He said nothing for a minute after Festing told him, and then remarked:  “It’s Kerr’s business to find fault, and he looked satisfied.”

“He doesn’t know as much about it as we do.”

“Then I wish we knew less.  How long do you think the track would stand if we left it alone?”

“Until we got paid,” said Festing.  “It might stand for some time afterwards.”

He fixed his eyes on Charnock and waited.  Bob had expressed some praiseworthy sentiments about making a good job, but this was a different thing from living up to them when it would cost him much.  What they ought to do was plain, but Festing admitted that the sacrifice required an effort.  Then, somewhat to his surprise, Charnock looked up with a smile.

“You’re not sure of me yet, Stephen, and I don’t know that you can be blamed.  It’s a nasty knock, but we have got to bear it.  Stop there a few minutes.”

“Where are you going?”

“To bring Kerr back and show him the damage.  He’ll have to lay off the gravel gang while we pull down the bank.”

Festing waited.  Bob would stand by him, but he felt anxious.  It would be an expensive business to rebuild the track and the frost would make things worse.  In fact, if they had any more trouble of the kind, they might be ruined.  Then he got up as he saw Kerr coming along the line.

In an hour or two the rails were up and they began to pull down the rockwork that faced the bank.  The ragged stones cut their numbed hands, their backs ached with lifting heavy weights, and they stumbled under the loads they carried up the snowy incline.  They had, however, help enough, for Charnock went away for a time and came back with three or four men from the construction gang.  Festing noted that although he made them useful, he did not give them the hardest work.  He refrained from asking how Charnock got the men, but was not surprised when the foreman arrived and inquired in forcible language what they were doing there.

“Let me answer him,” said Charnock.  “I feel in the mood.  It’s my first chance of letting myself go; as long as you’re working for wages the advantage is with the boss.  Besides, I think I ought to do something for the boys, who can’t talk back.”

Festing admitted that he talked very well.  Charnock had a keen eye for the ridiculous and a pretty wit, and was no longer handicapped by the fear of being dismissed.  While the foreman replied with coarse but rather meaningless abuse, Charnock’s retorts had a definite aim and hit their mark.  He indicated with humorous skill the defects in his antagonist’s looks and character, and Festing’s gang laughed uproariously, while the borrowed workmen applauded as loudly as they durst.  At length, the foreman, breathless and red in face, gave up the unequal contest and returned to his first question.

“If you came for an argument, you’ve got it, and I can go on for some time yet,” Charnock replied.  “However, if you really want to know why the boys are helping me, you can ask Mr. Norton at the bridge.”