“You’re not going to do any more work for us, Black,” replied the young chief coolly.
“Not do any more work, What do you mean, Reade? Am I discharged from this corps?”
“Not yet, Black, for I haven’t the money at hand to pay you to date. So you may stay here until the paymaster comes. Then, when you have your full amount of pay, you can leave us.”
“What does this mean?” demanded ’Gene Black angrily, as he stepped closer, his eyes blazing.
Some young men would have shrunk back before Black’s menacing manner. Tom had never yet met the man who could make him really afraid.
“I’ve already told you the whole story, Black.”
“Why am I discharged?”
“I am not obliged to give you my reasons.”
“You’ll find you’ll have to do so!” stormed ’Gene Black.
“Well, then,” Tom answered, “you get through here because you kicked one of the tripod legs of your leveling instrument the other day, and left a mark on the wood.”