The Boy Chums in the Florida Jungle

  CHAPTER XII.

  CHARLEY GETS A NEW CREW.

  CHARLEY stopped the car in front of the camp and jumped nimbly out,followed by the two white men, whom he introduced to the two boys as"Bob Bratten and Will Kitchner, our new engineers." Both were wellknown to McCarty, and the three were soon busy recalling old timeson other jobs where they had worked together. But Walter was chieflyinterested in the new men who were climbing out of the car with theirsuit-cases in their hands.

  "Gee, Charley," he whispered, "what kind of crew is this you havebrought, a bunch of tourists?"

  "They look like it, don't they?" Charley grinned. "But have youforgotten your manners? Can't you say good day to them, at least?"

  "Good day, men," said Walter pleasantly, but his greeting was ignored,save by one of the strange men, who had a cast in his left eye and ahumorous twist of the mouth. "Good day, _senor_," he said, with a grin."These men no savey Americano. Me speak Americano plentee. Four yearsthis country. Work plentee on dredges."

  "This is Bossie," Charley said, with a smile. "He is going to beone of our firemen and also interpreter." He waved his hand towardthe empty tents. "Tell the men to put their things in them and makethemselves comfortable, Bossie," he said.

  "Spaniards!" exclaimed Walter. "Where in the world did you get hold ofthem?"

  "Miami," said Charley happily. "I got the pick of four hundred of themthat had just been laid off from work by the East Coast Railway Co.They have all had experience in this kind of work. There are severalfiremen among them, and that Bossie could even be trusted to run themachine, I believe. They are the best class of laborers that thereis in Florida to-day. They are cleanly, hard-working, contented andambitious. I've got two good engineers, too. But I must not stand heretalking. I had to leave some Spaniards in Jupiter. I could not bringthem all on one trip. I told them I'd be right back, so I will have togo. I'll be back with them before dinner."

  "Shall we start up the machine?" Walter asked.

  "No, wait until I get back. There are some things I want to talkover with all hands first. Here are those parts for the pump. TellMcCarty to have it fixed up this morning, so that we can start up thisafternoon. I've got lots to talk over with you and the Captain, butthat will have to wait. So long; I'll be back in a couple of hours."

  Walter watched the truck out of sight with a grin. "He sure is doingsome hustling," he said to himself.

  Before noon, Charley was back with the second load of Spaniards, andhe also brought a yellow-skinned negro lad of about Chris' size andage. The Spaniards immediately made their way to the tents where theirfellow countrymen had already unpacked and changed their fine clothesfor overalls and jumpers.

  Charley led the little negro to the cook tent, and lifted up the flap."Here's your assistant, Chris," he said. "I hope he will give yousatisfaction." He stepped quickly outside again, but stopped there,with a grin on his face, and beckoned to Walter to listen to theconversation that was going on inside.

  "Hello, nigger," Chris was saying. "Where you come from?"

  "Bimini," said the other negro meekly.

  "Dat's where dey raise de laziest niggers in de world," Chriscommented. "What's your name?"

  "Sam Roberts," responded the cowed assistant.

  "All right, you Sam. You get to work an' set dem tables, 'causedinner's going to be ready mighty soon. After dinner I'll decide jus'what I wants you to do each day. Get to work dar widout no grumbling.I'se de boss in dis cook tent, an', if you don't do like I says, I'segoin' to gib you a worse lickin' dan youah mammy ebber gib you."

  When they were called to dinner later, it was to find the newassistant, shiny-faced from soap and water, serving hot venison steaksand mashed potatoes to both tables, while Chris watched him with acritical eye.

  The two new engineers proved to be pleasant, healthy, vigorous, youngmen, and, before the dinner was over, those at the American table hadgot well acquainted with each other, while the Spaniards at the nexttable chattered noisily like a lot of magpies.

  "I wish you would all come over to my tent," Charley requested, whenthe meal was over. "I want to say a few words to you before we startwork."

  When they had all collected in the little tent, the lad spoke outfrankly. "This is rather an uncertain piece of work we are on,friends," he said; "and it largely depends upon you whether we cancarry it through. We are pressed for time to complete it, and we havepretty nearly reached the end of our capital. Some unknown enemy istrying to stop or delay the work, for some reason I do not understand.If you will all do your best, I believe we will pull out all right, butit's going to be close work. Two things we must do: keep the machinerunning, and beware of all strangers. Allow no stranger to come nearthe machine. McCarty has been longest on this job, so when you are indoubt about anything you can consult him. Now you can fix the watchesto suit yourselves and pick your crews."

  The question of shifts and crews was quickly settled between theengineers, Bob Bratton taking the first watch, from 12:00 o'clock until8:00 o'clock at night. From 8:00 P. M. until 4:00 A. M. would be WillKitchner's watch, while McCarty's trick would be from 4:00 A. M. untilnoon. This order, they agreed, should be changed each week, so that oneman would not have to do all the night work. Each engineer understoodsome Spanish, and they soon picked out experienced firemen and groundmen from among the Spaniards. As soon as all was settled, Bratton, withhis crew, left for the machine, and the rest dispersed, to get thingssettled in their tents and to gain a little rest before it came theirturn to go on duty.

  As soon as our little party was alone, Walter related to the others thefinding of the dynamite under the machine, and the presence of the fourconvicts in the near neighborhood.

  "There's something big going on, but I can't imagine what it is,"Charley said gravely.

  "I reckon this road building is interfering with someone's plans, orthey wouldn't be wanting to stop it," Captain Westfield observed.

  "Sure," Walter agreed, "but who is this somebody, and what is his planthat we are interfering with?"

  "I expect we will get a clew to that before long," Charley saidthoughtfully. "As soon as they see we are going to push things theywill likely try to stop us. They got at Murphy through his engineers,apparently. But they can't get at us in that way. In fact, I don'tsee any way they can get at us, if we are careful and keep a sharplookout. We've got good engineers, and a good crew, now, and I broughtout two extra men, so as to have plenty of help in case of sickness oraccident."

  "How about those convicts?" Walter asked.

  "I'm going in day after to-morrow for the supplies I ordered fromJacksonville, and I'll telegraph the sheriff about them," Charleysaid promptly. "I guess he will lose no time in recapturing them. Inthe meantime we will just have to watch out for them, that's all. Iguess, Walt, you'd better give up the idea of firing--for a while, atany rate. I'll have to spend most of my time running around, and theCaptain will be busy with the graders. It needs someone to keep a sharplookout for any possible trouble or danger."

  "All right," agreed Walter cheerfully. "I'll stay wherever you put me."

  Further conversation was interrupted by one long whistle coming fromthe machine.

  "He's got his boiler filled and is ready to start," Charley exclaimed."Come on; we don't want to miss the start." His three chums were closeat his heels, as he hurried out to the machine. Bratton saw themcoming, and waited.

  "Thought you might like to break a bottle of wine over her before westarted," he said, with a grin. He swung the powerful machine aroundand began to dig.

  Our little party watched with admiration the ease and dexterity withwhich he handled the heavy, panting machine. Each time the big bucketdumped its load of mud in exactly the right spot, as though placedthere by hand.

  They lounged around the machine the greater part of the afternoon,watching with delight the steady progress being made. Except for briefstops, to take on wood and water, the bucket swung back and forth withthe regularity of clockwork.

 
All the way back to camp Charley was silent. "Captain," he askedfinally, "do you think you can handle that grading with three men?"

  "I reckon so," said the old sailor. "Why?"

  "If you can, I want to put the other two men on as night watchmen toguard the camp."

  "Whew!" whistled Walter. "You must be looking for trouble."

  "There's nothing like being prepared for it," Charley replied grimly.