“Ah! Sturgess,” he said, “I wanted to see you. Those rails ought to have been taken down first thing this morning, so that a line might be begun for the small trucks.”
“Oh, yes, I know,” said the man roughly.
The engineer looked at him wonderingly.
“Then see about it at once.”
“Plenty of time, sir; plenty of time,” said Sturgess insolently.
“There is not plenty of time, sir,” said Clive, in a tone of voice which rather startled the man; “and have the goodness to understand this:—My late father engaged you on the strength of your recommendations, but I am in supreme authority here, and I submit to insolence from no person in my employ.”
“I didn’t mean to be insolent,” grumbled the man.
“Then please understand that you were, and don’t venture upon it again, or we part at once. Now go and see that those rails are taken down directly, and that a gang of men begin to lay them at once toward the opening to the great cavern where the water flows.”
“No use to lay ’em down there,” grumbled Sturgess.
“You heard my orders, sir. I shall be in that direction before long.”