Harry believed to be feasible.

He did not think it would cost very much. If this telegraph line only
extended across the creek, not more than half a mile of wire, at the
utmost, would be required.

Nothing need be expended for poles, as there were tall pine-trees on
each side of the creek that would support the wire; and there were two
cabins, conveniently situated, in which the instruments could be placed.

Harry had thoroughly considered all these matters, having been down to
the creek several times on purpose to take observations.

The procuring of the telegraphic instruments, however, and the necessity
of having an operator on the other side, presented difficulties not easy
to surmount.

But Harry did not despair.

To be sure the machines would cost money, and so would the wire,
insulators, etc., but then the mica company would surely be willing to
pay a good price to have their messages transmitted at times when
otherwise they would have to send a man twenty miles to a telegraphic
station.

So if the money could be raised it would pay to do it--at least if the
calculations, with which Harry and Kate had been busy for days, should
prove to be correct.

About the operator on the other side, Harry scarcely knew what to think.
If it were necessary to hire any one, that would eat terribly into the
profits.

Something economical must be devised for this part of the plan.

As to the operator on the Akeville side of the creek, Harry intended to
fill that position himself. He had been interested in telegraphy for a
year or two. He understood the philosophy of the system, and had had the
opportunity afforded him by the operator at Hetertown of learning to
send messages and to read telegraphic hieroglyphics. He could not
understand what words had come over the wires, simply by listening to
the clicking of the instrument--an accomplishment of all expert
telegraphers--but he thought he could do quite well enough if he could
read the marks on the paper slips, and there was no knowing to what
proficiency he might arrive in time.

Of course he had no money to buy telegraphic apparatus, wire, etc., etc.
But he thought he could get it. "How does any one build railroads or
telegraphic lines?" he had said to Kate. "Do they take the money out of
their own pockets?"

Kate had answered that she did not suppose they did, unless the money
was there; and Harry had told her, very confidently, that the money was
never there.