If the shell passed through it at the desired point, there would be nothing beyond which could be injured, and it would then enter the end of a small chain of mountains, and might pass onward, as far as its motive power would carry it, without doing any damage whatever.

Moreover, its course could be followed and it could be recovered.
Both Roland and Margaret were very enthusiastic in favor of this trial of the automatic shell, and they determined that if the railroad company would pay them a fair price if they should succeed in tunnelling the mountain, they would charge nothing should their experiment be a failure.

Of course the tunnel the shell would make, if everything worked properly, would not be large enough for any practical use; but explosives might be placed along its length, which, if desired, would blow out that portion of the mountain which lay immediately above the tunnel, and this great cut could readily be enlarged to any desired dimensions.
Clewe would have gone immediately to confer with the secretary of the railroad company, with whom he was acquainted but that gentleman was at the sea-side, and the business was necessarily postponed.
"Now," said Clewe to Margaret, "if I could do it, I'd like to take a run up to the polar sea and see for myself what they have discovered.
Judging from Sammy's infrequent despatches, the party in general must be getting a little tired of Mr.Gibbs's experiments and soundings; but I should be intensely interested in them." "I don't wonder," answered Margaret, "that they are getting tired; they have found the pole, and they want to come home.

That is natural enough.
But, for my part, I am very glad we can't run up there.

Even if we had another Dipsey I should decidedly oppose it.