“That’s because you two are not only attending High School, but also trying to blaze out your future path in life,” laughed Dave.

“Well, the rest of you fellows had better be serious about your careers in life,” urged Tom.  “It isn’t every pair of fellows, of course, who’ve been as fortunate as Harry and I.”

“No; and all fellows can’t be suited by the same chances, which is a good thing,” replied Prescott.  “For my part, I wouldn’t find much of any cheer in the thought that I was going to be allowed to carry a transit, a chain or a leveler’s rod through life.”

“Well, we don’t expect to be working in the baggage department of our profession forever,” protested Harry Hazelton, with so much warmth that Dave Darrin chuckled.

Tom and Harry had decided that civil or railroad engineering, or both, perhaps, combined with some bridge building, offered them their best chances of pleasant employment in life.

Mr. Appleton, a local civil engineer with whom the pair had talked had offered to take them into his office for preliminary training. because at the High School, Tom and Harry had already qualified in the mathematical work necessary for a start.

No practicing civil engineer in these days feels that he has the time or the inclination to take a beginner into his office and teach him all of the work from the ground up.  On the other hand, a boy who has been grounded well in algebra, geometry and trigonometry may then easily enter the office of a practicing civil engineer and begin with the tools of the profession.  Transit manipulation and readings, the use of the plummet line, the level, compass, rod, chain and staking work may all be learned thus and a knowledge of map drawing imparted to a boy who has a natural talent for the work.

It undoubtedly is better for the High School boy to go to a technical school for his course in civil engineering; yet with a foundation of mathematics and a sufficient amount of determination, the High School boy may go direct to the engineer’s office and pick up his profession.  Boys have done this, and have afterwards reached honors in their profession.

So Tom and Harry had their future picked out, as they saw it.  As soon as they had learned enough of the rudiments, both were resolved to go out to the far West, and there to pick up more, much more, right in the camps of engineers engaged in surveying and laying railroads.

“You fellows can talk about us going to work in the baggage department of our profession,” pursued Tom Meade, a slight flush on his manly face.  “But, Dick, you and Dave are in the dream department, for you fellows have only a hazy notion that—–­perhaps—–­you may be able to work your way into the government academies at West Point and Annapolis.  As for Greg and Dan, they don’t appear to have even a dream of what they hope to do in future.”

“You fellows haven’t been spreading the news that Dave and I want to go to Annapolis and West Point, have you!” asked Dick seriously.