y probable, however, that any invalid, suffering from
"nerves" or some kindred disorder, would have selected this as an ideal
place to recuperate. Everywhere the greatest activity was apparent, and
the combined din of the different machines was a thing to be remembered.
A steam shovel rattled and puffed, cement mixers crashed, and compressed
air drills hammered perseveringly at the living rock. Every once in a
while, work would cease at some point, and the laborers would stand
around expectantly.

Then there would come a muffled roar from some exploded blast, and a
cloud of rocks, dirt, and smoke would shoot upwards. Then the men would
fall to again with renewed energy, the giant steam shovel would be set to
work, and a few more yards of rock would be carried away.

Thus the work proceeded without intermission, and the boys, although now
somewhat used to the sights, looked on fascinated. There was something
very wonderful and awe-inspiring about the whole process that held the
boys spellbound.

"Just think of it," said Bert, after a long Silence. "Imagine us
standing maybe half a mile away from this canal and seeing some big ocean
liner going through it. Why, it will look as though the ship were going
over the solid ground."

"That's what it will, all right," replied Dick. "It's certainly the
biggest thing ever."

"I should think it was," said Tom. "I can't think of anything else that
even compares with it.".

"No, neither can I," said Bert, thoughtfully. "That is, no practicable
project. Of course wild schemes come up now and then to change the
earth's course, or some other crazy idea like that. I remember reading
of a plan like that somewhere. It seems its originator, whoever he was,
planned to build a great ring of iron all around the earth at the
equator, and then charge it with electricity. He figures that the
immense magnetic attraction generated in that way would change the
earth's course by acting on neighboring planets. I haven't much
confidence in the plan, though," and, as Bert said this, he looked at
Tom, slyly.

"Confidence!" exclaimed Tom, with a contemptuous snort. "Why, of all the
fool schemes I ever heard of that's the limit. I shouldn't think you'd
even----" but here he caught the twinkle in Bert's eye, and stopped
abruptly.

"Ha, Ha!" roared Dick, "my, but you had Tom going that time, Bert, he
thought you were in earnest about that."

"Well, why shouldn't I think he was in