"You fellows," Conniston told them, bluntly, "are to act as section
bosses. You are to get the wages the Lark here has been getting. You
are to get the same money I offered him for every day between the
first of October and the day we get water into the Valley. You are to
take orders from him and no questions asked. You can hold your jobs
just as long as you do the work. If you can't do the work you'll get
fired and another man put in your place. Come along with me. And you,"
to the Lark, "come too."
He swung off toward the wagons, the five men and Jimmie Kent following
him. At the first wagon he called to the men to "climb out." As they
clambered down the men in the other wagons got to the ground and came
forward.
"I want forty men," Conniston called. "Walk by me single file so I can
count."
When the fortieth had passed him he raised his hand.
"You," he said to the one of the new foremen nearest him, "take these
forty men, add ten of the old section to them, and go to work on the
dam. Wait a minute. Have you boys had any breakfast?"
They had not.
"Go to the cook, then," he ordered. "Tell him to give you the best he
can sling out at quick notice. Tell him that there will be one hundred
and sixty more to feed. I'll send for more grub right away."
The men passed on to the cook's tent, and one after another Conniston
counted off the other sections of forty and sent them to be fed.
Pages:
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299