connected the provinces of her
new empire, and have founded that huge new France of which the ancient
fatherland will be but the directing mind.

"That is the dream!" cried Dominique, "that is the gigantic work which
the future will achieve! Algeria, connected with Timbuctoo by the Sahara
railway line, over which electric engines will carry the whole of old
Europe through the far expanse of sand! Timbuctoo connected with Senegal
by flotillas of steam vessels and yet other railways, all intersecting
the vast empire on every side! New France connected with mother France,
the old land, by a wondrous development of the means of communication,
and founded, and got ready for the hundred millions of inhabitants who
will some day spring up there!... Doubtless these things cannot be done
in a night. The trans-Saharian railway is not yet laid down; there are
two thousand five hundred kilometres* of bare desert to be crossed which
can hardly tempt railway companies; and a certain amount of prosperity
must be developed by starting cultivation, seeking and working mines,
and increasing exportations before a pecuniary effort can be possible
on the part of the motherland. Moreover, there is the question of the
natives, mostly of gentle race, though some are ferocious bandits,
whose savagery is increased by religious fanaticism, thus rendering the
difficulties of our conquest all the greater. Until the terrible problem
of Islamism is solved we shall always be coming in conflict with it. And
only life, long years of life, can create a new nation, adapt it to the
new land, blend diverse elements together, and yield normal existence,
homogeneous strength, and genius proper to the clime. But no matter!
From this day a new France is born yonder, a huge empire; and it needs
our blood--and some must be given it, in order that it may be peopled
and be able to draw its incalculable wealth from the soil, and become
the greatest, the strongest, and the mightiest in the world!"

* About 1,553 English miles.

Transported with enthusiasm, quivering at the thought of the distant
ideal at last revealed to him, Benjamin sat there with tears in his
eyes. Ah! the healthy life! the noble life! the other life! the whole
mission and work of which he had as yet but confusedly dreamt! Again he
asked a question: "And are there many French families there, colonizing
like yours?"

Dominique burst into a loud laugh. "Oh, no," said he, "there are
certainly a