when he told me what you wanted 'em
for, I decided to come down, too. You did me a good turn in finding the
Big Reuben for me--and 'big' is the word for it, Phil, I can tell
you--and so I thought I couldn't do less than come down here for a day
or two and give you a hand. It's probable I can help you a good bit
with your trench-cutting."

"There's no doubt about that, Tom," I replied. "We shall be mighty glad
of your help. You can give us a starter, anyhow. But you, Peter, we
couldn't think what had become of you. Don't you think it was a bit
risky to go galloping about the country with that game leg of yours?"

"I couldn't very well go without it," replied our guest, laughing. "No,
I don't think so," he added, more seriously. "It was easy enough, all
except the mounting and dismounting. In fact, Phil, I'm so nearly all
right again that I should have no excuse to be hanging around here any
longer if it were not that I can be of use to you by taking all the
chores off your hands, thus leaving you and Joe free to get about your
work in the crater."

"That will be a great help," I replied. "Though as to letting you go,
Peter, we don't intend to do that, at least till my father and mother
get home."

"When _do_ they get home?" asked Tom. "Have you heard from them since
they left?"

"Why!" I cried, suddenly remembering the letter Yetmore had brought up
from San Remo the previous evening. "I have a letter from my father in
my pocket now. I'd forgotten all about it."

Quickly tearing it open, I read it through. It was very short, being
written mainly with the object of informing me that he was delayed and
would not be home until the afternoon of the following Wednesday. This
was Friday.

"Joe!" I shouted; and Joe, who was in the stable, came running at the
call. "Joe," I cried, "we have till Wednesday afternoon to turn that
stream. Four full days. Tom is going to help us. Peter will take the
chores. Can we make it?"

"Good!" cried Joe. "Great! Make it? I should think so. We'll do it if we
have to work night and day. My! But this is fine!"

He rubbed his hands in anticipation of the task ahead of him. I never
did know a fellow who took such delight in tackling a job which had
every appearance of being just a little too big for him.

We did not waste any time, you may be sure. Having picked out the
necessary tools, we went off at once, taking our dinners with us, and
arriving at the foot of the "bubble," we carried