WITH MEN WHO DO THINGS
BY A. RUSSELL BOND
Author of “The Scientific American Boy” and “Handyman’s Workshop and Laboratory”
Chapter IV
SAND-HOGS
“What I can’t make out,” said Will, who was fussing with something at the wash-basin, “is how they keep the water out of those tunnels under the river.”
“I don't see anything so mysterious about that. They use compressed air to keep the water out, just as in a caisson.”
“Yes, I know, but it is n’t as simple as all that. Now look at this,” and he pushed a glass, mouth down, into the water. Although the glass was completely submerged, the water did not fill it because of the air trapped inside. The water rose to within an inch or so of the top.
“That ’s just like a caisson,” continued Will; “the compressed air in the top keeps the water down, just as Mr. Squires explained. But now watch me turn the glass on the side.” Just as he got the glass near the horizontal, the air went out with a big “gulp,” and the glass filled with water.
“See that! Now how in the world do they keep the air in and the water out, with the end of the tunnel open so that the men can dig away the sand and mud ahead of the tube?”
“That question is too much for me,” I confessed. “We shall have to have a look at the work, and see for ourselves how it is done. I suppose you don't mind going down under pressure again?”
“Mind that! Not a bit!” exclaimed Will. “One little accident is n't going to scare. me away.”
On our way down-town we stopped at the hospital to inquire about Danny. Roach. Although we could n't’see him, we were assured that he was doing nicely, and would be fit for work again in a few days.
When we got down to the tunnel-shaft, we encountered unexpected difficulties. The superintendent would n’t even see us, and we were obliged to go away without a single glimpse inside the yard. The next day, however, we came back armed with a letter of introduction from Mr. Squires. This gave us an audience with Superintendent Brown. But that did not mean admission to the tunnel.
“The rule is strict: ‘no visitors allowed,’” he said. “I wish for the sake’ of my friend Squires that I could let you in. But no one, under any pretext whatever, is allowed in that tunnel, except those actually engaged in the work down there.”
“Would n’t the chief engineer give us a permit?”
“No. Others have tried that, but it was no use.”
“Then there is absolutely no chance of getting in?”
“None that I know of,—unless,” he suddenly added, with a laugh, “unless you would like to go in as ‘sand-hogs.’ Eh, what?”
“Would we like it!” said Will, his eyes sparkling. “Come on, Jim, it ‘ll be a great experience.”
“Now, I warn you,” said the superintendent, “this is n’t going to be a lark! You will have to work hard, and I won't take you on unless you contract to work at least a week; if you shirk or fall down on the job, I will fire you on the spot without a cent of pay. Your wages will be two dollars a day because you are green hands, but if you stick to it, yon may get as much as three dollars and a half a day after a few years’ experience, the same as the rest. How is that for a glittering prospect—eh?”
“I'm game if you are, Will,” I said.
“Report to the doctor, then, and let him look you over,” said Mr. Brown.
“We are safe on that score,” I interrupted, “because we have just been down under pressure in a caisson.”
“Yes, but you must see our doctor, nevertheless. If he says you are O.K.,” continued the superintendent, “you can report to Hughie Smith, the gang boss, at midnight. Be here in time to put on your working togs. We ‘ll supply the boots. You ‘ll have to go on at twelve o'clock sharp, and you work till eight.”
“Do you work here all night?” we asked in surprise.
