Railroad building is often dull." "I don't know if we're all modest in Canada, but my partner is," Vernon observed.

"If you want a romantic tale, persuade him to tell you how he got the mark on his head." "Oh shucks!" said Lister.

"I had sooner you had cut that out." He turned to the others apologetically.

"It was a dispute with a fellow on board a train who threw me down the steps.

I don't want to bore you with the tale." "The man was the famous crook, Shillito," Vernon remarked.
Cartwright lifted his head and looked at Vernon hard.