e, as he bade him good-bye the next day,
what an effect upon his future the decision thus suddenly reached by the
leveller was to have. In the stage from Santa Fe the latter met a
gentleman and his wife who were greatly interested in his description of
the explorations in which he had just taken part. Among other things, he
described Glen Eddy Matherson's remarkable adventures; and the lady, who
seemed struck by the boy's name, asked many questions concerning him.
Fortunately, the leveller was able to answer most of them, and thus she
learned, what Glen had never attempted to conceal, that he was an
adopted son of Luke Matherson, of Brimfield, Pennsylvania, who had saved
him from a railroad wreck in Glen Eddy creek when he was a baby. She did
not explain why she asked these questions, and soon changed the
conversation to other topics.

The most immediate effect upon Glen of the leveller's departure was to
promote him and increase his pay. As it was impossible, in that country,
to engage men of experience to fill places in an engineer corps, Mr.
Brackett was obliged to take the level, while Mr. Hobart himself took
charge of the transit; and, when the former was asked who he would like
as rodman in place of Binney Gibbs, he promptly answered, "Glen
Matherson."

In speaking to Glen of this change of position, the division engineer
asked the boy if he was sure he wanted to go through to the Pacific.

"Of course I do, sir!" answered Glen, in surprise at the question.

"It is going to be a trip full of danger and all sorts of hardships,
possibly including starvation and freezing. I don't know but what you
really ought to go back."

"Oh, sir, please don't send me back!" pleaded Glen, earnestly. "I should
feel awfully to have to go home with the trip only half finished."

"Then you are willing to face all the hardships?"

"Yes, sir, I'm willing to face anything, rather than going back."

"All right!" laughed Mr. Hobart; "I suppose I shall have to take you
along. I proposed to the general to take Binney Gibbs with him, or else
send him back to the States, because I did not consider him strong
enough to endure what is ahead of us; but I don't see how I could urge
that in your case, for I actually believe you are one of the toughest
among us."

How Glen rejoiced in his strength as he heard this! Perhaps it was going
to prove as valuable to him as a scholarship, after all.

"Mr. Brackett is going to run the level, and wa