“There’s an altruistic theory that the dollars don’t count; but it’s easier to believe when you draw your wages regularly, and I’ve known it break down when an engineer was offered a more lucrative post.  Anyhow, I reckon it’s our business to make good, even if our pay isn’t equal to our desserts, which happens pretty often when you work on the railroad.”

“If you work on a farm, you often don’t get paid at all.”

Kerr laughed and indicated the pines that rolled up the hill in somber spires.

“Well, there’s your raw material, and you won’t have much trouble to bring the logs down, though you may find stopping them from plunging into the river a harder thing.  However, you have some notion of what you’re up against, and I’ll show you the plans and specifications when we get out of the rain.”

He stopped in front of a small log shack, and opening the door, beckoned Festing in.  There was an earth floor, and a bunk, filled with swamp-hay, was fixed to the wall; two or three camp-chairs stood about, and a fire of scented cedar logs burned on the clay hearth.  A Chinaman, dressed in very clean blue clothes, was putting a meal on the table.  Festing hung up his wet slickers and sat down with a vague sense of satisfaction.  It was plain that he must go without many comforts he had enjoyed at the farm, but he felt strangely at home.

Kerr took supper with him, and afterwards threw some papers on the table and lighted his pipe.  Half an hour later Festing looked up.

“I imagine I’ve got the hang of things, and I’ll make a start to-morrow.  Your way of underpinning the track is pretty good, but I don’t like that plan.  You can’t hold up the road long with lumber; the work won’t stand.”

“I don’t know if your objection springs from artistic delight in a good job or British caution.  Anyhow, you ought to know that in this country we don’t want work to stand; our aim is to get it finished.  If the track holds up until we can start the freight traffic running, it’s as much as we expect.  We’ll improve it afterwards as the dollars come in.”

“A freight train in a Canadian river isn’t a very uncommon object,” Festing rejoined.  “However, it’s my business to cut the logs and do the underpinning as well as I can.  On the whole, and barring accidents, I see some profit on the job.  I’m grateful to you for putting it in my way.”

“Your thanks are really due to somebody else.  The head contractor is not allowed to sub-let work without our approval, and although I recommended your being given a chance, the decision rested with another man.”

“Who’s that?”

“He’ll probably look you up to-night,” Kerr replied with a twinkle.  “They sent him from headquarters to see how we’re getting on.  But I’ll leave you the plans.  We’re working nights with the blast-lamps, and I’ve got to be about when the new shift makes a start.”