THE STEAM-SHOVEL MAN
tonation, as if for the moment he was more soldier than engineer.
"He may fight for his neck," said Devlin, "and if he has a chance to get away. He knows that he is caught with the goods. But without Captain Brincker, he is a lame duck."
"And you are sure that young Goodwin is in serious danger?"
"Why not?" and Devlin pounded the desk with his hard fist. "Quesada has motives enough for losing him somewhere."
"I agree with you. And, besides, I should like to recover those commissary stores."
The colonel gazed at the opposite wall, composed and thoughtful. Devlin eyed him wistfully, afraid that he might consider the case as beyond his jurisdiction. Then with a quick glow of heat, the anger of a strong man righteously provoked, the colonel said sharply:
"It is a rotten, abominable performance, clear through. We are wasting time."
Summoning a clerk, he told him:
"Get Captain Brett, the superintendent at Balboa, on the telephone. Tell him that I wish the biggest, fastest tug of the fleet, the Daunt-
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