Page:While the Billy Boils, 1913.djvu/339

 'I suppose bad weather would put you back in your work?'

'Yes, it will; we didn't want any bad weather just now.'

Steelman got the weather question satisfactorily settled; then he said:

'You seem to be getting on with the railway.'

'Oh, yes, we are about over the worst of it.'

'The worst of it?' echoed Steelman, with mild surprise: 'I should have thought you were just coming into it' and he pointed to the ridge ahead.

'Oh, our section doesn't go any further than that pole you see sticking up yonder. We had the worst of it back there across the swamps―working up to our waists in water most of the time, in mid-winter too―and at eighteenpence a yard.'

'That was bad.'

'Yes, rather rough. Did you come from the terminus?'

'Yes, I sent my baggage on in the brake.'

'Commercial traveller, I suppose,' asked the Boss, glancing at Smith, who stood a little to the rear of Steelman, seeming interested in the work.

' Oh no,' said Steelman, smiling―'I am―well―I'm a geologist; this is my man here,' indicating Smith. '(You may put down the bag, James, and have a smoke.) My name is Stoneleigh―you might have heard of it.'

The Boss said 'oh,' and then presently he added 'indeed,' in an undecided tone.

There was a pause―embarrassed on the part of the Boss―he was silent not knowing what to say.