“I hope you’ll soon be better, sir,” began Rutter, as the engineers gathered at the cot of their stricken chief.
“Don’t say anything unnecessary, and don’t waste my time,” begged Mr. Thurston. “Rutter, do you feel equal to running this field corps until either Blaisdell or I can take charge again?”
“No, I don’t chief,” replied Jack. “I’ve sent a wire to Howe, urging him to come here and take charge.”
“Howe can’t come,” replied the chief. “If he does, the construction work will go to pieces. This corps will have to be led by someone now present.”
Morris and Rice gazed eagerly at their chief. Butter showed his relief at being allowed to hack out from full control.
As for Timothy Thurston, he let his gaze wander from face to face.
“Reade!” he almost whispered.
“Yes, sir!” answered Tom, stepping gently forward. “What can I do for you, sir?”
“Reade,” came in another whisper, “can you—-have you the courage to take the post of acting chief?”
Several gasps of astonishment broke on the air, but the greatest gasp of all came from Reade himself.