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THE AMERICAN SERIES.
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50. THE TRANSPORTS.

The spoils of war, for what had been great traders were now to be great troop ships — and with their transformation what an awful change has come to our world.

51. THE LITTLE MEN OF THE BIG HAMMER.

One seated on high worked the hammer, fast or slow, light or heavy were its blows, as he wished. Two beneath turned the big shell, as it lay in its bed between and was pounded into shape, and every time the hammer fell a pillar of fire and a cloud of steam arose, and through all and over all were the crane men in their pulpits whistling and shouting and signaling, moving back and forth, silhouetted against the lights, lost in the shadows. And in this shop as red hot shells flew about or rolled about singly or by dozens, one said to me, "Now then, Cap, in this here shop, yer jes got ter look six ways for Sunday, that there crane man's all right, but might forget yuse was under, and if that claw give yer a pat why yuse ud have a week off in the horsepittle."

52. BUILDING THE BATTLESHIP.

Inside, the huge shed where she was built and launched, she lay again, getting her finishing touches—or rather those that could be given her; her masts were too big to finish, her turrets were being fitted, and her turbines put in — and soon she would begin her life of terror and horror.

53. MAKING PROPELLER BLADES.

Blue in the shadows, and such blue—gold in the light, and such gold — were those blades — in this great shop — and as I worked the engine steamed in and carried one off to fit in the ship standing in the dock just outside.

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