"I am going to take you off the Spooner contract and give you another place to work. I have taken a keen interest in you, and I want you to learn all about the workings of the mine." "That is what I am going to do, sir," answered Rush in a quiet but firm tone. "I have decided to place you at the main chute on the same level where you have been working. Your duty will be to dump the cars as they come in. You will be right by the tally-boards and you will learn how we count up there, besides many other things. It is an important point, the central point of each level. After you have become familiar with the operations at that point, perhaps I may be able to transfer you to some other." "I thank you very much, sir. May I ask where Bob Jarvis is going to work? He said he was to be transferred to-day." "Yes; I have put him on the Spooner contract to fill the place you had." Steve smiled. He could well imagine what would happen if Spooner treated Bob as he had treated Steve. Bob was too hot tempered to endure the contractor's insults without resenting them. Mr. Penton seemed to understand what was in Steve's mind. "It will be good for the boy," he nodded. "Every boy needs a certain amount of hard knocks. They make a man of him." "Bob is quite a man already," replied Rush, with a faint smile. Mr. Penton laughed good-naturedly. "Yes, I understand. You will report at the chute at once. Tell the mine captain to inform the time keepers of your change of place. That will be all." Expressing his thanks to the superintendent, Steve left the office and made his way to the mine, to take up his new work--work that was to be much less trying than that of the previous week. After the lad's departure Mr. Penton spent a long time in studying a bundle of reports of the work in the Cousin Jack Mine. His eyes soon lost their twinkle, and his forehead wrinkled with perplexity. "This passes all understanding. This shortage in the output is something that I cannot understand. If I do not find the leakage soon I shall be in trouble with the company," he muttered. Then, putting on his coat and hat, he left the office and started for the mines. CHAPTER XI RUSH MAKES A DISCOVERY Steve's new station was located on the main line of the electric tram road. Long rows of dump cars were drawn there by an electric motor, on which sat a motor-man controlling the speed of the car with one hand, and with the other continually ringing a gong warning everyone to get out of the way. In the narrow levels, there was barely space enough for one to stand between the trams and the wall, but the trams never stopped. Miners were supposed to look out for themselves, according to the code of the tram motor-man.