de must have made you trouble and no doubt the fire cost you
something. Running a camp is expensive when transport's high."

"That is so," Carrie agreed feelingly. "It's curious, but I think the
boys eat most when they have nothing to do."

The surveyor gave her a sympathetic smile. "I imagine you don't stint
them, if this supper is a good example." He turned to Jim. "You're
behind schedule, but if you have no more bad luck, I reckon you ought
to finish on time."

Jim said nothing. He doubted if he could finish the job at all, and
wondered whether the other suspected his embarrassment. He meant to
ask for some payment, but it might be risky to admit that money was
urgently needed. Jake gave him a warning glance, although he was
silent, and the surveyor looked about and noted much.

Jim's long boots were broken and his slickers were torn, Winter's
carelessness was obviously forced, but the surveyor's study of Carrie
gave him the plainest hint. Although she was neat, he thought an
attractive girl would not, without good grounds, wear clothes that had
shrunk and faded and been mended as often as hers.

"Well," he resumed, "I expect you know payment in part is sometimes
allowed before a job is finished, but when we made our agreement
nothing was stated about this."

"The custom has drawbacks for the people who let the contract," Jake
remarked.

"Very true," agreed the surveyor. "Then you don't mean to bother us
for money?"

"It would, of course, be useful," Jake admitted in a thoughtful voice.
"However, if the office doesn't see its way----"

"You would be satisfied to wait?"

Jim frowned. Jake's pretended indifference was prudent, but he had
overdone the thing. While Jim wondered how he could put the matter
right Carrie interposed.

"My brother is generally hopeful. In a way, that's good, but sometimes
he's rash."

The surveyor's eyes twinkled. "Do you mean he's rash just now?"

"Yes," said Carrie, "I really think I do mean this."

"I didn't know if it was rashness or common bluff."

Jake grinned rather awkwardly and Jim colored, but Carrie fixed her
eyes on the surveyor.

"It was all bluff from the beginning. We hadn't the money we needed
when we took the contract, and since then we have never had proper
tools and help enough."

"In fact, you had nothing much but obstinacy and grit? They sometimes
go far in the bush; but I don't know if they'll go far enough to carry
you through. Pe