great mine in which
scores of men were at work.

* * * * * * *

Two days later a party of four men drove into the farmyard, with axes,
tape, level and other implements for surveying. They began
operations at once and did not cease until close of day, when,
declining Ralph's invitation to spend the night, they returned
to Oakvale. On the following day they came back, with another
squad. Of this squad Blake Merton was lineman and George Rawson
rodman. The second squad began working from the eastern boundary
of the Kenyon farm, and Tom spent part of the day with them. Ralph
could not walk far, as yet, though with every day his ankle was
getting stronger.

Each night so long as the work of the survey lasted, Rawson,---who
with Blake had accepted Ralph's invitation to stay at the farm,---spent
an hour or two with the three boys, going over with them the methods
of surveying and explaining the local geological formations.

Meanwhile, at Pioneer Camp, Lieutenant Denmead was giving similar
daily instruction to the troop, with frequent brief trips for
practical demonstration. He had not thought it best to ask that
more of the scouts might assist in the railroad survey, fearing that
they would hinder the trained workers. But Rawson and the boys were to
give the rest a detailed report of their work on their return to camp.

CHAPTER IX

AWAITING A DECISION

While these important operations were in full swing, Dr. Kane
brought Mrs. Kenyon home, completely cured and inexpressibly glad
and grateful. Her return, although hailed with rejoicing by Ralph,
upset the decidedly masculine housekeeping arrangements which he and
his friends had established during her absence.

Mrs. Kenyon could find no fault with the neat and clean condition
of the house, nor with the way the dishes were washed and placed
in order on the shelves. She was, however, considerably surprised,
not to say startled, at the culinary efforts of her son and his
guests, and she declared she could not understand "how anyone can
sleep in those beds, the rough-and-tumble way they're made!" But
after making them properly, she realized that there were now not
enough beds to go round. Hence Ralph and Blake for two nights
slept in the hayloft in the barn.

The railroad surveyors returned to Oakvale in due time, having
fully established the previous survey which Ralph's father had
caused to be made. There could be no further disp