"Yes, but _I_ don't object to this canal. I think it must be a
rather good idea."

Mrs. Cortlandt laughed for a second time. "The Colonel's dislike
for your father will not affect you, inasmuch as you are returning
so soon, but if you intended to stay it might be different."

"In what way?"

"Oh, in many ways. There are two classes of people who are not
welcomed on the Canal Zone--magazine writers and applicants for
positions who have political influence back of them. The former
are regarded as muckrakers, the latter as spies."

"That's rather rough on them, isn't it?"

"You must understand that there is a great big human machine
behind the digging of this canal, and, while it is more wonderful
by far than the actual machinery of iron and steel, it is subject
to human weaknesses. Men like Colonel Jolson, who form a part of
it, are down here to make reputations for themselves. They are
handicapped and vexed by constant interference, constant jealousy.
It is a survival of the fittest, and I suppose they feel that they
must protect themselves even if they use underhand means to do so.
It is so in all big work of this character, where the individual
is made small. You would find the same condition in your father's
railroad organization."

"Oh, now! My old man is a pretty tough citizen to get along with,
but he wouldn't hire detectives to spy on his employees."