ABSTRACT
Maclaren, a man of iron constitution, was nevertheless slightly weakened by the heat of the Sahara, for he had been in the locality for over nine months, and the millionaire compelled him to accompany him on the trip, as the engineer was very unwilling to leave the scene of his labours even for a brief holiday. All that was possible was to land and house the troops and labourers, and accumulate stores in the vicinity of the Gulf of Gabes, whilst Pompier, in possession of unlimited means and authority, was not only able to undertake this work, but he also guaranteed that by their return a light railway would be laid between the coast and Shott Jerid. Once they were on board the yacht, Maclaren yielded to the inevitable, and soon came round to the view that it would perhaps be well for him to pay a brief visit to Boca Grande.
