Tom and Harry followed the assistant engineer out into the open.

"Can you tell us now, Mr. Blaisdell, what we're to do today?"
Reade inquired eagerly.

"See those transits?" inquired Blaisdell, pointing to two of the
telescoped and compassed instruments used by surveyors in running
courses. "One for each of you. Take your choice. You'll go
out today under charge of Jack Rutter. Of course it will be a
little bit slow to you the first two or three days, but between
you, I hope to see you do more than Rutter could do alone. You'll
each have two chainmen. Rutter will give you blank form books
for your field notes. He'll work back and forth between the two
of you, seeing that you each do your work right. Boys, don't
make any mistakes today, will you, So much depends, you know,
upon the way you start in at a new job."

"We'll do the best that's in us," breathed Tom ardently.

"Engineer Rutter," called Blaisdell, "your two assistants are
ready. Get your two sets of chainmen and make a flying start."

Animated by the spirit of activity that pervaded the camp, Tom
and Harry ran to select their instruments, while Rutter hastened
after his chainmen.

Bad Pete had not appeared at either mess this morning. He had
small need to, for, in the still watches of the night, he had
burglarized the cook's stores so successfully that not even that