Page:Tom Beauling (1901).pdf/101

 se. The pow-wows were of coal—coal—coal, and how to get it. Wareing drew a pencil across a map, from a port of the sea to an ancient city of the interior, and, "So the road should run," he said. "Loop it to the left," said Beauling, "for the iron." And they so talked, schemed, planned, and entered into mutual confidence that at the week's end they smelled action.

"It will take years to put the road through," said Wareing; "but that's my business. I came out here for pleasure and big game. I've got sick of the latter and precious little of the former, so I think I will run up to Pekin and do a little plain business with his Imperial Majesty, and persuade him to let me open up his empire for him. That road will cost so many"—he opened and shut his hands rapidly a number of times—"millions to build, but we will buy up the land at the terminals, coin money that way, get the powers hitched, and pour a stream of coal-black coal a thousand miles long and as big round as a freight