Chapter XVI
“Well! but I can't help it," said Kiliat.
Ormond looked at him,
"No," he said, "I didn't suppose you could. You're not built that way. But you can back me up when your father comes along to ask questions. And I think that he will probably come very soon. To-day most likely."
"What — ^what the devil have you been doing?" cried Kiliat, in wrath.
Ormond was patching a nine-inch pipe. The pipe was red-hot in the sunshine ; the plate was hot, and the tap turned stickily in lus hands. He grovelled for a dropped bolt in the half- dried clay of the underway, picked it out, and said:
"I wrote telling him that I meant to chuck the whole thing if he is not here before Friday. And as he knows you pretty well, I fancy that he will be here before Friday."
"Chuck it! You can't chuck it! I— I— I— can't run this plant, Ormond."
Ormond raised himself, rubbing back the
rough hair on his forehead.
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