“And you came across the river on the cableway, didn’t you?”
“Yes, sir. It was the only—”
“No excuses! It means that you have broken discipline twice, doesn’t it? Left your work and then rode a bucket, which is against all orders. I’ll have to fire that control operator who let you do it.”
“He couldn’t help it!” cried the boy, horrified that what he had done might get someone else into trouble. “I jumped the bucket in the mixing plant and I was halfway across before Billy ever saw me!”
“So that’s how you did it!” ejaculated the Chief. “In that case I may not have to do more than reprimand Billy.”
“That’s fine!” said the much relieved boy.
“But as for you—I must punish you much more severely,” the twinkle in the man’s eyes grew more pronounced, and in spite of himself he smiled. “You are sentenced to be my rodman, to stay with me all the time we’re on the job.”
“Gee whiz!” whistled Bob, the suddenness of the turn the talk had taken amazing him. “Then—then what I did was right?”
“You bet it was! Both right and plucky. I’m proud of you—”
“And I’m going to be on your own corps? This is too much,” and the boy laughed happily.