"Bob, he's heard about our difficulty and he is going to fine or fire me," said Steve. Bob's face took on a serious expression. "Then I'm going to see the superintendent," he said in an emphatic tone. "What for, Bob?" "I am going to tell him that you are not to blame--that I forced you into the fight. I'll take whatever punishment is coming to me, but I won't stand by and see you get the worst of it--not for a skip full of red ore." The boys were in their room at the boarding house, they having asked the boarding boss to bunk them in the same room after their fight in the mine. This had been done willingly enough and to their mutual satisfaction. "I guess not," replied Steve firmly. "What do you take me for?" "You know what I take you for. I have already told you." "If I remember correctly, you called me Little Miss Rush up to a couple of days ago," answered Steve, with a twinkle in his eyes. "Forget it. I've changed your name. You're Mr. Big Rush now. Such a walloping as you gave me I never had before in my life. You're a regular little cyclone. And to think that I had picked you for an easy mark." Bob smiled as broadly as his swollen face would permit. "We have agreed to forget that. It was worth while, though, because it was the beginning of our friendship," replied Rush thoughtfully. "We shall never have another misunderstanding." "I hope not." "But we must be going. You will be late for work. I will see the superintendent; then I'll let you know, to-day noon, what he wanted of me." The lads hurried out. "I wish you would let me go with you and tell him," urged Bob. "No. Time enough when he sends for you." As the lads moved along the workmen laughed and some of them jeered, for it was plain that the lads were on terms of intimate friendship. The story of their great battle had been circulated until most of the men in the mine had heard of it. Bob's face flushed angrily. "Never mind, old man," said Steve in a soothing tone. "A lot of those fellows who are laughing at us to-day will be shoveling dirt for you and me before many years have passed." "I doubt it." "I do not. There are great opportunities in this big corporation, and I am going after them. I am after them now, and I propose to take you along with me. You'll find the company will be glad to help us on if they find we are worth helping. Here we are at the superintendent's office. I shall have to leave you now." The boys shook hands warmly, Bob turning reluctantly and going on his way, while Steve ran up the steps and entered the executive building. He asked for the superintendent and was told to go in at once. The clerks all smiled at Steve's disfigured face, but he pretended not to have seen their scrutiny of him. "Good morning, Rush," greeted Mr. Penton, with a quizzical look at his caller. "Good morning, sir. You sent for me." "Yes; sit down."