ntractor.

Mountain said it was caused by the embankment settling. "Everything
settles down a little--houses and embankments and all. There's no
danger, Mr. Ransome, believe me."

"Well, sir," said Ransome, "I am not a man of science, but I have got
eyes, and I see the water is very high, and driving against your weak
part. Ah!" Then he remembered Little's advice. "Would you mind opening
the sluice-pipes?"

"Not in the least, but I think it is the engineer's business to give an
order of that kind."

"But he is not here, and professional etiquette must give way where
property and lives, perhaps, are at stake. To tell you the truth, Mr.
Mountain, I have got the advice of an abler man than Mr. Tucker. His
word to me was, 'If the water is as high as they say, don't waste time,
but open the sluices and relieve the dam.'"

The workmen who had said scarcely a word till then, raised an assenting
murmur at the voice of common sense.

Mountain admitted it could do no harm, and gave an order accordingly;
screws wore applied and the valves of the double set of sluice-pipes
were forced open, but with infinite difficulty, owing to the tremendous
pressure of the water.

This operation showed all concerned what a giant they were dealing with;
while the sluices were being lifted, the noise and tremor of the pipes
were beyond experience and conception. When, after vast efforts, they
were at last got open, the ground trembled violently, and the water, as
it rushed out of the pipes, roared like discharges of artillery. So hard
is it to resist the mere effect of the senses, that nearly every body
ran back appalled, although the effect of all this roaring could only
be to relieve the pressure; and, in fact, now that those sluices were
opened, the dam was safe, provided it could last a day or two.

Lights were seen approaching, and Mr. Tucker, the resident engineer,
drove up; he had Mr. Carter, one of the contractors, in the gig with
him.

He came on the embankment, and signified a cold approval of the sluices
being opened.

Then Ransome sounded him about blowing up the waste-wear.

Tucker did not reply, but put some questions to a workman or two. Their
answers showed that they considered the enlargement of the crack a fatal
sign.

Upon this Mr. Tucker ordered them all to stand clear of the suspected
part.

"Now, then," said he, "I built this embankment, and I'll tell you
whether it is going to burst or not."

Then he took