On the ledge Glover was alone. The final detail he was taking into his

own hands. The few that could still command the point saw the red

light moving, and beside it a figure vaguely outlined making its way.

When the red light paused, a spark could be seen, a sputtering blaze

would run slowly from it, hesitate, flare and die. Another and another

of the fuses were touched and passed. With quickening steps tier after

tier was covered, until those looking saw the red light flung at last

into the air. It circled high between the cañon walls in its flight

and dropped like a rocket into the Rat. A muffled report from the

lower tier was followed by a heavier and still a heavier one above. A

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creeping pang shot the heart of the granite, a dreadful awakening was

upon it.

From the tier of the upmost holes came at length the terrific burst of

the heavy mines. The travail of an awful instant followed, the face of

the spur parted from its side, toppled an instant in the confusion of

its rending and with an appalling crash fell upon the river below.

With the fragments still tumbling, the nearest men started with a cheer

from their concealment. Smoke rolling white and sullen upward obscured

the moon, and the cañon air, salt and sick with gases, poured over the

high point on which the Pittsburgers stood. Below, torches were

shooting like fireflies out of the rock. From every vantage point

headlights flashed one after another unhooded on the scene, and the

song of the river mingled again with the calling of the foremen.

"That ends the fireworks," remarked Bucks to those about him. "Let us

watch a moment for Mr. Glover's signal to me. As soon as he inspects

he is to show signals on the Cat's Paw, and if it is a success we will

return at once to Sleepy Cat."

"And by the way, Mr. Bucks, I shall expect you and Mr. Glover up to the

car for my game supper. Have you arranged for him to come?"

"I have, Mrs. Whitney, thank you."

"Oh, see those pretty red lights over there now. What are they?" asked

Louise, who stood with Allen Harrison.

"The signals," exclaimed Bucks. "Three fusees. Good for Glover; that

means success. Shall we go?"

When the sightseers made their way out of the cañon material trains

working from both ends of the break were shoving their loaded flats

noisily up to the ballasting crews and the water was echoing the clang

of the spike mauls, the thud of tamping-irons, the clash of picks, the

splash of tumbling stone, and the ceaseless roll of shovels.

Foot by foot, length by length, the gap was shortened. Bribed by extra

pay, driven by the bosses, and stimulated by the emergency, the work of

the graders became an effort close to fury. Watches were already

consulted and wagers were being laid between rival foremen on the

moment a train should pass the point. Above the peaks the stars

glittered, and high in the sky the moon shot a path of clear light down

the river itself. The camp kettles steamed constantly, and coffee

strong enough to ballast eggs and primed with unusual cordials was

passed every hour among the hundreds along the track.




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