THE TROUBLES OF THE SURVEYING PARTY
Shortly after the meeting with Gabrielle the boys were greatly
surprised by the doctor's announcing that he had received a proposition
from the company which operated the mountain railroads in that
section for the Hilltop boys to survey a new line and afterward
build it.
"This will give those of you who are studying engineering and
surveying some practical experience," the Doctor added. "Just the
surveying for the branch road will be done at this time, and later,
some time in the fall, before the regular term begins, you will do
the building. If you are agreeable we will move our camp in a day
or so and begin the work at once. Not all of you will care to go,
of course, as all are not far advanced enough for the work."
Percival, Jack and a number of others were fit to go into the work,
however, and they were delighted at the prospect of a change of
scene and of doing other work, and the party was quickly made up.
Being settled in their new camp, the young surveyors set out,
carrying their instruments, a number of the boys who were not
engaged in the work following them out of curiosity to see them
at work.
Percival and his gang went ahead, and shortly after they had started,
Jack and his boys followed, Jack with a level over his shoulder and
boys with flags, axes, chains and other things necessary in the work,
accompanying him, all in high spirits.
Billy Manners had a magazine camera slung over his shoulder and as
the boys set out at a brisk walk he ran ahead of the party, turned
his camera upon them, and took a snap shot, saying with a laugh:
"There, that's the first exhibit. That shows us on our way to build
a railroad."
"You did not get yourself in it, Billy," said Jack as they went on.
"There isn't room on the plate for him; he's too fat," remarked
young Smith, who carried a pair of signal flags and a pole. "You
would need a bigger lens to get Billy on the plate."
The boys went on at a good gait and at length were surprised by
hearing a considerable noise ahead of them, loud and angry voices
of men being the principal part of the disturbance.
"Hello! there is trouble ahead," cried Harry. "I wonder what it is
all about?"
"We will find out in a few minutes," said Jack, hurrying forward,
the others quickly following.
In a short time they came to a little station in the woods, not
much more than a shack, by the way, and here they saw Percival
and his gang opposed by a number of men of rough appearance, who
were talking in loud and angry tones and with threatening gestures.
"Hello! I've got to get this!" exclaimed Billy, pointing his camera
at the group and giving the bulb a squeeze. "This'll be the second
exhibit, trouble on the line. I wonder what it is all about?"
The arrival of the other party was somewhat of a surprise to the men
and they fell back a pace, Jack hurrying toward Percival and asking:
"What is the matter, Dick? What do these men want?"
"They say that we are going to ruin their farms by running a road
through them," replied Percival. "I'd like to know where they are.
I never heard of any farms through here, nor any one else."
"Well, they is!" snarled one of the men, a big, rough-looking
fellow with a shaggy beard and long hair which seemed not to have
been combed in a month. "They is farms here and they's trout
brooks an' pasters an' we ain't goin' to have 'em ruined by no
railroad."
"You will have to see the company," answered Jack quietly. "We
are not going to build immediately anyhow. We are only surveying
now. The company has given us the right to do this, and if they
were going to ruin any farms they would not do it. Where are the
farms? I am pretty well acquainted with this section and I don't
know of any farms worth mentioning in all of it. We have authority
from the railroad to make our surveys and you had better see some
of the officers before you make trouble. Dr. Wise also will give
you all the information you require. He is with the rest of the
boys, about half a mile back."
"Well, we was told you was going to ruin our farms, and we won't
stand fer that. You talk all right, but the fust thing we know
we'll be druv out o' house an' home an' all our crops sp'iled."
"You should have them in by this time. Who told you that your farms
would be ruined?"
"Well, we was told, anyhow, an' we warn ye that if any damage is
done to our farms or crops ye'll have ter suffer fer it. We ain't
goin' to be ground under by no graspin' mono'ly, we ain't, an' yer'
goin' to know it fust as last."
"There is no grasping monopoly in it," said Percival impatiently.
"We have a right from the railroad to make our surveys and we are
going to make 'em. I don't believe there is a farm within ten
miles and you don't look like farmers."
"Send some one back for the doctor, Dick," said Jack, who saw
that his friend's words had angered the men. "Who told you that
we were going to ruin your farms?" he added, turning directly to
the big man.
"I don't have to tell ye!" blustered the other. "I know what
railroads is an' we ain't goin' to have none on 'em rootin' up our
land, an' if ye sot up any o' them machines here we're goin'
ter---Hi! don't shoot!"
Billy Manners had suddenly turned his camera upon the follow,
considering him a good subject for a picture, and was just about
to squeeze the bulb when the man caught sight of him and sprang back.
"Ah! keep still," cried Billy in disgust. "You've spoiled the
picture. It would've been a fine one if you'd kept quiet."
"I don't want my picter took!" growled the big man, falling back
among the others. "Ye want ter use it ag'in me, that's what. I know
you fellers. An' ye ain't goin' to run no railroad, nuther!"
Jack looked around and quickly discovered that young Smith was
missing, and at once came to the conclusion that he had gone off
to get the doctor so as to settle the dispute about the surveying.
"If you will wait till we can send for Dr. Wise," he said to the
men, "he will assure you that we have every right to make the
survey, as well as to build the road. Will you send some one, Dick?"
"I will go," said Kenneth Blaisdell, who was one of Percival's party.
"All right, Ken, go ahead," and the boy set off through the woods,
Jack noticing at the same time that two of the men slipped away
with the evident intention of waylaying him and preventing him from
delivering the message to the doctor.
"I suspected as much," he thought. "Well, they don't know that young
J.W. has already started. He will get through all right, for although
he's little, he can be depended upon."
Then Jack gave Percival a wink and stepped back a little.