. two ways . . . the wildness of it and then to accomplish something.”

“My lad, I hope you accomplish something more . . . for you have already a thousand soldiers in one wild camp out here in these wild hills . . . and thousands of others . . . honest merchants and dishonest merchants, whiskey men, gamblers, desperadoes, bandits, and bad women. Niggers, greasers, Indians, all together moving from camp to camp, where there can be no law.”

“It will be great!” exclaimed Neale, with shining eyes.

“It will be terrible,” muttered the elder man gravely. Then, as he got up and bade his young assistant good night, the somberness had returned to his eyes and the weight to his shoulders. He did not underestimate his responsibility or the nature of his task, and he sensed nameless and unknown events, beyond all divining, that inevitably must grow out of the colossal enterprise.

Henney was the next to come to see Neale. The old engineer appeared elated about something, which for the moment he apparently forgot in his solicitation for the young man’s welfare. Presently, after he had been reassured, the smile came back to his face, and he said: “The chief has promoted you.”

“What?” exclaimed Neale, starting up.

“It’s a fact. He just talked it over with Baxter and me. This last job of yours pleased him mightily . . . and so you go up.”

“Go up! To what?” queried Neale eagerly.

“Well, that’s why he consulted me, I guess.” Henney laughed. “You see we sort of had to make something to promote you to, for the present.”

“Oh, I see. I was wondering what job there could be,” replied Neale, and he laughed, too. “What did the chief say?”

“He said a lot. Seems to have you figured both as to your work . . .