"Of course I mean a large one, as thick through as a tunnel ought to be." In less than a day Clewe had perfected an idea which he believed might be of practical service.

For some time there had been talk of a new railroad in this part of the State, but one of the difficulties in the way was the necessity of making a tunnel or a deep cut through a small mountain.

To go round this mountain would be objectionable for many reasons, and to go through it would be enormously expensive.

Clewe knew the country well, and his soul glowed within him as he thought that here perhaps was an opportunity for him to demonstrate the value of his invention, not only as an agent in warfare, but as a wonderful assistant in the peaceful progress of the world.
There was no reason why such shells should not be constructed for the express purpose of making tunnels.

Nothing could be better adapted for an experiment of this kind than the low mountain in question.