"You know the ground on the other side of the river?"
"Yes, sir."
"I wish you would take a look over it very quietly and bring me a town map on which you have indicated the cheapest possible route for another power canal."
"Another canal!" said Belding involuntarily.
"It's important that it should be the cheapest possible," went on Clark, apparently without hearing, "and you'll have to balance up the material to be excavated by a longer route against the cost of more improved land by one that is more direct."
"How much power is required?" The question came dully.
"Not less than thirty thousand. I'm going to make carbide. At least," he added with a short laugh, "if I don't, some one else will."
Belding drew a long breath. He had a swift and discomforting conviction that this man, whom he felt forced to admire, was going too fast. Around him were all the evidences that he had not gone too fast and there seemed to be unlimited support behind him. But yet—
The engineer grew very red in the face. "Do you think that's wise, sir?" he said with a tremendous effort.
Clark glanced up in astonishment and his expression grew rigid. "Just what do you mean, Belding?"