Page:Ballantyne--The Battery and the Boiler.djvu/379

 gave them three ringing cheers, and the voyage to Aden began.

Soon the cable-layers were gliding merrily over the bright blue sea at the rate of five or six knots an hour, with the cable going quietly over the stern, the machinery working smoothly, the electrical condition of the cable improving as the sea deepened, and flocks of flying-fish hovering over the crisp and curly waves, as if they were specially interested in the expedition, and wished to bear it company.

All went well, yet were they well prepared for accident or disaster, as Sam informed Robin on the morning of the 1 6th while sitting at breakfast.

"They have got two gongs, as you 've observed, no doubt," he said, "which are never to be sounded except when mischief is brewing. The first intimation of fault or disaster will be a note from one of these gongs, when the ship will be instantly stepped, the brakes put on, and the engines reversed."

"Everything is splendidly prepared and provided for," said Robin; "hand me the sugar, Sam."

"The elasticity and good behaviour of the big ship are all that could be desired," remarked one of the engineers, "though she carries 3000 tons more dead-weight than when she started with the Atlantic cable in 1865."

At that moment there was a lull of consternation round the breakfast-table, for a drumming upon metal