The monkey-faced polypus replied not a word, but delivered a right-hander that might have felled a small horse. Jim Slagg however was prepared for that. He turned his head neatly to one side so as to let the blow pass, and at the same moment planted his knuckles on the bridge of his opponents nose and sent him headlong into Jeffs bunk, which lay conveniently behind. Jumping furiously out of that, and skinning his shins in the act, Stumps rushed at Slagg, who, leaping lightly aside, tripped him up and gave him a smack on the left ear as he passed, by way of keeping him lively.
Unsubdued by this, Stumps gathered himself up and made a blind rush at his adversary, but was abruptly stopped by what Jeff called a dab on the nose. Repeating the rush, Stumps was staggered by a plunging blow on the forehead, and he paused to breathe, gazing the while at his foe, who, though a smaller youth than himself, was quite as strong.
If youve had enough, monkey-face, said Slagg, with a bland smile, dont hesitate to say so, an Ill shake hands; but if youd prefer a little more before goin to bed, just let me know, and
Slagg here performed some neat and highly suggestive motions with his fists by way of finishing the sentence.
Evidently Stumps wanted more, for, after a brief pause, he again rushed at Slagg, who, stepping aside like a Spanish matador, allowed his foe to expend his wrath on the bulkhead of the cabin.
Youll go through it next time, Stumps, if you plunge like that, said Jeff, who had watched the fight with lively interest, and had encouraged the combatants with sundry marks of applause, besides giving them much gratuitous advice.
Regardless alike of encouragement and advice, the angry youth turned round once more and received a buffet that sent him sprawling on the table, off which he fell and rolled under it. There he lay and panted.
Now, my sweet polypus, said the victor, going down on one knee and patting the vanquished on his shoulder, next time you feels tempted to kick a gentlemanspecially a electricianat his dewotions, think of Jim Slagg an restrain yourself. I bear you no ill-will howeverso, good-night.
Saying this, Robins champion left the room and Stumps retired to his berth growling.
Before passing from the subject, we may add that, the next night, Robinwhose owner was still absentwas again hospitably invited to share the cabin of his friend and protector. When about to retire to rest he considered whether it was advisable to risk the repetition of the scene of the previous, night, and, although not quite easy in his conscience about it, came to the conclusion that it would be well to say his prayers in bed. Accordingly, he crept quietly into his berth and lay down, but Jim Slagg, who was present, no sooner saw what he was about than he jumped up with a roar of indignation.
What are you about? he cried, aint you goin to say your prayers, you white-livered electrician? Come, git up! If Im to fight, you must pray! Dye hear? Turn out, I say.
With that he seized Robin, dragged him out of bed, thrust him on his knees, and bade him do his dooty.
At first Robins spirit rose in rebellion, but a sense of shame at his moral cowardice, and a perception of the justice of his friends remark, subdued him. He did pray forthwith, though what the nature of his prayer was we have never been able to ascertain, and do not care to guess. The lesson, however, was not lost. From that date forward Robin Wright was no longer ashamed or afraid to be seen in the attitude of prayer.
Chapter Eight.
Laying The CableFaults and Fault-FindingAnxieties, Accidents, and other Matters
Come with us now, good reader, to another and very different sceneout upon the boundless sea. The great Atlantic is asleep, but his breast heaves gently and slowly like that of a profound sleeper.
The Great Eastern looks like an island on the watersteady as a rock, obedient only to the rise and fall of the ocean swell, as she glides along at the rate of six knots an hour. All is going well. The complicated-looking paying-out machinery revolves smoothly; the thread-like cable passes over the stern, and down into the deep with the utmost regularity.
The shore-end of the cabletwenty-seven miles in length, and much thicker than the deep-sea portionhad been laid at Valentia, on the 22nd of July, amid prayer and praise, speech-making, and much enthusiasm, on the part of operators and spectators. On the 23rd, the end of the shore cable was spliced to that of the main cable, and the voyage had begun.
The first night had passed quietly, and upwards of eighty miles of the cable had gone out of the after-tank, over the big ships stern, and down to its ocean-bed, when Robin Wrightunable to sleepquietly slipped into his clothes, and went on deck. It was drawing near to dawn. A knot of electricians and others were chatting in subdued tones about the one subject that filled the minds of all in the ship.
What! unable to sleep, like the rest of us? said Ebenezer Smith, accosting Robin as he reached the deck.
Yes, sir, said Robin, with a sleepy smile, Ive been thinking of the cable so much that I took to dreaming about it when I fell asleep, and it suddenly turned into the great sea-serpent, and choked me to such an extent that I awoke, and then thought it better to get up and have a look at it.
Ah! my boy, you are not the only one whom the cable wont let sleep. It will be well looked after during the voyage, for there are two sets of electricians aboardall of them uncommonly wide awakeone set representing the Telegraph Construction and Maintenance Company, under Monsieur de Sauty; the other set representing the Atlantic Telegraph Company, under Mr Varley and Professor Thomson. The former are to test the electrical state of the cable, and to keep up signals with the shore every hour, night and day, during the voyage, while the latter are to watch and report as to whether the cable fulfils her conditions, as specified in the contract. So you see the smallest fault or hitch will be observed at once.
Do you mean, sir, asked Robin in surprise, that telegraphing with the shore is to be kept up continually all the voyage!
Yes, my boy, I do, answered Smith. The lengths of the cable in the three tanks are joined up into one length, and telegraphingfor the purpose of testing ithas been kept up with the shore without intermission from the moment we left Ireland, and began to pay out. It will be continued, if all goes well, until we land the other and in Newfoundland. The tests are threefold,first, for insulation, which, as you know, means the soundness and perfection of the gutta-percha covering that prevents the electricity from escaping from the wires, through the sea, into the earth; secondly, for continuity, or the unbroken condition of the conductor or copper core throughout its whole length; and, thirdly, to determine the resistance of the conductor, by which is meant its objection to carry our messages without vigorous application of the spur in the form of increased electrical power in our batteries. You see, Robin, every message sent to us from the shore, as well as every message sent by us in reply, has to travel through the entire length of the cable, namely about 2400 miles, and as every mile of distance increases this unwillingness, or resistance, we have to increase the electrical power in the batteries in proportion to the distance to which we want to send our message. Dyou understand?
I think I do, sir; but how is the exact amount of resistance tested?