As he spoke there sounded a dull boom through the vast pile of masonry, that seemed to indicate it was about to give way. The crowd started as though shocked by a current of electricity. “Is it going?” asked Larry. “I’m afraid so,” said Mr. Newton. “Get ready!” There was a moment of suspense. The waters swirled and hissed about the solid wall, as though enraged at not being able to batter it down. Then the clouds opened and a flood came out of the sky. There was a stir in the crowd and several young men came up on the run, heading for the umbrella over Mr. Newton. “Hello, Harvey!” they shouted. “Anything doing?” “There will be in a little while,” replied Mr. Newton. “Where have you fellows been?” “Oh, we weren’t sent out until yesterday,” said one. “They thought this didn’t amount to anything.” “I guess they read the _Leader_ then, eh?” asked Mr. Newton, with a smile. “That’s right, throw it into us,” said several. “But we’re here now, and there won’t be any more beats.” “That’s what you think,” said the _Leader_ reporter. “Who are they?” asked Larry in a low tone. “Men from the other papers,” said Mr. Newton. “Look out for them. They may be up to some trick.” There was a sudden movement in the crowd, and from the midst of the people a man emerged. He carried a bundle in his hands, and the men seemed to want to get as far from him as possible. “I wonder what’s going on?” said Larry. Then a man went past on the run. “What’s up?” asked one of the reporters. “A fellow has agreed to try and dynamite the dam!” was the answer. “He’s going to try and blow a hole in the bottom to let the water out.” “Gee whiz! That’ll make a story!” said several. CHAPTER XXXIII DYNAMITING THE DAM The reporters got out their pencils and paper and began to interview the man. They wanted to know who was going to set off the dynamite, how many pounds he would use, where he got it, how he was going to use it, how he would lower it, and what would happen when he had it in place. “If you want to know, go ask him,” the man exclaimed at length. “I’m not going to stay around here. It’s bad enough if the dam breaks, let alone the dynamite going up!” Then he started off on a run, while the reporters, with the exception of Mr. Newton, stood with pencils poised. But it seemed that something was going on in the crowd down at the western end of the dam. There were men running to and fro, and preparations seemed to be under way for some undertaking. As the reporters and others watched they saw a man run out on the broad coping on top of the dam. In his hands he carried a package which they guessed to be dynamite. He seemed to have no fear of the deep waters on one side of him or the big gully on the other, to which he might fall and be dashed to death on the rocks.