noise would have roused me three
miles off."

"It was before the noise began," Jim replied, in a thoughtful voice.
"I think something woke me, but don't know what it was."

"Tom remarked that something had started off the wall. I allow he
mayn't have reflected much, but perhaps it's significant he and you
agree."

Jim was silent for a minute or two, and then asked: "Did all the boys
come along?"

"So far as I remember. I didn't count."

"Well," said Jim. "It's too soon to state what I think. After all, I
don't know very much."

Jake said nothing. He knew his partner was generally marked by a grim
reserve after a bad set-back. When Jim was ready, he would talk, and
in the meantime Jake imagined his brain was occupied. Crossing the
track of the landslide cautiously, they returned to camp, but when they
reached it Jim lighted his pipe again and did not go to sleep.

CHAPTER VII

A COUNCIL

Jim got up at daybreak and went to the spot where the landslide had
carried away the line. A hundred yards had gone and a great bank of
soil and gravel ran down at an even slant to the river, where the
current foamed about the rubbish that blocked its channel. The slope
was dotted by broken trees and rocks, and in one place farther up a
belt of smaller stones rested loosely at the top of a steep pitch. Jim
thought a slight disturbance would start another slide.

He had wasted a week or two's labor and saw it would cost him some time
to clear the ground before he could get to work again. Even then,
there would be a risk of the new line's being swept away. This was
daunting, because money was short and he had no margin to provide
against expensive accidents. When he took the contract he had trusted
much to luck, and now his luck was bad.

Moreover, the thing was puzzling and his curiosity was aroused. He
imagined he had made the line secure, and had worked among treacherous
gravel in shallow mines long enough to know something about the job.
The wall had obviously broken and started the landslide when it gave
way, but he could not see why it had broken. This, however, must wait.
He meant to solve the puzzle, but, to begin with, the line must be run
across the gap and he occupied himself with the necessary plans. His
habit was to concentrate and, sitting absorbed, he studied the ground
until he felt a touch on his arm. Then he looked up with a start and
saw Carrie.

"I'm sorry, Jim," she said. "Is it