"You can't spare me from the day's work ?" "I don't believe there will be any day's work," Rutter answered.
"You're in charge, man! You must put us to work," Tom insisted.
"I don't know just what ought to be done," complained Rutter.
"I shall have to wait for orders." "Orders ?" repeated Tom, in almost breathless scorn.

"From whom can you get orders ?" "Howe is Thurston's assistant at the lower camp," Rutter rejoined.
"He'll have to come over here and take real charge.

I'm going to send a messenger to the telegraph station and wire Mr.Howe to come here at once." "See here, Rutter," blazed Tom insistently, "Mr Howe is in charge of the construction forces.

He's laying the bed and the tracks.

He can't be spared from the construction work for even a day, or the road will fail to get through, no matter what we do here.