ires. On the other bank was a small flat where
shacks of log and bark stood among dripping tents. The roar of the river
filled the gorge, but its deep note was broken by the rattle of hammers,
clash of shovels, and clang of thrown-down rails.

The sounds of keen activity stirred Festing's blood. He had a touch of
constructive genius, but lack of specialized training had forced him
into the ranks of the pioneers. Others must add the artistic finish and
divide the prizes of ultimate victory; his part was to rough out the
work and clear the way. But he was satisfied with this, and something
in him thrilled as he heard in the crash of a blasting charge man's bold
challenge to the wilderness. Kerr waited with a twinkle of understanding
amusement while Festing looked about, and then took him up the hill.

"You have come back," he remarked. "Well, I guessed you would come.
After all, this is your job; it's here you belong."

"That is so, in a sense," Festing dryly agreed. "It looks as if my job
was to get tired and wet and dirty while others got the dollars; but
it's a job with different sides. Farming's as much a part of it as this,
and has very similar disadvantages."

"There's an altruistic theory that the dollars don't count; but it's
easier to believe when you draw your wages regularly, and I've known it
break down when an engineer was offered a more lucrative post. Anyhow,
I reckon it's our business to make good, even if our pay isn't equal to
our desserts, which happens pretty often when you work on the railroad."

"If you work on a farm, you often don't get paid at all."

Kerr laughed and indicated the pines that rolled up the hill in somber
spires.

"Well, there's your raw material, and you won't have much trouble to
bring the logs down, though you may find stopping them from plunging
into the river a harder thing. However, you have some notion of what
you're up against, and I'll show you the plans and specifications when
we get out of the rain."

He stopped in front of a small log shack, and opening the door, beckoned
Festing in. There was an earth floor, and a bunk, filled with swamp-hay,
was fixed to the wall; two or three camp-chairs stood about, and a fire
of scented cedar logs burned on the clay hearth. A Chinaman, dressed in
very clean blue clothes, was putting a meal on the table. Festing hung
up his wet slickers and sat down with a vague sense of satisfaction. It
was plain that he must go without many