That was a good beginning; for every one of them seemed to speak to him of the salt ocean. After that he went farther down the bill of fare and selected such dishes as, he said, "nobody ever saw in Crofield." It was a grand dinner, and Jack was almost afraid he had been too long over it. He went out to the office and looked around, and asked the clerk if Mr. Magruder had been inquiring for him. "Not yet, Mr. Ogden," said the clerk. "He is not yet through dinner. Did you find your room all right?" "All right," said Jack. "I'll sit down and wait for Mr. Magruder." It was an hour before the railway gentlemen returned. There were twice as many of them now, however, and Mr. Magruder remarked: "Come, Ogden, we won't detain you long. After that you can do what you like. Thank you very much, too." Jack followed them into a private sitting-room, which seemed to him so richly furnished that he really wished it had been plainer; but he found the men very straightforward about their business. They all sat down around the table in the middle of the room. "We'll finish Ogden first, and let him go," said Mr. Magruder, laughing. "Ogden, here's a map of Crofield and all the country from there to Mertonville. I want to ask some questions." He knew what to ask, too; but Jack's first remark was not an answer. "Your map's all wrong," said he. "There isn't sand and gravel in that hill across the Cocahutchie, beyond the bridge." [Illustration: _"Your map's all wrong," said Jack._] "What is there, then?" asked a gentleman, who seemed to be one of the civil engineers, pettishly. "I say it's earth and gravel, mainly." "Clear granite," said Jack. "Go down stream a little and you'll see." "All right," exclaimed Mr. Magruder; "it will be costly cutting it, but we shall want the stone. Go ahead now. You're just the man we needed." Jack thought so before they got through, for he had to tell all there was to tell about the country, away down to Link's bridge. "Look here," said one of them, quizzically. "Ogden, have you lived all your life in every house in Crofield and in Mertonville and everywhere? You know even the melon-patches and hen-roosts!" "Well, I know some of 'em," said Jack, coloring and trying to join in the general laugh. "I wouldn't talk so much, but Mr. Magruder asked me to stay over and tell what you didn't know." Then the laughter broke out again, and it was not at Jack's expense. They had learned all they expected from him, however, and Mr. Magruder thanked him very heartily. "I hope you'll have a good time to-morrow," he said. "Look at the city. I'll see that you have a ticket ready for the boat." "I didn't expect--" began Jack. "Nonsense, Ogden," said Mr. Magruder. "We owe you a great deal, my boy. I wouldn't have missed knowing about that granite ledge. It's worth something to us. The ticket will be handed you by the clerk. Good-evening, Jack Ogden. I hope I'll see you again, some day."