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a window；〃 Tom explained； after a brief examination。 〃Probably some of
the old Indian tribes made this shaft for ceremonial purposes。 They never
dreamed we would drive a tunnel along at the bottom of it。 The shaft
probably opened into a cave； and one of our blasts made it part of the
tunnel。 Well； this is part of the secret； anyhow。 Much obliged to you；
Masni！〃
The Indian woman had indeed revealed valuable information。 They
covered the secret rock with brush； as it had been； hid the rope and came
away。 But Tom knew how to find the place again。
Events moved rapidly from then on。 The Titus brothers were more than
astonished when Tom told them what he had learned。 Masni had told him
how to get into the secret valley by a round about； but easy trail； and
thither Tom； the contractors； Mr。 Damon and some of the white tunnel
workers went the next day。
The sequestered men； taken completely by surprise； tried to bolt when
they saw that they were discovered； and then； shamefacedly enough；
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admitted their part in the trick。
They would not； however； reveal who had helped them escape from
the tunnel。 Threats and promises of rewards were alike unavailing； but
Tom and his employers knew well enough who it was。 The tunnel workers
seemed rather tired of living in comparative luxury and idleness； and
agreed to come back to their labors。
They packed up their few belongings； mostly cooking pots and pans；
and marched out of the valley to the village at Rimac。
And so the strike was broken。
The reappearance of the missing men； in better health and spirits than
when they went away； acted like magic。 The other men； who had missed
their wages； crowded back into the shaft； and the sounds of picks and
shovels were heard again in the tunnel。
Whether the missing ones told the real story； or whether they made up
some tale to account for their absence； Tom and his friends could not learn。
Nor did the bearded man （if he it were who had helped in the plot）； nor
any representative of Blakeson & Grinder appear。 The work on the tunnel
was resumed as if nothing had happened。 But Tom arranged a bright light
so it would reflect on the spot in the roof where the moving rock was； so
that if the evil face of the bearded man； or of Waddington； appeared there
again； it would quickly be seen。 A search of the neighborhood； and diligent
inquiries； failed to disclose the presence of any of the plotters。
And then； as if Fate was not making it hard enough for the tunnel
contractors； they encountered more trouble。 It was after Tom had set off a
big blast that Tim Sullivan； after inspecting what had happened； came out
to ask。
〃I soy； Mr。 Swift； why didn't yez use more powder？〃
〃More powder！〃 cried Tom。 〃Why； this is the most I have ever set off。〃
〃Then somethin's wrong； sor。 Fer there's only a little rock down。 Come
an' see fer yersilf。〃
Tom hastened in。 As the foreman had said； the effect of the blast was
small indeed。 Only a little rock had been shaled off。 Tom picked up some
of this and took it outside for examination。
〃Why； it's harder than the hardest flint we've found yet；〃 he said。 〃The
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powder didn't make any impression on it at all。 I'll have to use terrific
charges。〃
This was done； but with little better effect。 The explosive； powerful as
it was； ate only a little way into the rock。 Blast after blast had the same
poor effect。
〃This won't do；〃 said Job Titus； despairingly； one day。 〃We aren't
making any progress at all。 There's a half mile of this rock； according to
my calculations； and at this rate we'll be six months getting through it。 By
that time our limit will be up； and we'll be forced to give up the contract
What can we do； Tom Swift？〃
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CHAPTER XXI
A New Explosive
The young inventor was idly handling some pieces of the very hard
rock that had cropped out in the tunnel cut Tom had tested it； he had
pulverized it （as well as he was able）； he had examined it under the
microscope； and he had taken great slabs of it and set off under it； or on
top of it； charges of explosive of various power to note the effect。 But the
results had not been at all what he had hoped for。
〃What's to be done； Tom？〃 repeated the contractor。
〃Well； Mr。 Titus；〃 was the answer； 〃the only thing I see to do is to
make a new explosive。〃
〃Can you do it； Tom？〃
The reply was characteristic。
〃I can try。〃
And in the days that followed； Tom began work on a new line。 He had
brought from Shopton with him much of the needful apparatus； and he
found he could obtain in Lima what he lacked。
A message to his father brought the reply that the new ingredients Tom
needed would be shipped。
〃The kind of explosive we need to rend that very hard rock；〃 the young
inventor explained to the Titus brothers； 〃is one that works slowly。〃
〃I thought all explosions had to be as quick as a flash；〃 said Walter。
〃Well； in a sense； they do。 Yet we have quick burning and slow…
burning powders； the same as we have fuses。 A quick… burning explosive is
all right in soft rock； or in soil with rock and earth mingled。 But in rock
that is harder than flint if you use a quick explosive； only the outer surface
of the rock will be scaled off。
〃If you take a hammer and bring it down with all your force on a hard
rock you may chip off a lot of little pieces； or you may crack the rock； but
you won't； under ordinary circumstances； pulverize it as we want to do in
the tunnel。
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〃On the other hand； if you take a smaller hammer； and keep tapping
the rock with comparatively gentle blows； you will set up a series of
vibrations； that； in time； will cause the hard rock to break up into any
number of small pieces。
〃Now that is the kind of explosive I want one that will deal a
succession of constant blows at the hard rock instead of one great big
blast。〃
〃Can you make it； Tom？〃
〃Well； I don't know。 I'll do the best I can。〃
From then on Tom was busy with his experiments。
Work on the tunnel did not cease while he was searching for a new
explosive。 There was plenty of the old explosive left and charges of this
were set off as fast as holes could be drilled to receive it。 But
comparatively little was accomplished。 Sometimes more rock would be
loosed than at others； and the native laborers； now seemingly perfectly
contented； would be kept busy。 Again； when a heavy blast would be set off
hardly a dozen dump cars could be filled。
But the work must go on。 Already the time limit was getting perilously
close； and the contractors did not doubt that their rivals were only waiting
for a chance to step in and take their places。
Nothing more had been seen or heard of the bearded man； Waddington；
or Blakeson & Grinder。 But that the rival firm had not given up was
evidenced by the efforts made in New York to cripple； financially； the firm
in which Tom was interested。 In fact； at one time the Titus brothers were
so tied up that they could not get money enough to pay their men。 But
Tom cabled his father； who was quite wealthy； and Mr。 Swift loaned the
contractors enough to proceed with until they could dispose of some
securities。
It might be mentioned that Tom was to get a large sum if the tunnel
were completed on time； so it was to his interest and his father's； to bring
this about if he could。
Tom kept on with his powder experiments。 Mr。 Damon helped him； for
that