n as possible the divers were sent down at the two wrecked parts of
the retaining wall. These men reported that the breaches extended ten
feet beneath the surface at some points; only eight feet at other points.
The foundations of the walls were reported as being secure. Then Tom,
under the directions of two divers, put on a diver's suit and went down
himself, for the first time in his life. After some two hours, with
frequent ascents to the surface, the young chief engineer had satisfied
himself that the foundations were secure. Then he did some rapid figuring.

"The loss will not exceed eight thousand dollars---the cost of rebuilding
the missing parts of the walls," Reade informed Superintendent Renshaw.

"Only eight thousand dollars!" whistled the superintendent.

"Well, that figure isn't anywhere nearly as high as I feared it might be,"
Tom pursued.

"But it will strike the directors of the Melliston Company as being pretty
big for an extra bill," muttered Renshaw. "Especially, since---"

The superintendent paused.

"You were going to say," smiled Tom, wanly, "since the loss wouldn't have
happened if I hadn't kicked the gamblers out of camp."

"That's about the size of it, Mr. Reade," nodded Renshaw. "Directors of
big companies are less interested in moral reforms than in dividends.
They're likely to make a big kick over what your crusade has cost them
already, even if it costs them no more."

"We'll see to it that it doesn't cost them any more," Tom retorted.
"Every night we'll watch that sea wall the way a mother does a sick baby.
There'll be no more explosions. As to the directors kicking over the
present expense, they'll have a prompt chance to do it. As soon as the
telegraph office in Blixton was open this morning I wired the president of
the company. Now, I'm going ashore. I can't do anything out here to help
you, can I?"

"Nothing," replied Renshaw. "If I didn't know how foolish the advice would
sound, Mr. Reade, I'd urge you to take a nap."

"I'll take a nap when I find it impossible to keep my eyes open any
longer," Tom compromised. "For the next few hours---work and lots of it."

As yet no effort had been made to repair the breaches in the wall. The
different gangs were working that day in nearer shore. The divers,
gathered on a scow, were now waiting for the "Morton" to convey them back
to shore. Reade decided to go with them.

"Twenty minutes to two," murmured Tom to himself, g