"Then we'd be going back to Dugout City with you."
"Why, Reade?"
"So that we might get in touch with the world and find out whether you are financially responsible. We wouldn't take an engagement without being reasonably sure of our money."
"You're a sharp one," laughed Mr. Dunlop.
Yet he made no further reference to engaging the two young engineers, a fact that Reade was keen enough to note.
Within an hour after breakfast the Dunlop ear pulled out, leaving
Tom Reade with only his own party.
"What our friend wants," smiled Harry, "is a pair of mining engineers at the salary of one mere surveyor."
"He won't pay any more than he has to," rejoined Reade.
"Do you really want to work for Dunlop?"
"I really don't care a straw whether I do or not," was Tom's answer. "Harry, we're in the very heart of the gold country and we don't need to work for copper pennies."