ave agrees."

"Certainly. If he stays, Festing will do himself harm and bother his
partner."

Festing knitted his brows and was silent for a moment or two. Then he
said, "Since it looks as if you had made your plans, I had better go.
You're a very good fellow, Bob; but if you can't keep things straight,
I'll come back and superintend from a stretcher."

They talked about other matters, but when Charnock left, Helen put on
her furs and told Festing she wanted fresh air. Moonlight shone upon
the dark pines and sparkled on the snow, and when they came out of the
shadow of the trees she thought Charnock's face was grave.

"I'm grateful, Bob," she said. "It's a big thing you have undertaken!"

"I frankly wish it was smaller," Charnock answered. "I fact, I feel I
have been horribly rash. I haven't Stephen's constructive talent or, for
that matter, his energy, but somehow I mustn't be beaten."

Helen gave him a gentle look. "You won't be beaten. It's unthinkable! We
trust you."

Then she went back and read a newspaper to Festing, who was carried
down to the supply train next day and made comfortable in the caboose.
Charnock talked to him carelessly until the couplings tightened and the
locomotive began to snort, but his mouth was firm and his face set as
he went back to his work. He knew what he was up against, and there were
difficulties he had not told Festing about.

The days got longer, and the frost was relaxing its grip on the white
prairie, when Festing left his homestead and walked to the trail-fork
to meet the mail-carrier. He returned with some letters and sat down
limply. His face was thin and pale.

"I get tired soon, and there's nothing from Bob yet," he grumbled as he
turned over the envelopes. "It's curious, because he told us the job was
nearly finished and some of the big engineers were coming out to examine
the track. They ought to have arrived some days ago, and I've no doubt
they'd test the work thoroughly when they were there."

"You get too anxious," Helen replied. "If you had a calmer temperament,
you would be stronger now. The engineers can hardly have had time to
make a proper test."

"I have some grounds for being anxious. If the fellows aren't satisfied,
we won't get paid."

Helen smiled. "You're really afraid that Bob may have been careless and
neglected something!"

"Bob's a very good partner; I've confessed that I misjudged him,"
Festing answered with a touch of embarrassment. "Sti