"Look out for the crossing, Mr.Reade!" Hardly had the superintendent finished speaking when a sharp hiss sounded from an open window.

Then another and more hisses, from different buildings.
"A few snakes left in the grass," Tom remarked jokingly.
"Oh, you've stirred up a nest of 'em, Mr.Reade," rejoined the superintendent.
Tom laughed as Harry added: "Let's hope that there are no poisonous reptiles among them.

It would be rough on poisonous snakes to have Tom find them." Then the three horsemen turned the corner near the Mansion House.
Superintendent Hawkins looked grave as he noted a crowd before the hotel.
"Mr.Reade, I believe those men are there waiting to see you.

I'm certain they've not gathered just to talk about the weather." There was a movement in the crowd, and a suppressed, surly murmur, as the engineer party was sighted.
Tom Reade, however, rode forward at the head of his party, alighting close to the crowd, which numbered fifty or sixty men.

The young chief engineer signed to one of the stable boys, who came forward, half reluctantly, and took the bridles of the three horses to lead them away.
Jim Duff, backed by three other men, stepped forward.