Right now an' right here the work's dead easy, Conniston. Only don't
go an' let 'em drive you in a hole where you have to admit you don't
know. You've _got_ to know."
The work here was in reality so simple that men like Ben and the Lark
grasped it quickly. Conniston had little trouble in seeing readily
what was to be done. The details Truxton furnished him.
When noon came they ate with the men. And at one o'clock Truxton
called Ben and the Lark aside and told them shortly that Conniston was
the new engineer and that they were to take orders from him. Whereupon
Conniston took upon himself the responsibility of "bossing" a hundred
men, the biggest responsibility which he had ever taken upon his
care-free shoulders.
He had seen the slow, measuring glances which both of his two foremen
had bestowed upon him when Truxton told them; knew that they accepted
him as their overseer because they took orders from Truxton, but saw
in their faces that they reserved judgment of him personally until
such time as they could see how much or how little he knew. He was not
greatly in fear of the outcome. The work was running so smoothly,
there were so few possible difficulties to come up now, that it seemed
to him that all he had to do was to stand and watch.
And at first he did little but watch and, as Truxton had suggested,
try to study his men.
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