mind, and slow of
movement and of response. Every day a few more of them gave up the task
and Duncan began seriously to fear that a wholesale quitting would occur
in spite of the enormous wages he was paying.

With his soldier experience, he knew the symptoms of demoralization from
overstrain, and he began now to recognize them in the conduct and
countenances of the men. His soldier life had taught him, also, how
large a part feeding plays in such a case as this. He, therefore,
minutely inspected the out-of-door mess kitchen, and found it in charge
of careless and incompetent negro women, who knew neither how to cook
nor how to make food attractive in appearance.

"The men eat a good deal," he said to Temple, "but they are not properly
nourished. I must remedy that. We simply _must_ win this struggle, Dick,
and we've only six days more. If we can keep the men at work for six
days and nights more, we'll either finish or finally fail."

It was Duncan's habit every evening to call up Barbara's house on the
telegraph and hold a little conversation with her over the wire. She was
thus kept minutely informed of how matters were going with him, and she
was well-nigh sleepless with anxiety lest he fail in this crowning
undertaking of his career.

Turning away from Temple, he went to the telegraphic instrument, opened
the circuit and called Barbara. He explained his new difficulty to her,
and the vital importance of providing better and more abundant food,
better cooked.

"The men have been living on mess pork and 'salt-horse' for weeks, and
both the meat and the half-baked dough served to them for bread are
enough to break the spirit even of veteran soldiers. Now, I want your
help in earnest. If we can keep the men at work for six days more, we
shall have a chance, at least, of success. If we can't, failure is
inevitable. I want you to buy a lot of the best fresh provisions you can
get in Cairo, and send them here early to-morrow morning, in charge of
somebody who knows how to hustle. Send one of my bank clerks if you
can't do better. Send some molasses, too, in kegs, not barrels--barrels
take too long to handle. Send eggs, butter, rice, macaroni, onions,
turnips, cheese, and above all, some really good coffee. The calcined
peas we've been using for coffee would discourage even Captain Hallam if
he dared drink the decoction.

"Then, if possible, I want you to send me one or two cooks who really
know what cooking means.