Pickaxe and Trowel

           ThesameeveningBarbicaneandhiscompanionsreturnedtoTampaTown;andMurchison,theengineer,re-embarkedonboardtheTampicoforNewOrleans.Hisobjectwastoenlistanarmyofworkmen,andtocollecttogetherthegreaterpartofthematerials.ThemembersoftheGunClubremainedatTampaTown,forthepurposeofsettingonfootthepreliminaryworksbytheaidofthepeopleofthecountry.

           Eightdaysafteritsdeparture,theTampicoreturnedintothebayofEspirituSanto,withawholeflotillaofsteamboats.Murchisonhadsucceededinassemblingtogetherfifteenhundredartisans.AttractedbythehighpayandconsiderablebountiesofferedbytheGunClub,hehadenlistedachoicelegionofstokers,iron-founders,lime-burners,miners,brickmakers,andartisansofeverytrade,withoutdistinctionofcolor.Asmanyofthesepeoplebroughttheirfamilieswiththem,theirdepartureresembledaperfectemigration.

           Onthe31stofOctober,atteno’clockinthemorning,thetroopdisembarkedonthequaysofTampaTown;andonemayimaginetheactivitywhichpervadedthatlittletown,whosepopulationwasthusdoubledinasingleday.

           Duringthefirstfewdaystheywerebusydischargingthecargobroughtbytheflotilla,themachines,andtherations,aswellasalargenumberofhutsconstructedofironplates,separatelypiecedandnumbered.AtthesameperiodBarbicanelaidthefirstsleepersofarailwayfifteenmilesinlength,intendedtouniteStonesHillwithTampaTown.