"The boss lives in there." The man flung another stone, a larger one, which rang upon the iron roof.
"Well," he said, "I guess that ought to fetch him." It evidently did so, for the door of the shanty opened, and a man attired in shirt and trousers came out.

He was a big, lean man, somewhat hard of face, and he favored the assembly with a glance of quiet scrutiny, for he was, as it happened, acquainted with the habits of the free companions.
"Getting impatient, boys ?" he asked, and his voice, which was curiously steady, had in it a certain unmistakable ring.

It suggested that he was one accustomed to command.

"Well, what do you want ?" "A job," said one of Weston's companions.
The man looked at him with no great favor.
"Quite sure it isn't money?
You can't have one without the other here." Then Grenfell rose and waved his hand.
"The explanation, I may observe, is unnecessary.

In this country you don't get money anywhere without first doing a good deal for it.
Unfortunately, it sometimes happens that you don't get it then." "How long is it since you did anything worth counting ?" asked the captain.
One of Grenfell's companions pulled him down before he had a chance to reply.
"Now you sit right down before you spoil things," he said.