Oh, but my real task would have been easy if I had been here on deck, and had got Thurston to turn matters over to me.

Reade will be easy! He's only a cub---a booby.

Even if he proved shrewd---well, I have at my disposal several ways of getting rid of him!" Then, aloud, Black went on: "Reade, I'm a candidate for the post of acting assistant chief engineer." "That goes to Rutter, if he'll take it," replied Tom, with a smile.
"Oh, I'll take it," nodded Jack Rutter.

"I can follow orders, when I have someone else to give them." Tom was intentionally pleasant with 'Gene Black.

He intended to remain pleasant---until he was quite ready to act.
Immediately after supper Tom ordered one of the chainmen to saddle a pony and be ready to take a message back to the telegraph service that was rapidly overtaking them.
"I want you to be sure to get a receipt for the message from the operator," Tom explained.