1520, when Charles
the Fifth of Spain ordered a survey made. I expect to live to see the
railroad completed; whether I or you or any of us here will see a
canal, I don't know. But there'll be one; there'll be one."

That evening, after supper, Dona Isabella played charmingly on the
guitar, while amidst the shrubbery before the house the enormous
fire-flies made long streaks of light or blazed like jewels on leaf and
twig. With the graceful Pascal Charley chased and captured some.
Pascal had a wicker cage partly full of them, and used it as a lantern.
He lent it to Charley to go to bed by!

From the chase Charley returned to the porch in time to hear Don
Antonio discussing the road to Panama.

"The distance is twenty miles," he said, "and must be made in daylight.
The old road is not what it was in the time of golden Panama, when it
was kept open by the treasure trains. I would not hurry you,
gentlemen, but you should start early in the morning, for this is our
rainy season and you are liable to be delayed."

"It is a paved road, you say, sir?" queried Mr. Adams.

"After a fashion," smiled Don Antonio, "but laid more than 300 years
ago. From Panama to Cruces it was paved with flat stones, and was made
wide enough for two carts to pass one another. That, too, senors, was
a great undertaking, through the jungle and over the mountains, and
hundreds of poor natives died at the work. Ah, what millions in gold
and silver and precious stones, to enrich us Spaniards, have traveled
that long road all the way from the Pacific to the Atlantic! The
portion between Cruces and Panama has been kept open the longest, for
soon after the completion of the whole vessels began to ply back and
forth between Cruces and Chagres, and the lower road was not so much
used."

"You spoke of animals for our use to-morrow," suggested Mr. Adams.

"They shall be ready, senor. We at the Hacienda las Flores do not need
to keep horses and mules for hire, but I have plenty for my friends."

"We wish to pay for their use, sir," spoke Mr. Adams, quickly. "We
would not think of accepting them, otherwise. That is only fair.
Isn't it so, Grigsby?"

"I say the same," agreed the Fremonter.

Don Antonio politely bowed.

"In that case," he answered, "I shall yield. The regular hire from
Cruces to Panama is ten dollars each for the riding animals, and six
dollars for each 100 pounds of freight. However, the animals ate at
your disposal with