The boy travellers in the Far East : adventures of two youths ... - Library

ACROSS THE CONTINENT. 37
see the Falls by inoonliglit, and in good season tliey went to bed, wLei'e
tliey slept admirably. The next day the journey was resumed, and they
had a farewell view of Kiagara from the windows of the car as they
crossed the Suspension Eridge from the American to the Canadian side.
(Jn they went over tlie Great Western Railway of Canada, and then
over the Michigan Central ; and on the morning after leaving ^'iagara
they rolled into Chicago. Here they sjjent a day in visiting the interest-
ing places in the Lake City. An old friend of Doctor Ijronson came to
see him at the Trernont House, and took the party out for a drive. L'nder
the guidance of this hospitable citizen, they were taken to see the City-
hall, the stock-yards, the tunnel under the river, tlie grain-elevators, and
other things with which every one who spends a short time in Chicago is
sure to be made familiar. They were shown the traces of tlie great fire
of 1870, and were shown, too, what progress had been made in rebuilding
the city and removing the signs of the calamity. Before they finished
their tour, they had absorbed much of the enthusiasm of their guide, and
were ready to pronounce Chicago the most remarkable city of the present
time.
As they were studying the map to lay out their route westward, the
boys noticed that tlie lines of the railways radiated in all directions from
Chicago, like the diverging cords of a spider's web. Everywhere they
stretched out except over the surface of Lake Michigan, where railway
building has thus far been impossible. The Doctor exyjlained that Chi-
cago was one of the most important railway centres in the United States,
and owed much of its prosperity to the network they saw on the map,
" I have a question," said Frank, suddenly brightening up.
" Well, what is it «"
" Why is that network we have just been looking at like a crow call-
ing to his mates ?"
" Give it up ; let's liave it."
"Because it makes Chi-ca-go."
"What's that to do with the crow?" Fred asked.
"Wliy, everything," Frank answered; "the crow makes ye-caw-go,
doesn't it ?"
" Kow, Frank," the Doctor said, as he laughed over the conundrum,
"making puns when we're a thousand miles from home and going west!
However, that will do for a beginner ; but don't try too often."
Fred thought he must say something, but was undecided for a mo-
ment. The room was open, and as he looked into the hall, he saw the
chambermaid approaching the opposite door with the evident intention