-we really couldn't prove it."

"Oh, I was sure of it all along, Dave."

"So was I, Roger. But you know in a court of law it is one thing to
know a thing and another to be able to prove it."

The two young civil engineers discussed the letter all through the
evening meal and even for some time later. Then, however, Roger turned
to his newspaper, to read with care the address that his father had
delivered. Dave was also interested in this.

"I'd like to be in the Senate some time when your father was
speaking," he remarked to his chum. "It must be a great sight to see
such a body as that when it is in session."

"It is, Dave," answered his chum. "And people come thousands of miles
to see it."

Before retiring for the night Dave penned a letter to Ben, and also
sent a letter to Jessie, and another to his Uncle Dunston which
was meant for the entire household. Roger spent the time in a
communication to his mother, and also in a long letter to Luke
Watson.

The night proved to be unusually warm, for the breeze which was
usually stirring had died down completely. Dave fell into a fitful
doze, from which he awoke about midnight to find his mouth and throat
quite parched.

"I guess I'd better get up and get a drink," he told himself, "and
then I may be able to sleep better. Phew! but the thermometer has
certainly been going up the last few days."

He arose to his feet and walked out of the room into the hallway of
the building, where in one corner there was a water-cooler. He had
just finished drinking a glass of water when a sound from outside
reached his ears. There was a shout from a distance, followed almost
instantly by a rifle shot.

"Hello! what can that mean?" he cried.

A moment later came more shouts, this time a little closer to the
camp. Then two more rifle shots rang out sharply through the midnight
air.

"Something is wrong, that's sure!" exclaimed the youth. Rushing back
into the bedroom he shook Roger vigorously. At the same time he heard
others getting up and calling to each other, wanting to know what the
shouts and shots meant.

"What do you want, Dave?" asked the senator's son, sleepily.

"Get up, Roger!" answered our hero, quickly. "Hurry up! there is
something going on outside! I just heard a number of yells and several
rifle shots."

"You don't mean it, Dave!" and now Roger was on his feet with a bound.
"Maybe it's the greasers."

"I don't know what it is, Roger. But I guess we had