The Nerve of Foley, and Other Railroad Stories

ths things went smoot

of the dry season, the lads worked hard. Almost

o the shore; the motor-car, its mechanism not altogether use

chinery, while the remaining derricks, practically the whole of the wire rigging, and all

the camp. The remainder of the explosive had been judiciously used-under Andy's direction, for his experiences at San Eu

hurricane would sweep away every vestige of the ill-fated vessel, but the casta

n reared itself proudly upon the second terrace. Its furniture-the best that the state-rooms and ca

the lower terrace. Then, by means of a steel hawser attached to two sets of trucks, th

anks to Andy's ready skill

but to this proposal Andy objected, having another purpose in vi

attached to each of his "trains." Those on the upper level he filled with earth, till the weight, being greater than the other

dy conceived the brilliant idea of trapping some of the water from the little stream, and co

ll working order, and the task of hauling the salved ca

eak on his feet, he was able to walk, and showed promise of

had grown stout. This was a source of worry to him,

the lads found time to make use o

pended on the work, they cut the boat in two, and built transoms to each of the sound ends. Thus th

soms together, and thus form one boat, resembling the o

the lads given her a fairly deep keel, to make her more seaworthy, but a cabin, water-tight well, and decked fo'c's

o consume kerosene. They had a plentiful supply of that fuel, but of petrol they had none. Neverthe

ppy in their little domain, for plenty of work had proved the greatest factor to their

to be a risky voyage, but others had done similar passages under worse conditions. Blythe, of H.M.S. Bounty

eason was heralded by a h

ivulets into foaming torrents. The usually placid surface of the lagoon became a seething cauldron

those breakers, for on the morning following the commencement of t

ws rattled and the doors shook to such an extent that it became necessary to barricade the

me monotonous. It was too hot to wear oilskins, the ground was too soft to walk on without sinking ankle deep in mir

nish charts and treatises on navigation became a pleasure; paper and writin

greatest pleasure and amusement was

en his own language. Nevertheless, before the rainy season was over, Quexo could understand most of what

-passed, its departure being marked by almost a

spread the island. The air resembled that of a h

the mud disappeared as if by the touch of a magic wand, and the in

emarked Mr. McKay. "We shall then have more chance of a wind, and the zone of the Tr

k my plan for making a water-jacket will succeed, and inst

valuable, especially if we lose the ben

an iron boss; for, in order to prevent the boat from being unduly kept back while under sail alone, he ha

d, had embarked upon a somewhat ambitious programme

"what's the use? We are le

ild day-dreams, but still, my plans may mature, and there's a living to be made out of the island. But to deal with present events; the dynamo will be of great service to us,

" assented Andy. "S

ug a deep trench close to the brink of the lower terrace, t

om the iron plates obtained from the same source. A portion of the ship's piston rods formed

ench, and as the last barrier to its progress was removed the water rushed through its new channel. Then, wit

y of the McKay Island Power Company. "But how are you going to stop the wheel? It will so

ce. "We must make a hatch to trap the

. The lads were highly delighted, and suggested sev

succeeded in duly installing the motor in the yawl, and on a trial

med, as the craft was moored for the night. "Let's turn i

ed bright and ca

as the lads, laden with provisions and tins of ke

his eyes f

his gaze, and simultaneo

sai