This isn't an idling camp." "I'm glad it isn't," Reade nodded.
Then Blaisdell chatted with the boys, drawing out of them what they knew, or thought they knew, of civil engineering, especially as applied to railroad building.
"I hope you lads are going to make good," said Blaisdell earnestly.
"We're in something of a fix on this work at best, and we need even more than we have, of the very best hustling engineers that can be found." "I am beginning to wonder," said Tom, "how, when you have such need of men of long training, your New York office ever came to pick us out." "Because," replied the assistant candidly, "the New York office doesn't know the difference between an engineer and a railroad tie.

Tim Thurston has been making a long yell at the New York offices of the company for engineers.

Knowing the little that they do, our New York owners take anyone who says he's an engineer, and unload the stranger on us." "I hope we prove up to the work," sighed Harry.
"We're going to size up.

We've got to, and that's all there is to it," retorted Tom.

"We've been thrown in the water here, Harry, and we've got to swim---which means that we're going to do so.
Mr.Blaisdell," turning to the assistant, "you needn't worry as to whether we're going to make good.