tchislighted,fallbackifpossiblebeforethearrivalof</p>
heavybodiesoftheene.”</p>
”nothinguldbebetter,”lieutenantdeupasexclaid,andthe</p>
otherofficersagreed.</p>
”ovent”</p>
”thedayaftertorropesaid.”thatwill</p>
giveusplentyoftitosendorderstotheothertpanies;</p>
andthesooisdohebetter.”</p>
theobreakup,hesurgeonwhohad</p>
listenedinsilencesaid:</p>
”thegeneralplanissileenoughbut,tell,howdoyoupropose</p>
tosetaboutbloaybeabletoholditfor</p>
halfanhour,atst.hohinkofproceeding”</p>
jorteeandhisofficerslookedateachother.theyhadnot,as</p>
yet,thoughtthetterover;buttheinstantitplainly</p>
beforethetheysahedifficulty.</p>
”oh,”lieutenantdeupassaid,ly,”ourse,</p>
putthenitroglyesoiddleofthetunnel,and</p>
blohewholeaffairup.”</p>
lieutenantdeupashadbeenasailor;andhisquiessof</p>
decisionandgoahead,straightf</p>
dehiatoothen;whohad</p>
niadhigraesse,”or,asweshouldsayinenglish,</p>
the”express.”</p>
”iafraidthetterisratherrediffiagine,</p>
deupas,”jorteesaid,ile.”thisisin</p>
ribouvillesheengineers,hewillknowall</p>
aboutit.”</p>
theoffie;but</p>
sathhisheadonhishand,ihought.</p>
”ifeelashadtoo,”hesaid,atlast;”butireallydonot</p>
knoattersoastohaveaceof</p>
reallydestroyiunnel,aftersoshortatifor</p>
<,briedtuhe</p>
propositionofdeupasslightlydifiedhave</p>
theeffectingdohebriing,ahbehind</p>
self;buthatuinthesolidrock,</p>
it.thenaturalstrengthofthetunnelwouldbe</p>
sogreatthattheforceoftheexplosionplybelost,</p>
throughtheends.itghthtndoassesof</p>
rock,butoneuldnotrelyuponitdoihat.</p>
”ifihadti,thetterakea</p>
deepchaerinthesolidrock,atthesideofthetunnel;i</p>
charge,aaorfastenitin,asonry.thiswould</p>
esdestru,atthepointofexplosion;butihaveno</p>
hopeofadagebeingdone,byrelyputtingtwobarrels</p>
ofnitroglyedo.i</p>
assureyouthepoihedooreseriousand,as</p>
farasiseeatpresent,iulddonothinginhalfanhourh</p>
ake</p>
suhaerasispeakoftohlye</p>
heanddayeven</p>
htheaidofpoofthe</p>
questiontohopeforasnyhours.”</p>
thereeation,aslieutenantribouvillespoke.</p>
heree,froeyhadexpected</p>
soch.atthisti,thegernshadnootherlineofrailat</p>
theirnd;aruofthetunnelwouldhavebeena</p>
disaster,equaltothatofthelossofapitchedbattle.</p>
”therehere,ofourhidinginthewoods</p>