Toward the middle of the afternoon of that day Carrigan said to the engineer: 

“We’re making better time than I calculated.  The holes will all be drilled by five o’clock; we’re loading them as they’re done and we’ll shoot at five-thirty.”

“What about supper?”

“Supper at five.  Then the men will be back and ready to jump in the ditch when the shot’s fired.”

“And be done twenty-four hours before the hour set by the Land and Water Board,” said Lee.

“That’s cutting it fine enough as it is.  Who’s that waving yonder toward camp?” And Carrigan pointed a mittened hand at a figure swinging an arm and shouting Bryant’s name.

The engineer stared for a time.

“Charlie Menocal,” he said, finally.  “Morgan—­Morgan, come here!” he called.  And as Morgan came to join him, Lee addressed Pat, “I’ll just run over to Bartolo with this young scoundrel.  The road’s open and I’ll be back by dark.  Want Morgan to come along to look after him and Alvarez, the man you caught.”

“Better start back in plenty of time.  The sky’s thickening again.  More snow in sight, Lee.”

“I shall.”

“You might invite old man Menocal to return with you,” Pat remarked, with a grin, “and see us put the kibosh on his dream of owning the Pinas River.  What are you going to do with this boy of his?  Send him over the road?”

“I haven’t decided yet.”

“That’s where he ought to go, after trying to burn us out the night of the blizzard.”  He turned away to the work.

“You’re not to let this fellow over there waiting for us get away, Morgan,” Lee stated.

“I’ll freeze on to him.”

They went along the snowy path toward camp, coming up with Menocal, who waited until they arrived and then accompanied them toward Bryant’s office.

“Have a letter for you from Ruth,” he said.  “Had a terrible time getting up from Kennard.  Road isn’t half opened, but I found a man to drive me home.  Promised Ruth to deliver this to you.”

He drew the letter from an inner pocket and handed it to the engineer, who glanced at the writing on the envelope, his own name, and shoved the epistle into his glove.  When they gained camp, Lee said: 

“Morgan and I are going to Bartolo with you, and also a friend of yours called Alvarez.  We nabbed him as he was trying to burn our camp about two hours before the blizzard.  Take this man to headquarters, Morgan, and keep him till I come over.”

Menocal’s face became livid with anger and alarm.

“Let me go, damn you!” he shouted, shrilly.