Chapter 9 Chapter IX The Second Canal

The length of the second canal, which connects Larsa and Malegir with the Jared Salt Lake, is almost three times shorter than the first.On the other hand, the elevation between Gabes and Larsa is 46 meters to 15 feet, and the elevation between the two salt lakes, that is, the Asrouj elevation, does not exceed 10 meters. It should also be noted that, in addition to Larsa and Malgil, there are several kilometers of depressions, the main depression being the El Asrouj Salt Lake area, which was used to dig canals. Therefore, digging the second canal required less time and less difficulty than the first.In this way, the commencement of work is only a later matter.Decisive engineering may resume in the province of Constantine as a basis for construction and resupply.Before setting off from Gabes, Mr. Descharais thought he would be able to find, at the terminus of the second canal, the site occupied by people who took a section of the road to Biskra, led by a bridge and embankment specialist agent. The train, and traveling in formation along Farfaria, will soon get in touch with him and settle down in this place.

As soon as the work was confirmed, M. de Charley would complete his inspection by circling the salt lake in order to return to his point of departure. When the detachment reached the end of Larsa, the engineers were surprised to find that at this point the company had not sent any Arab or other workers from Biskra. What will happen?This can't help but make people a little worried, especially after the attack on the camel caravan and Adiyar's reappearance. Have plans changed?Did the engineer fail to arrive first on time?Or decide to change direction at the last minute? M. de Charais was still in deep thought when Captain Altegan asked him:

"Is this part of the project not finished?" "It has been done," replied M. de Charley, "according to what is known, the excavation of the elevated parts in the possibly flooded areas, because of the gradient, had to be pushed to the stepping stones, the whole of which was below sea level. Legere..." "Why should you be surprised that the workers are not there?" "Because the Overseer should have sent many of his men to meet me a few days ago, and on consideration I see no reason for lingering at Biskra or Malegil." "Then how do you explain their absence?"

"I can't explain it," admitted the engineer, "at least some accident at the main site on the other side of the canal kept them away..." "Well, we'll make up our minds," said Captain Aldigon. "It's okay, you are aware of my troubles. And I'm very worried that I didn't meet the people I need here, and my plan was hindered because of this." "Would you please stand aloft while we prepare camp?" "Yes," replied M. de Charley. The sergeant major was called.He was ordered to organize a night's rest near a palm grove by the canal.Under the shade of the trees is green grass.A small stream flows under the bushes.Neither water nor pasture is lacking. As for fresh food, it is easy to renew in the oasis on the shore of Asluj.

Nicole immediately carried out the captain's orders, and the North African cavalry took the usual measures of arranging bivouacs under such conditions. M. de Charley and two officers walked along the steep north bank of the river in the last hours of the day, and they planned to walk a kilometer. This walk enabled the engineer to see that the canals in this place were completely completed, and that the whole work was in as good a condition as he had expected.When Larsa received the water from Gabes Bay, the bottom of the channel between the two salt lakes allowed the water from Larsa to flow into the salt lake to flow smoothly, and the slope of the channel also conformed to the engineer's plan.

Mr. Descharais and his companions did not walk more than 1 kilometer.Besides, as far as their eyes could reach in the direction of El Asrouj, this part of the canal was deserted.So they wanted to return before dark, and the engineer, Captain Aldigan, and Lieutenant Viet set foot on the road back to the camp. A tent has been erected there.Monsieur François served them punctually in the tent as usual.Everyone took preventive measures to watch the night, and just wanted to sleep peacefully to recover their strength for the next day's itinerary. However, although M. de Charley and the two officers saw no one during their walks on foot, although the part appeared to them to be deserted, it was not.It must be because the construction crew is no longer there that the engineer refrains from mentioning his impressions of the recent workforce.

The officer and engineer, however, were seen by two persons hiding behind a thick clump of thatch that grew on the dune breccia. Of course, if Cut Hearts was there, it would find those two.The two men were careful not to expose themselves, and within fifty paces they spotted the three foreigners walking along the steep bank.When the two returned, the three turned back halfway.Just as the shadows of dusk first appeared, the two ventured closer to the bivouac. Doubtless Heart Cut gave a timely signal of alertness and murmured as they approached.But the sergeant major told him not to bark, looked out, and the dog came back to sleep beside its master.

At first, the two natives stopped at the edge of a grove.At 8 o'clock it was completely dark, for at this latitude the hours of twilight are short.They must have wanted to get closer and observe the detachment resting at the entrance to the second canal: what was this detachment here for, who was in command of this detachment? They knew that the cavalry belonged to the North African cavalry because they spotted two officers accompanying the engineer on the walk.But how many people is there in this detachment?What supplies were sent to Malgil?It is precisely this aspect of the situation that they want to find out.

In this way, the two natives made their way across the edge of the wood and crawled across the grass, from tree to tree.In the darkness they could see tents erected at the entrance to the woods and horses sleeping in the grass. At this moment, the dull barking of the dog startled them, and they turned around and ran towards the sand dunes. Their appearance did not arouse the suspicion of the camp. Since they were no longer worried about being heard, they exchanged questions and answers. "It seems that it is him, this Captain Aldigan..." "Yes! It was he who took Adiyar to prison..."

"Is there also the officer who takes orders from him?" "His lieutenants, I recognize them all..." "As sure as they would recognize you..." "And you, have they never met you?" "Never before." "Okay!...Maybe...maybe..., there is an opportunity here...you should seize it, otherwise the opportunity will be missed..." "If this captain and lieutenant fall into the hands of Adiyar..." "They won't escape... because Adiyar escaped from the fortress..." "When we saw them, there were only three of them," added one of the locals.

"Yeah . . . they're camping over there, sure there aren't many people there," replied the other. "Who is this third man? . . . He is not an officer." "No... some engineer from their damned company! He's going there with his convoy to inspect the canal work before it's filled with water... They're heading for Melagil... when they get to Salt Lake when... when they will see..." "They can't flood the Salt Lake any more," cried the roughest of the two, "their Sahara won't come true, they'll stop...they won't go far...and our hundreds of loyal of the Tuareg..." "But how do you know in advance that they will come on time?" "The Zanfiq Oasis is only about 20 miles from here...and if the detachment stops at Malakil...if we can keep it there for a few days..." "It's impossible... Especially now, they have no reason to go further..." "If they waited there for the waters of the bay to flow over the salt lakes, that's where they'd dig themselves graves, and they'd all be dead before the flood came! Come, Harrick, come!" "Yes, I'm following you, Soar!" The two were two Tuaregs who had cooperated with Adiyar in his escape: Harik, who had planned the escape with Gabes' profiteers.Soar, brother of the Tuareg chief.They quickly left the scene and quickly disappeared in the direction of Malakil. The next day, an hour after sunrise, Captain Aldigon gave the signal for departure.The horses were bridled and saddled, and the detachment set out in the usual order along the steep north bank of the canal. Monsieur François, recently carefully shaved, took his usual place at the front of the detachment, like Corporal Pistache, riding close beside him, and the two chatted casually. "Hullo! Is this all right, Monsieur François?" asked Pistache in the cheerful tone to which he was accustomed. "Yes!" replied M. de Charley's loyal servant. "Hasn't this excursion given him too much boredom and fatigue?" "No, Corporal, it's just a walk through a curious place." "This salt lake will change drastically after being submerged..." "It will indeed change greatly," replied M. François in a measured and serious tone. For it is not the inarticulateness of this careful and methodical man. Instead, he was savoring the words as a connoisseur savors a fine candy bar. "I think," continued Pistash, "where our horses go, there will be fish swimming, and boats going..." "Yes...Corporal, there are all kinds of fish, porpoises, dolphins, sharks..." "And the whales..." Pistash added. "No, I don't believe it, Corporal, there's definitely not enough water for a whale..." "Oh! Monsieur François, according to our sergeant-major, it's 20 meters deep in Larsa, and 25 meters deep in Meregil!" "Not everywhere, Corporal, these giants of the aquatic world need enough water to play and pant freely!" "It takes a lot of breathing, Monsieur François?" "To fill the blowers of a blast furnace, or the organs of all the cathedrals of France!" Since Monsieur François was satisfied with his answer, which was so unquestionable and which did not surprise the simple-minded pistache, he readily admitted it. Then, he gestured with his hands again, describing Xinhai's circumference: "I have seen the lines of this inland sea plowed by steamers or sailing ships, which sail the coasts of this sea, great and small, from port to port, and do you know what my greatest hope is, corporal?" "Please tell me, Monsieur François..." "This is the first boat sailing through these old salt lakes of Algeria, filled with new water...and I count on the boat that Mr. Engineer will also take, with whom I will travel around this sea created by our own hands. " In fact, the loyal Monsieur François does not consider himself any more than his master's collaborator in the creation of this future Sahara. In any case, it was on this wish that Corporal Pistash ended this interesting conversation, since the march had begun so well that he could hope for an equally good end. As he maintained his usual pace, making two sections of 7 to 8 kilometers a day, Mr. Descharet believed that the terminal of the second canal would soon be reached.As soon as the detachment reached the shore of Malakil, it would decide to make a detour either from the north bank or the south bank.It didn't matter, since the engineer's plan included surveying the entire perimeter of the sea. The first part of the canal can be crossed in this section starting from Larsa to the small depression between the famous El Asrouj and the dunes 7 to 10 meters high. However, before reaching Malegir, it is necessary to cross or follow some small salt lakes arranged in terraces in all directions, formed by almost connected, not deep and not too high-bank depressions, that is, the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. A small salt lake that is bound to be submerged as soon as it comes.From ditch to ditch, therefore, survey marks must be placed, the purpose of which is to guide the way for the various ships that will soon unfold on this new ocean created by science and the will of man.Didn't people do the same when the Suez Canal was being dug, and when crossing the Bitter Lake, it was impossible for ships to steer without these accurate marks? Also, everything is so advanced there that giant machines have dug some deep trenches all the way down to Malegir.If people feel the need, they can try to use modern machines tomorrow.Such as giant dredgers, rock drilling machines that cannot be blocked by anything, and clearing transport planes that walk on temporary railways.In short, all these marvelous devices, which Commander Rudel and his successors could not have foreseen, these machines were in the years when the Rudal project was first implemented (that is, the earlier one abandoned by the French overseas companies) , designed and manufactured by the inventor and manufacturer.It is well known that the resumption of the French company's business with regard to the Sahara was carried out under the leadership of M. de Charais. Everything that had been done up to that point was still pretty much intact, according to the engineer's expectations.He presented these predictions convincingly at the Gabes Conference, speaking of the main advantages of maintaining a climate in Africa that does not seem to damage monuments buried in sand and that are not easily excavated. So long.But all around these, if not completely finished, canal works, there was total silence!There, not so long ago, there was still a group of workers moving, not just the depressing silence of the deserted place, where no one was met, only abandoned projects to testify to the human activity, tenacity and energy that were there passed, and in a short time gave signs of life to these desolate regions. So this is an inspection done in solitude by Mr. Descharais, who needs to believe that it is the last one before he can satisfactorily complete the new one.This loneliness, however, was even more disturbing at this moment, as the engineer confessed that he was genuinely depressed because he had not seen anyone from Biskra's construction team to meet him. Disappointment is cruel.But after thinking about it, Mr. Deschaley felt that everyone did not go from Biskra to Larsa, just like from Paris to Saint-Cloud, and thought that some kind of accident might happen on a road of the same length. , disrupting budgets and altering schedules.All the more unlikely, since the agent telegraphed from Biskra to Gabès telling him that all had passed smoothly up to this last city, and according to the instructions given by Paris.It was, therefore, during the journey, probably in the often-flooded and unknown marshes of Farfaria, between Biskra and the district of Malegir, that something unforeseen led him to think that Those who couldn't find it there had to stop.Once caught in the realm of assumptions, one cannot escape from them.Hypotheses, one after another, always haunted the mind, and at this moment they aroused M. de Charley's imagination and could not offer him even a plausible or decent explanation.His surprise and his disappointment unknowingly turned into real worry, and the whole stop didn't change his sullen expression.Captain Aldigon therefore resolved to explore the way cautiously. Under his orders, the sergeant major and several riders had to walk a kilometer or two on each side of the canal while the rest of the detachment continued to march. The area is deserted, indeed it seems to have been deserted only recently.After the second stop, the detachment stopped at the end of the small salt lake for the night.There is no grass growing in this place, and there is no oasis nearby.Until now, no one has established a camp in such a poor environment.No trees, no lawn.Except for the "gravel desert" where sand is mixed with gravel, there is no green on the bare land.But the convoy carried a considerable amount of fodder, enough to feed the horses.Moreover, on the shore of Malakir, the squad moved from oasis to oasis, and it was easy to find supplies. Fortunately, in the absence of rivers, there are many streams and springs flowing to quench the thirst of people and livestock.It is believed that if the day is too hot, everyone will fetch water. The night was calm and bright, a night full of stars and a bright moon.As usual, the surrounding area is guarded.Besides, on exposed ground, neither Thor nor Harrick could swim around without being noticed.They did not reveal themselves, while he studied their plans, and there was no doubt that the engineer, Captain Aldigan, and his North African cavalry had entered the forward part of the Algerian Salt Lake. The next day, at dawn, the camp was dismantled.M. de Charley hastened to the end of the canal.The canal used to bring the water of Gabés Bay to the Salt Lake of Malegir is exposed there. However, there has never been a trace of Biskra's construction team, and their absence remains a mystery.What happened?M. de Charley was lost in thought.Arriving at the strictly determined meeting place, he did not find any of the people he was waiting for, and the absence of these people seemed to him a huge threat. "Obviously something serious has happened!" he repeated over and over again. "I'm worried about that, too," admitted Captain Aldigon. "We'll try to get to Malegil before dark." Take a break at noon.Neither the wagon was unloaded nor the bridle removed—just a little time for dinner.Everyone needs to have enough time to rest after this last march. In short, the detachment tried so hard, but they didn't meet anyone on the road.About 4 o'clock in the afternoon, the high slope surrounding the salt lake here appeared.On the right, at km 347, there is the last site left at the end of the works, then, from here, just cross the Malakir Salt Lake and its entrance - Salem Salt Lake to find the height marker . As Lieutenant Viet observed, not a single puff of smoke rose on the horizon, and not a single sound could be heard. The horses were driven hard, for the dogs were ahead, and Nicole could not stop his horse from galloping along the track of Cutting Hearts. In addition, everyone was running, and the North African cavalry reached the exit of the canal almost covered in billowing smoke.There, rather than in Larsa, there is no trace of the arrival of the construction team that was supposed to come from Biskra, the demolished construction site, the partially filled ditches, all the passages blocked with sand.Thus, the engineer and his colleagues were stunned to see that the water could not be poured into the depths of Malegir without a comprehensive rearrangement of work here!