point where the canal is entered. As soon as the dredges were ready they went to work and made a channel that permits the largest ships to come up to the shore. We might have left it till the end of the enterprise, but it was better to have it done at the outset, as it facilitates the landing of our material."
At the suggestion of Mr. Colné the party entered a boat, and spent a
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PREPARING FOR A BOAT EXCURSION.
half-hour or more in an excursion around the harbor. While they were being propelled by the strong arms of six negro boatmen from the West Indies, their entertainer told them about the history of the canal enterprise. Frank and Fred listened eagerly to the narration, and the former made notes of its most important points. With the aid of these memoranda we will endeavor to repeat the story.
Note. — This book was written and in the hands of the publishers previous to the burning of Aspinwall by insurgents, in March, 1885.
