Tom joined the other engineers, taking a few hasty mouthfuls. Hardly had the party gathered in the mess tent when ’Gene Black, bright and cheery, stepped in swiftly, nodding here and there.
“Well, Rutter, I take it you are running the camp from now on?” asked Black.
“Guess just once more,” replied Jack.
“Who is, then?”
“Mr. Reade.”
Black gulped, then grinned.
“The cub? That’s good!”
Black leaned back on his stool, laughing loudly.
“But who _is_ going to boss the camp?” insisted Black, after he had had his laugh.
“Mr. Reade!” flung back the other engineers in one voice.