at there are certain things here that I was meant to tackle
and this new canal is one of them. If I go to smash it was intended
that I smash, and that doesn't worry me a bit. I'm not working for
myself, or even in a definite way for my shareholders, but I'm trying
to adapt the forces and resources of nature to the use of man. Don't
you see?"

"I think so." Belding began to perceive that he was caught up as a
small unit in a great forward movement that encompassed not only
himself but thousands of others.

"So once again, thank you for what you said. It was a bit of a job,
wasn't it?"

"The toughest thing I ever tackled."

Clark's eyes twinkled with amusement. "I know it. Now, remember I
don't want advice and if I smash--and I really won't smash--I don't
want sympathy. It's the kind of balm I've no use for. Some people are
so hungry for sympathy that they forget their jobs. And, Belding!"

"Yes, sir."

"I'm going to see you through, remember that. Now make me that map,
and," he concluded with a provocative drawl, "don't forget how
fortunate it is for you and me that water runs down hill."

Belding's mind was in a whirl. "There's one other thing," he said,
"I've promised to build a cathedral for the bishop. Peterson has given
the stone and--"

"I told him to," broke in Clark; "couldn't you guess that? He spoke to
me about it. But understand that neither the bishop nor any one else
must know it. I told them all except Ryan, and I didn't like to tread
on his religious toes."

Belding laughed. "I should have guessed it. The thing was too easy,
and Ryan came up to the scratch with the rest."

In September the pro-cathedral was completed. Belding, faithful to his
trust, had made almost daily visits of inspection, when he often found
the bishop seated on a half-cut stone and talking with evident interest
to the workmen. It seemed that the big man's presence pushed the work
along at top speed. On one occasion, a few days before the opening
ceremony, the engineer was watching a mason laying the machicolated
coping on the tower when the trowel slipped and dropped forty feet to
the ground. Instantly there arose a stream of profanity from the top
of that sacred edifice. Came a chuckle at Belding's shoulder.

"Unquestionably the effect of Ryan's cement, but it's going to hold our
church together."

Glancing down, the mason caught sight of the black coated figure. His
profanity ceased abruptly.