observations between the wife of a big axeman and Mrs. Forel. All of
those present knew that events of great importance to them were
happening in the city, but save for a brief telegram from Alton stating
that he had been allowed to record the mine and would return in a day
or two they had no authentic news.

It was almost a relief when the meal was over, and there was a sudden
hush of attention as the surveyor rose up. Every eye was turned upon
the grave-faced gentleman at the head of the table.

"I have spent a good many years building roads and bridges in various
parts of the Dominion, and have never seen better work than you have
shown me to-day," he said. "Now I don't quite know if you expected me
to talk business on this occasion, but I'm going out early to-morrow,
and I fancy your good ladies are as anxious as you are about the
welfare of Somasco."

A woman with hard brown hands turned in her chair.

"Oh, yes," she said. "We are that, anyway, and because we're most of
us working twelve hours every day just for the right to live, we've
sent out our men to make the roads that are to bring the dollars that
will make things easier in. The Government don't help us, we're doing
the work ourselves, and we'll go out, too, with the drill and shovel if
the men are beaten."

There was a deprecatory murmur that had yet in it grim approval, and
the surveyor smiled a little.

"That, I think, is the spirit which is going to make this province the
greatest in the Dominion," he said. "Well, I may tell you that I was
sent up here with a tolerably wide discretion, and after seeing the
rock cutting by the lake I'm going to use it now. Nothing better has
been done in the province, and the man who planned it for you had
courage as well as genius. It is a most daring and successful piece of
engineering."

A little flush crept into the bronzed faces, and Mrs. Forel noticed the
brightness in Alice Deringham's eyes, for the man who had spoken was a
famous engineer.

"Well," he said gravely, "we are going to take over that road--as from
the beginning--and finish it for you. That is, you will be paid by the
province for every day you spent upon it, and I leave it to the man who
commenced it to see the work through. His pay orders will be honoured,
and I should very much like to see and compliment him."

A murmur ran along the table, for the Government pay is good and a
road-making grant a coveted boon in each lonely val