"While the army was
invading Livonia, and driving the remnant of the Swedes into Revel,
thousands of carts laden with piles of wood, stone, and cement were
moving towards Ingria. Tens of thousands of workmen and peasants
were in motion from every part of Russia towards this point, and,
the day after Notteburg surrendered, they began their work here. It
was the opportunity in the lifetime of a nation, and we have seized
it. The engineers who had, in disguise, examined it months ago, had
reported that the island was covered at high tides, and was unfit
to bear the foundations of even the slightest buildings. Piles are
being driven in, as close as they will stand, over every foot of
ground in it. Over this a coating of concrete many feet thick will
be laid, and on this the fortress, which is to be the centre and
heart of Russia, will rise. In the fort will stand a pile, which
will be the tomb of the future czars of Russia, and there in front
of us, where you see fifty thousand peasants at work, shall be the
future capital of the empire."
"But it is a swamp," Charlie said in astonishment, alike at the
vastness of the scheme, and the energy with which it was being
prosecuted.
"Nature has made it a swamp," his companion said calmly, "but man
is stronger than nature.
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