Griffith stared back, perplexed by the other's sudden heat. "Guess we've got our wires crossed," he said. "I told him, of course. He didn't know anything about it."
"What you talking about?" demanded Mr. Leslie, puzzled in turn.
"The Zariba Dam."
"That!" exclaimed Mr. Leslie, and his face cleared. "H'm,—what about the dam?"
"I had about thrown it up. I'm giving Tom a go at it."
Mr. Leslie's eyebrows bristled in high curves.
"What! wasting time with a man like that? If you've given it up, we'll try England or Europe."
"No use. Plenty of good men over there. They can give us pointers on some things. But if they've ever done anything just like this Zariba Dam, they've kept it out of print."
"But an unknown second-rate engineer!"
"That's what's said of every first-rater till he gets his chance."