The Battery and the Boiler: Adventures in Laying of Submarine Electric Cables - Robert Michael Ballantyne 8 стр.

Robin, said Slagg doubtingly, dyou expect me for to believe that?

Indeed I do, said Robin simply.

Then youre greener than I took you for. No offence meant, but its my opinion some o these cute electricians has bin tryin the width of your swallow.

No, you are mistaken, returned Robin earnestly; I have read the fact in many books. The books differ in their opinions as to the causes and nature of the fact, but not as to the fact itself.

It was evident that Robin looked upon this as an unanswerable argument, and his friend seemed perplexed.

Well, I don know how it is, he said, after a pause, but I do believe that this here wonderful electricity is fit for amost anything, an that well have it revoloosionising everything afore longI do indeed.

The intelligent reader who has noted the gigantic strides which we have recently made in electric lighting of late will observe that Slagg, unwittingly, had become almost prophetic at this time.

Were going along splendidly now, said Mr Smith, coming up to Robin that evening while he was conversing with Slagg, who immediately retired.Who is that youth? He seems very fond of you; Ive observed that he makes up to you whenever you chance to be on deck together.

He is one of the stewards lads, sir; I met him accidentally in the train; but I suspect the fondness is chiefly on my side. He was very kind to me when I first came on board, and I really think he is an intelligent, good fellowa strange mixture of self-confidence and humility. Sometimes, to hear him speak, you would think he knew everything; but at the same time he is always willingindeed anxiousto listen and learn. He is a capital fighter too.

Here Robin related the battle in the boys berth, when Slagg thrashed Stumps, whereat Mr Smith was much amused.

So he seems a peculiar ladmodest, impudent, teachable, kindly, and warlike! Come below now, Robin, I have some work for you. Did you make the calculations I gave you yesterday?

Yes, sir, and they corresponded exactly with your own.

Good. Go fetch my little note-book: I left it in the grand saloon on the furthest aft seat, port side.

Robin found the magnificent saloon of the big ship ringing with music and conversation. Joy over the recent restoration to health of the ailing cable, the comfortable stability of the ship in rough weather, and the satisfactory progress then being made, all contributed to raise the spirits of every one connected with the great work, so that, while some were amusing themselves at the piano, others were scattered about in little groups, discussing the profounder mysteries of electric science, or prophesying the speedy completion of the enterprise, while a few were speculating on the probability of sport in Newfoundland, or planning out journeys through the United States.

Theres lots of game, Im told, in Newfoundland, said one of the youthful electricians, whose ruling passionnext to the subtle fluidwas the gun.

So Ive been told, replied an elder and graver comrade. Polar bears are quite common in the woods, and it is said that walrus are fond of roosting in the trees.

Yes, I have heard so, returned the youthful sportsman, who, although young, was not to be caught with chaff, and the fishing, I hear, is also splendid. Salmon and cod are found swarming in the rivers by those who care for mild occupation, while really exciting sport is to be had in the great lakes of the interior, where there are plenty of fresh-water whales that take the fly.

The swan, you mean, said another comrade. The fly that is most killing among Newfoundland whales is a swan fastened whole to a shark hookthough a small boats anchor will do if you havent the right tackle.

Come, dont talk nonsense, but lets have a song! said a brother electrician to the sporting youth.

I never sing, he replied, except when hurt, and then I sing out. But see, our best musician has just seated himself at the instrument.

I dont talk shop, Nimrod; call it the piano.

Most of those present drew towards the musical corner, where Ebenezer Smith, having just entered the saloon in search of Robin, had been prevailed on to sit down and enliven the company. Robin, who had been delayed by difficulty in finding the note-book, stopped to listen.

Smith had a fair average voice and a vigorous manner.

You wouldnt object to hear the cooks last? asked Smith, running his fingers lightly over the keys.

Of course notgo on, chorused several voices.

I had no idea, lisped a simple youth, who was one of a small party of young gentlemen interested in engineering and science, who had been accommodated with a passage,I had no idea that our cook was a poet as well as an admirable chef de cuisine.

Oh, its not our cook he means, explained the sporting electrician; Mr Smith refers to a certain sea-cookor his son, Im not sure whichwho is chef des horse-marines.

Is there a chorus? asked one.

Of course there is, replied Smith; a sea-song without a chorus is like a kite without a tailit is sure to fall flat, but the chorus is an old and well-known oneit is only the song that is new. Now then, clear your throats, gentlemen.

The plaudits with which this song was received were, it need scarcely be remarked, due more to the vigour of the chorus and the enthusiasm of the audience than to intrinsic merit. Even Robin Wright was carried off his legs for the moment, and, modest though he was, broke in at the chorus with such effecthis voice being shrill and clearthat, he unintentionally outyelled all the rest, and would have fled in consternation from the saloon if he had not been caught and forcibly detained by the sporting electrician, who demanded what right he had to raise his steam-whistle in that fashion.

The plaudits with which this song was received were, it need scarcely be remarked, due more to the vigour of the chorus and the enthusiasm of the audience than to intrinsic merit. Even Robin Wright was carried off his legs for the moment, and, modest though he was, broke in at the chorus with such effecthis voice being shrill and clearthat, he unintentionally outyelled all the rest, and would have fled in consternation from the saloon if he had not been caught and forcibly detained by the sporting electrician, who demanded what right he had to raise his steam-whistle in that fashion.

But I say, young Wright, he added in a lower tone, leading our hero aside, whats this rumour I hear about a ghost in the stewards cabin?

Oh! it is nothing to speak of, replied Robin, with a laugh. The lad they call Stumps got a frightthats all.

But thats enough. Let us hear about it.

Well, I suppose you know, said Robin, that theres a ghost in the Great Eastern.

No, I dont know it from personal experience, but I have heard a report to that effect.

Well, I was down in Jim Slaggs berth, having a chat with him about the nature of electric currentsfor he has a very inquiring mind,and somehow we diverged to ghosts, and began to talk of the ghost of the Great Eastern.

I dont believe in the Great Eastern ghostno, nor in ghosts of any kind, said Stumps, who was sitting near us eating a bit of cheese.

But I believe in em, said the boy Jeff, who was seated on the other side of the table, and looked at us so earnestly that we could scarce help smilingthough we didnt feel in a smiling humour at the time, for it was getting dark, and we had got to talking in low tones and looking anxiously over our shoulders, you know

Oh yes, I know, replied the sportsman, with a laugh; I have shuddered and grue-oo-ed many a time over ghost-stories. Well?

I dont believe in em, Jeff. Why do you? asked Stumps, in a scoffing tone.

Because I hear one every night amost when I go down into the dark places below to fetch things. Theres one particular spot where the ghost goes tap-tap-tapping continually.

Fiddlededee, said Stumps.

Come down, and you shall hear it for yourself, said Jeff.

Now, they say that Stumps is a coward, though he boasts a good deal

You may say, interrupted the sportsman, that Stumps is a coward because he boasts a good deal. Boasting is often a sign of cowardicethough not always.

Well, continued Robin, being ashamed to draw back, I suppose, he agreed to accompany Jeff.

Wont you come too, Slagg? said Stumps.

No; I dont care a button for ghosts. Besides, Im too busy, but Wright will go. There, dont bother me! said Jim.

I noticed, as I went last out of the room, that Slagg rose quickly and pulled a sheet off one of the beds. Afterwards, looking back, I saw him slip out and run down the passage in the opposite direction. I suspected he was about some mischief, but said nothing.

It was getting dark, as I have said, though not dark enough for lighting the lamps, and in some corners below it was as dark as midnight. To one of these places Jeff led us.

Mind how you go now, whispered Jeff; its here somewhere, and theres a hole toolook-outthere it is!

What! the ghost? whispered Stumps, beginning to feel uneasy. To say truth, I began to feel uneasy myself without well knowing why. At that moment I fell over something, and came down with a crash that shook Stumpss nerves completely out of order.

I say, lets go back, he muttered in a tremulous voice.

No, no, whispered Jeff seizing Stumps by the arm with a sudden grip that made him give a short yelp, we are at the place now. Its in this dark passage. Listen!

We all held our breath and listened. For a few seconds we heard nothing, but presently a slight tapping was heard.

Ive heard, whispered Jeff in a low tone, that when the big ship was buildin, one o the plate-riveters disappeared in some hole between the two skins o the ship hereabouts, and his comrades, not bein able to find him, were obliged at last to rivet him in, which they did so tight that even his ghost could not get out, so it goes on tappin, as you hear, an is likely to go on tappin for ever.

Bosh! whispered Stumps; thus politely intimating his disbelief, but I felt him trembling all over notwithstanding.

At that moment we saw a dim shadowy whitish object at the other end of the dark passage. Whawhawhats that? said I.

Stumps gasped. I heard his teeth chattering, and I think his knees were knocking together. Jeff made no sound, and it was too dark to see his face. Suddenly the object rushed at us. There was no noise of footstepsonly a muffled sound and a faint hissing. I stood still, unable to move. So did Jeff. I felt the hair of my head rising. Stumps gasped againthen turned and fled. The creature, whatever it was, brushed past us with a hideous laugh. I guessed at once that it was Jim Slagg, but evidently Stumps didnt, for he uttered an awful yell that would have roused the whole ship if she had been of an ordinary size; at the same moment he tripped and fell on the thing that had upset me, and the ghost, leaping over him, vanished from our sight.

To my surprise, on returning to our cabin, we found Slagg as we had left him, with both hands on his forehead poring over his book. I was almost as much surprised to see Jeff sit down and laugh heartily.Now, what do you think it could have been?

It was Slagg, of course, answered the sporting electrician.

Yes, but what causes the tapping?

Oh, that is no doubt some little triflea chip of wood, or bit of wire left hanging loose, which shakes about when the ship heaves.

A sudden tramping of feet overhead brought this ghostly discussion to an abrupt close, and caused every man in the saloon to rush on deck with a terrible feeling in his heart that something had gone wrong.

Not broken? asked an electrician with a pale face on reaching the deck.

Oh no, sir, replied an engineer, with an anxious look, not quite so bad as that, but a whale has taken a fancy to inspect us, and he is almost too attentive.

So it was. A large Greenland whale was playing about the big ship, apparently under the impression that she was a giant of his own species, and it had passed perilously close to the cable.

A second time it came up, rolling high above the waves. It went close past the sternrose again and dived with a gentle flop of its great tail, which, if it had touched the cable, would have cut it like a thread. At that trying moment, as they saw its huge back glittering in the moonlight, the hearts of the helpless spectators appeared absolutely to stand still. When the monster dived its side even touched the cable, but did not damage it. Being apparently satisfied by that time that the ship was not a friend, the whale finally disappeared in the depths of its ocean home.

Those who visited the Crystal Palace at Sydenham during the recent Electrical Exhibition had an opportunity of seeing the shells here referred to under a powerful microscope.

Chapter Ten.

Tells of Great Efforts and Failures and Grand Success

Thus happily and smoothly all things went, with little bursts of anxiety and little touches of alarm, just sufficient, as it were, to keep up the spirits of all, till the morning of the 30th July. But on that morning an appearance of excitement in the testing-room told that something had again gone wrong. Soon the order was given to slow the engines, then to stop them!