to know where they are.
I never heard of any farms through here, nor any one else."

"Well, they is!" snarled one of the men, a big, rough-looking
fellow with a shaggy beard and long hair which seemed not to have
been combed in a month. "They is farms here and they's trout
brooks an' pasters an' we ain't goin' to have 'em ruined by no
railroad."

"You will have to see the company," answered Jack quietly. "We
are not going to build immediately anyhow. We are only surveying
now. The company has given us the right to do this, and if they
were going to ruin any farms they would not do it. Where are the
farms? I am pretty well acquainted with this section and I don't
know of any farms worth mentioning in all of it. We have authority
from the railroad to make our surveys and you had better see some
of the officers before you make trouble. Dr. Wise also will give
you all the information you require. He is with the rest of the
boys, about half a mile back."

"Well, we was told you was going to ruin our farms, and we won't
stand fer that. You talk all right, but the fust thing we know
we'll be druv out o' house an' home an' all our crops sp'iled."

"You should have them in by this time. Who told you that your farms
would be ruined?"

"Well, we was told, anyhow, an' we warn ye that if any damage is
done to our farms or crops ye'll have ter suffer fer it. We ain't
goin' to be ground under by no graspin' mono'ly, we ain't, an' yer'
goin' to know it fust as last."

"There is no grasping monopoly in it," said Percival impatiently.
"We have a right from the railroad to make our surveys and we are
going to make 'em. I don't believe there is a farm within ten
miles and you don't look like farmers."

"Send some one back for the doctor, Dick," said Jack, who saw
that his friend's words had angered the men. "Who told you that
we were going to ruin your farms?" he added, turning directly to
the big man.

"I don't have to tell ye!" blustered the other. "I know what
railroads is an' we ain't goin' to have none on 'em rootin' up our
land, an' if ye sot up any o' them machines here we're goin'
ter---Hi! don't shoot!"

Billy Manners had suddenly turned his camera upon the follow,
considering him a good subject for a picture, and was just about
to squeeze the bulb when the man caught sight of him and sprang back.

"Ah! keep still," cried Billy in disgust. "You've spoiled the
picture. It would've been a fine one if