“Who else?”
“Some big mining syndicate.”
“That must be the Consolidated Ackron Company,” Ned broke in. “But what do they want of water?”
“Hydraulic mining, I understand,” said his mother. “It would greatly cheapen their process of extracting gold from the soil. I do not understand much about it, I must admit.”
“Maybe the mining syndicate would give you more for the water than the desert people?” suggested Nat.
“That would make no difference to us,” said his mother, firmly. “If Colonel Hardin promised Desert City and the farmers, that Lost River would flow south, south it shall flow, if they keep their part of the bargain, and the thing can be done.”
“But,” cried Dorothy, “can it be made to flow either way? How wonderful! It must have a natural channel, mustn’t it?”
“So I suppose,” replied Aunt Winnie. “There seems to be more to the matter than we know about—yet. Mr. Philo Marsh gave us very few particulars.”
“I am sure that he is not a very trustworthy informant,” declared Dorothy, obstinately, to Tavia. “We must watch Mr. Philo Marsh.”
“And you objected before because I just looked at him!” breathed Tavia, making very big eyes at her chum.