Tomorrow you'll go out with the rest." Tom sighed.

True, he did not feel up to the mark, and was eating a very light breakfast.

Still he chafed at the thought of inaction for a whole day.
"The chief wouldn't order you to stay in," remarked Blaisdell, after Mr.Thurston had gone, "unless he knew that to be the best thing for you." So, after the engineers, their chainmen and rodmen had left camp Tom wandered about disconsolately.

He tried to talk to the cook, but Jake and his helper were both rushed in getting the meal that was to be taken out over the trail by burro train.
"Lonely, Reade ?" called the chief from his tent.
"Yes, sir," Tom nodded.

"I wish I had something to do." "Perhaps I can find work for you in here.