Festing knew he must share the risk of this happening with the head contractor.
By and by somebody knocked at the door, and he got up abruptly as a man came in.
"Dalton!" he exclaimed.
The other smiled and threw off his wet slickers.

It was getting dark, but the firelight touched his face and Festing studied him with surprise.

The lad, whom he had not seen for some years, had grown into a man, and had moreover a look of quiet authority.

He had made rapid progress if he had, as Kerr had stated, been sent to report upon the latter's work.
"You don't seem to have expected me, though, to some extent, I'm responsible for your being here," he said.

"However, I'm remarkably glad we have met again." Festing, awkwardly conscious that his welcome was somewhat cold, indicated a chair, and sitting down opposite began to fill his pipe.
Dalton sometimes wrote to Helen, but had not mentioned his being sent to British Columbia.
"Well," he said, "I was glad to hear you had got a move up once or twice, but it looks as if you had gone farther than I thought." "I had the advantage of a proper training, and the reputation of the engineer who gave it me counted for something, although I might never have got my chance in this country but for you.