The others had come up within hearing distance.
"Well," the lieutenant responded, "if you had traced its course you would have seen that it is swung from this mountain to the one directly to the south, just at the point where the valley between narrows down to little more than a deep ravine."
"But it doesn't run into our lines," Frank objected again.
"That's true," Lieutenant Mackinson admitted again, "but it may serve our purposes just the same."
"How?" Slim asked entreatingly. "Tell us what your plan is, Lieutenant."
"No," replied the young officer in teasing tones, "I don't want to raise your hopes until I determine whether it can be accomplished."
And he plodded on toward the tractor, refusing to answer another question. Indeed, it is doubtful if he heard them, for he was busy with some important mental calculations—problems that required his engineering knowledge and ability, and that had directly to do with the personal safety of every man in the party.
"What tools have we here?" he asked of Frank Hoskins, as they arrived at the wrecked wireless tractor.
Frank opened up a tool chest that showed a great variety of implements in almost every size and shape.
"Good," said the lieutenant, as he looked up from where he was rummaging in another part of the car. "Here, Jerry," he commanded, "let me have that mallet and cold chisel and then help me rip a couple of these boards off the floor."