"At all events, we can be thankful that the explosion didn't blow one or two of our men into the other world," Tom went on.
"Even that is bound to happen if there are many more of these explosions," muttered Corbett, grimly.
"Which is another reason," remarked Tom Reade, "why we're going to solve the mystery of said explosions at the earliest minute that we can."
"One thing is certain," observed Mr. Prenter, with the nearest approach to gloom that he had yet shown. "If you don't soon penetrate this grim mystery, and find a way to stop these outrages, then the wall will be destroyed more rapidly than you can build it."
"The outrages may cease after a while," suggested Harry.
"No," answered Reade. "As long as the unknown enemy feels that he can harass us without much risk of being caught red-handed, just so long will he go on with his outrages—-unless we give in."
"Give in?" asked Mr. Prenter, with a rising inflection in his voice.
"Unless we give in," supplied Tom promptly, "by allowing gambling and rum-selling to go on openly in our camp of workmen."
"Have you any notion of giving in to that extent?" asked Mr. Prenter.
"Not an idea!" retorted Tom Reade promptly. "It wouldn't be my way to surrender to the Devil. I'll fight to the last ditch—-unless your company really prefers to have Hazelton and myself cancel our contract and get out of this work. Do you?"