第23节 (第1/2页)

    tchislighted,fallbackifpossiblebeforethearrivalof

    heavybodiesoftheene.”

    ”nothinguldbebetter,”lieutenantdeupasexclaid,andthe

    otherofficersagreed.

    ”ovent”

    ”thedayaftertorropesaid.”thatwill

    giveusplentyoftitosendorderstotheothertpanies;

    andthesooisdohebetter.”

    theobreakup,hesurgeonwhohad

    listenedinsilencesaid:

    ”thegeneralplanissileenoughbut,tell,howdoyoupropose

    tosetaboutbloaybeabletoholditfor

    halfanhour,atst.hohinkofproceeding”

    jorteeandhisofficerslookedateachother.theyhadnot,as

    yet,thoughtthetterover;buttheinstantitplainly

    beforethetheysahedifficulty.

    ”oh,”lieutenantdeupassaid,ly,”ourse,

    putthenitroglyesoiddleofthetunnel,and

    blohewholeaffairup.”

    lieutenantdeupashadbeenasailor;andhisquiessof

    decisionandgoahead,straightf

    dehiatoothen;whohad

    niadhigraesse,”or,asweshouldsayinenglish,

    the”express.”

    ”iafraidthetterisratherrediffiagine,

    deupas,”jorteesaid,ile.”thisisin

    ribouvillesheengineers,hewillknowall

    aboutit.”

    theoffie;but

    sathhisheadonhishand,ihought.

    ”ifeelashadtoo,”hesaid,atlast;”butireallydonot

    knoattersoastohaveaceof

    reallydestroyiunnel,aftersoshortatifor

    <,briedtuhe

    propositionofdeupasslightlydifiedhave

    theeffectingdohebriing,ahbehind

    self;buthatuinthesolidrock,

    it.thenaturalstrengthofthetunnelwouldbe

    sogreatthattheforceoftheexplosionplybelost,

    throughtheends.itghthtndoassesof

    rock,butoneuldnotrelyuponitdoihat.

    ”ifihadti,thetterakea

    deepchaerinthesolidrock,atthesideofthetunnel;i

    charge,aaorfastenitin,asonry.thiswould

    esdestru,atthepointofexplosion;butihaveno

    hopeofadagebeingdone,byrelyputtingtwobarrels

    ofnitroglyedo.i

    assureyouthepoihedooreseriousand,as

    farasiseeatpresent,iulddonothinginhalfanhourh

    ake

    suhaerasispeakoftohlye

    heanddayeven

    htheaidofpoofthe

    questiontohopeforasnyhours.”

    thereeation,aslieutenantribouvillespoke.

    heree,froeyhadexpected

    soch.atthisti,thegernshadnootherlineofrailat

    theirnd;aruofthetunnelwouldhavebeena

    disaster,equaltothatofthelossofapitchedbattle.

    ”t