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units in the world, a great natural empire. It was variously estimated at from two hundred and fifty thousand to six hundred and fifty thousand square miles in area. It was drained by four hundred and thirty-six rivers and upward of two thousand streams. These innumerable waters would convert the whole region into a seaport. With such cheap transportation the Orinoco country could supply the world with cocoa, tonka-beans, cotton, sugar, rubber, tropical cabinet-woods, cattle, hides, gold, diamonds.

“But what I have just traveled over is almost a desert,” objected Strawbridge. “The cattle were dying of thirst.”

“Precisamente!” interjected the general, with a sharp gesture; “but right at this moment I am driving a canal from here to here.” He took a long ruler and began to point eagerly on the map.

“Yes, I saw your… your men at work.” The drummer stuttered as the ghastly “reds” recurred to his mind.

“That canal will furnish water in the dry season. In the wet season it will form a conduit to impound the waters in this great natural depression here.” The dictator pointed dynamically at the configuration showed on the map. “Young man, can you imagine such a development? Can you fancy the Nile Valley magnified thirty times?” He waved at the brilliantly lighted map. “Can you imagine league after league lush with harvest, decked with noble cities, and peopled by the aristocrats of the earth? I refer to the Spanish race. You must realize, señor, there have been but two dominant races in modern history—the English and the Spanish. We two divided the New World between us. You will agree with me when I say that the English North Americans have cultivated the material side of civilization to a degree that has never been approached in the sweep of human history. Is it unreasonable to suppose that the other great segment of humanity, the Spanish South Americans,