secret shaft having been opened to facilitate this. "A few more
shots like that and we'll be through the strata of hard rock."

The Indians, Koku and Lamos doing their share of the work, were rushed
in to clear away the debris, so another charge might be fired as soon
as possible. This would be in a day or so. The contract time was
getting uncomfortably close.

Blast after blast was set off, and good progress was made. But instead
of half a mile of the extra hard rock the contractors found it would be
nearer three quarters.

"It's going to be touch and go, whether or not we finish on time," said
Mr. Job Titus one afternoon, when a clearance had been made and the men
had filed out to give the drillers a chance to make holes for a new
blast.

Tom was about to make a remark when Tim Sullivan came running out of
the tunnel, his face showing fright and wonder.

"What's up now, I wonder," said Mr. Titus. "More men missing?"

"Quick! Come quick!" cried the Irishman. "Thim two giants is fightin'
in there, an' they'll tear th' tunnel apart if we don't stop 'em. It's
an awful fight! Awful!"

Chapter XXIII

A Great Blast

Hardly comprehending what the Irish foreman had said, Tom Swift, the
Titus brothers and Mr. Damon followed Tim Sullivan back into the
tunnel. They had not gone far before they heard the murmur of many
voices, and mingled with that were roarings like those of wild beasts.

"That's thim!" cried Tim. "They're chawin' each other up!"

"Koku and that Indian giant fighting!" cried Tom. "What's it all about?"

"Don't ask me!" shouted Tim. "They've been on bad terms iver since they
met." This was true enough, for one giant was jealous of the other's
power, and they were continually trying feats of strength against one
another. Probably this had culminated in a fight, Tom concluded.

"And it will be some fight!" mused the young inventor.

Hurrying on, Tom and his companions came upon a strange and not
altogether pleasant sight. In an open place in the tunnel, where the
lights were brightest, and in front of the rocky wall which offered a
bar to further progress and which was soon to be blasted away,
struggled the two giants.

With their arms locked about one another, they swayed this way and
that--a struggle between two Titans. Of nearly the same height and
bigness, it was a wrestling match such as had never been seen before.
Had it been merely a friendly test of strength it would have been good