The fact was, Harry was thinking. He had entirely forgotten the five horses and everything concerning them, and was deeply cogitating a plan which, in an exceedingly crude shape, had been in his mind ever since he had met old Miles on the road to the railroad.
What he wished to devise was some good plan to prevent the interruption, so often caused by the rising of Crooked Creek, of communication between the mica mine, belonging to the New York company, and the station at Hetertown.
If he could do this, he thought he could make some money by it; and it was, as we all know, very necessary for him, or at least for Aunt Matilda, that he should make money.
It was of no use to think of a bridge. There were bridges already, and when the creek was "up" you could scarcely see them.
A bridge that would be high enough and long enough would be very costly, and it would be an undertaking with which Harry could not concern himself, no matter what it might cost.
A ferry was unadvisable, for the stream was too rapid and dangerous in time of freshets.
There was nothing that was really reliable and worthy of being seriously thought of but a telegraph line. This 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.