Exasperating as it is to see the tons of coal melting away with the smallest mileage to our credit, one has at least the satisfaction of active fighting and the hope of better fortune.

To wait idly is the worst of conditions.

You can imagine how often and how restlessly we climbed to the crow's nest and studied the outlook.

And strangely enough there was generally some change to note.

A water lead would mysteriously open up a few miles away or the place where it had been would as mysteriously close.