"We'll get the 'bus driver to take this over to town," said Mr. Prenter,
as he signed the dispatch.
"You had better send your dispatch by Nicolas, who is so faithful that he
can't be pumped, and he never talks about things that he shouldn't."
The Mexican was accordingly sent away in the stage. When he returned
Nicolas busied himself with getting supper and setting it on the table.
Superintendent Renshaw returned from the work in time to join the others
at table.
"Mr. Reade, how are you going to protect the works to-night?" inquired the
superintendent.
"I'm going to order Foreman Corbett and twenty men to night duty," Tom
answered. "The motor boat will also be out to-night. We'll have every
bit of the wall watched by men with lanterns."
"What you ought to do," suggested Treasurer Prenter, "is to light the
breakwater up with electric lights. You have steam power enough here, and
with a dynamo you could supply current to the lights."
"There's the expense to be considered," mildly observed President Bascomb.
"The expense is a good deal less than having the wall damaged by more
explosions," said Prenter, rather sharply. "Reade, how long would it take
you to get an electric light service going?"
"It ought not to take more than three or four days, sir, if we can pick up
a suitable dynamo in Mobile.
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