,

lted only in our being ambushed and all but murdered. N

e the tents gone?" He answered so

Reade, releasing his g

ends, we'll h

asked Alf, running after the party w

ind our camp stuff," Tom ca

ou," propose

f helpfulness,

the last rapidly striding man. Joe Timmins was the only one absent, he ha

s trained eyes searching the gr

ents and the food supplies, all of which had

posed. "Alf, little hero, redeem yourself by buckling

alf hope that he would not be discha

been taken back and the camp looked a

u hustle over and break your back helping Mr. Ferrers

e camp had been overlooked. While Tom and Harry led their guests into one of the tent

t in the fire!" sounded the angry voice of Ferrers. "You c

st have been trying to use his new

l, Joe Timmins had taken the guide's rifle and was keepin

ld serve me satisfactorily as e

could," To

rather large notion as to the pay you'

t City next you might wire the president of the S.B. & L. railroad, at Denver, or the president of the A.G.

ill you you

during which Harry Hazelton was silent, "we shall want six hundred dollars

risk?" questio

nd his crowd to guard against, wo

is absurd!"

e very ordinary compensation, and nothing but our desire to learn more

the question for my company," replie

lk it over any more. We wish you good luck in finding proper engineers for y

safe here until we hire a few good men to come ou

mine you'll do well to bring at least a score of them down at once. Twenty good, rough men, used to th

nor Harry again referred to their s

serve. It was a rough meal, of hard tack, pilot bread, potatoes, canned meats and vegetables, b

elieve each other. Tom also offered to stay up with Ferrers, Harry taking the watch

he others retired early. Tom Reade was about to b

Alf Drew's forlorn figure sho

ned Alf, "I haven't

d surprise, "with nearly all the g

n't a bed,"

re there, la

g to sleep at a time tonight. I'm tired--I ache.

re," ord

eringly

ved the young en

"You've been smoking cigarettes wit

ave ter,"

ittle matter of cleanliness. If you were to sleep on his cot the smell of cigarettes would be so

w how dead, dog-tire

"If I can't stand the cot when I come to use it, then it won't be

you as nervous as a lunatic. If you have any bad dreams tonight, and be

am. I'm not nervous now. It's only when

rning to his chum. "The lad and I took a walk. At every othe

stoutly. "You know I did. You

ingle rattler," To

e fellow go to bed i

ht," Tom

the cot, to turn the bla

ick! came the

terror Alf Dr

er," he screamed. "It'

retorted. "There isn't a r

tle, Mr. Reade?" waile

I did

ou, Mr. H

" but Tom caught his eyes, and Harry, kno

be deaf, then

ette," said Tom, grinning good-humoredly, "I'll sho

he blanket, stripping it from the cot. Th

e," Tom explained. "Alf, do you see how cigar

was right, Alf advanced toward the

k! sounded c

in Nevada," cried Drew, turning and fleeing into flee open. The t

at rattling?" querie

Tom admitte

to tease the

ke the lad afraid to smoke cigarettes. If young Drew goes on smoking the mi

trick, anyway?" ask

d like the click of

ost as badly as poor Alf wa

some time," no

to be content, and so must

e rear of the automobile, curled himself on the ground under a tree and fitfully wooed sleep. By daylight the little fellow was fretfully awake, his "nerves"

n of the four intrud

fely through to Dugout City thi

enough," remarked Ferrers, who hovered close a

Gage will try to at

errers. "You're obeying him by

ons will settle down on the claim a

s, "your course is easy. If you have the legal right to the claim

an eye over the claim while

made reply. "Besides, Mr. Dunlop, I'm not at a

her you and your partner are to be o

om. "On the other hand, you

the matter open

ardly good busin

se I had e

ing back to Dugo

, Re

whether you are financially responsible. We wouldn't take

rp one," laug

ngaging the two young engineers, a fa

breakfast the Dunlop

ith only hi

ry, "is a pair of mining engineers

more than he has t

y want to wor

Tom's answer. "Harry, we're in the very heart of the go

s, "I believe you two are the original pair with long head

d up Alf Drew u

t that instant engaged in rolli

ick-ic

again!" sh

ll from his fingers