Hence on the page of his field note book Tom wrote the distance between the stakes as nine chains and forty-four and seven-tenths links.
"That's good," nodded Rutter, who had been watching every move closely.

The forty-four signaled by the rodman's left arm, instead of being made up of forty-four downward strokes, had consisted of four such strokes, followed by a pause, and then four more strokes.
"I'll go along and see you get the course and distance to the third rod," said Rutter.
This course and distance, too, in time, had been measured and carefully noted by Reade.
"You'll get along all right, if you pay strict attention and don't become confused or careless," nodded Jack Rutter.

"Now, I'll write 'Reade' on this starting stake of yours, and I'll write Hazelton on your friend's starting stake.

After you've surveyed to Hazelton's starting stake let your rodman bring you forward until you overhaul me." "Very good, sir," nodded Tom coolly.
Rutter and Harry moved along the trail, leaving Tom with his own "gang." "Nothing very mentally wearing in this job," reflected Tom, when he found himself left to his own resources.

"All a fellow has to do is to keep his head clear, be faithful and exactly honest with his work, and move with all the speed that good, straight work will allow." So Reade moved ahead, getting courses and distances to five more stakes.