"And how about that deal of ours, Smith?" asked Curly, in a low voice.
"I haven't forgotten it for a moment, Curly," Enoch replied. "I'll talk to you about it, to-night. How about it, Milton?"
"Can you stand rotten hard luck without belly-aching?" asked Agnew.
"Yes, he can!" exclaimed Mack, "but he's a darn fool to think of going. It's as risky as the devil and nobody that's got a family dependent on 'em ought to consider it for a moment."
"I have no one," said Enoch quietly. "And I'm strong and hard as nails."
"What fool ever sent you folks out?" asked Curly.
"It's not a fool trip, really," expostulated Milton. "It's very necessary for a good many reasons that the government have more accurate geographical and geological knowledge of this section."
"What part of the government do you work for?" asked Mack.
"The Geological Survey. It's a bureau in the Department of the
Interior."
"Oh, then Huntingdon's your Big Boss!" exclaimed Mack. "Do you know him?"