"Excellently," responded Don Antonio. "I believe that a partial survey
has been made clear across. From the Atlantic end at Limon Bay the
line follows up along the right bank of the Chagres, about to Gorgona,
where it crosses and uses the old treasure-trail over Culebra Pass to
Panama."

"Then we'll see the survey, to-morrow?"

"No, senor, I fear not. You will follow the Camina Reale (Royal Road)
from Cruces, which runs far to the northward of the other trail from
Gorgona. But tell me, you being so lately from the United States, what
is the report upon this Panama Railroad? The Americans are to build
it, we hear."

"Yes, sir. A French company had the contract to cross this part of New
Granada with a railroad, but they didn't do anything, and at the
beginning of this year an American company got the right. The company
is formed by William Henry Aspenwall, John Lloyd Stevens, and Henry
Chauncy, of New York. The contract runs for forty-nine years from date
of completion of the road, which must be finished within six years. No
doubt the active construction will begin this fall or winter, at Colon;
and I am glad to know that the preliminary survey is already being
made. A railroad is badly needed."

"Ah, but the difficulties will be immense, senors," said the Dona
Isabella. "Swamps, mountains, fevers, wild beasts, rains--!" and she
exclaimed in Spanish, with despairing gesture of her white hands.

"It will be done, if the Americans go at it," asserted Don Antonio.
"You Americans are a wonderful people. I shall send our Pascal north,
this coming winter, to be an American. Eh, Pascal? He must learn
English, too. I myself was educated at Lima, where there are many
Americans and English."

"If I was going to be home you could send Pascal to St. Louis, Don
Antonio," spoke Charley, impulsively. "Then I could show him 'round."

"He would enjoy that, I'm sure," answered Don Antonio; and Pascal, as
if understanding, smiled friendly across the table at Charley.

"Yes, sir; a year or so in the States would do him good," agreed Mr.
Grigsby.

"Our friend Captain Crosby will take care of him," said Don Antonio.
"The matter has been arranged. And now after the railroad," he
continued, "will come the ship canal, no doubt. That will be a still
greater undertaking."

Mr. Adams nodded.

"Yes, I believe you. A canal across this Isthmus of Darien, as the old
navigators termed it, has been talked of ever since