"We shall have to wait here awhile for the regular passenger-train for Panama City to pass us," said Mr. Andrews.
"How long shall we have to wait?" asked Harlan.
"Oh, I'm sure I don't know. The trains on this road come when they please and go when they get ready. You may as well take it easy till we can go on again."
"How long does it take to run across the Isthmus?" asked Vasco.
"Generally about three hours for the forty-mile trip, but as I just told Harlan, you can't be sure of anything on this road. They ought to give better service, for they carry nearly one hundred thousand people a year."
Fortunately our friends did not have to wait very long, and when they again had a clear track they proceeded on their way.
"It must have been a big job to build this road," said Vasco, as they rode on.
"'THAT SCOOP WILL DIG OUT OF THE MOUNTAIN A TON OF EARTH AT A TIME'"