Kipps appeared to be a good-natured man, and Deck declined to take a seat on the bench with him simply because it would place him where he could not see the signal when his father made it. The man did not seem to be so intent upon driving in the heads of the spikes in the planks as he had been, and perhaps he thought he had worked hard enough to entitle him to a rest. "Jest come and take a seat here, Deck Lyons; you look all worn out, and you need a little rest," said Kipps, as Deck placed himself at the end of the fence. "I'm not all worn out, and I think I can stand it to keep on my feet a while longer," replied the signalman. "Well, you must git tired luggin' them things round all day," persisted the mechanic. "What things?" "Why, that shooter on your back, and that broadsword a-danglin' agin your shins." "They are not very heavy, and not so much of a load as your sledge-hammer and adze." "I'm used to kerryin' them; but I'll bet a day's pay that gun on your back is heavier'n my hammer." "I don't bet, but my carbine is lighter than your sledge," replied Deck; and it seemed to him as though the workman was trying to accomplish some object, though he could not make out what it was. "Besides, I don't have to lug my arms without any help, for I am generally on horse-back." "Have you seen Tom Lobkill about here in your travels on this bridge?" asked Kipps, suddenly changing the subject of the conversation. "I don't happen to know Tom Lobkill, and I don't know whether I have seen him or not." "Don't you know Tom Lobkill? I thought every man in Tennessee knew Tom." "That may be; but as I never put foot in Tennessee yet, I never happened to meet him," replied Deck. "I reckon this is Kentucky," added Kipps, with a mild horse-laugh. "You see, we fellers that work on the railroad don't allers mind jest what State we're in, for we keep shiftin' from one to another all the time." "But I think you don't have to do much shifting between Kentucky and Tennessee at the present time," suggested Deck. "Not as much as we did a while ago. If you hain't seen Tom Lobkill, did you come across Lank Rablan in your travels on the road?" asked Kipps, as he rose from his seat, and walked to the end of the fence, though he still remained behind it. "I don't know him any better than I do the other fellow, and I haven't seen him. You seem to have a good many friends about here, Brown Kipps." "Not a great crowd; there ain't but four on us, and t'other is Sykes Wimble. I s'pose you hain't seen nothin' o' him, nuther?" "I don't know him," replied Deck, more curious yet to know what the man was driving at. "What are you four doing about here?" "We are on the railroad." "So I supposed; and I suppose one of you is the president of the company, and perhaps the other three are the vice-presidents," said the cavalryman, quite as good-natured as his companion.