Page:Ballantyne--The Battery and the Boiler.djvu/44

 "Another danger!" shouted Madge in great glee, "but I 've caught the cable."

"All right. Now make fast the shore-end to a bush, and we 'll commence telegraphing. The first must be a message from the Queen to the King of Denmark—or is it the President?"

"King, I think, Robin, but I 'm not sure."

"Well, it won't matter. But—I say—"

"What 's wrong now?"

"Why, the cable won't sink. It is floating about on the top of the pool, and it can't be a submarine cable, you know, unless it sinks."

"Another difficulty, Robin."

"We will face and overcome it, Madge. Cast off the shore-end and I 'll soon settle that."

Having fastened a number of small stones to the cable, this persevering electrician would certainly have overcome the difficulty if the line had not, when thrown, unfortunately caught on a branch of the willow, where it hung suspended just out of Madge's reach.

"How provoking!" she said, stretching out her hand to the utmost.

"Take care—you 'll—ha!"

The warning came too late. The edge of the bank gave way, and Madge went headlong into the pool with a wild shriek and a fearful plunge.

Robin stood rooted to the spot—heart, breath,