Page:Ballantyne--The Battery and the Boiler.djvu/49

 "There 's something up," murmured the clerk, with a mysterious look at his comrade, on resuming his perch.

"Time 's up, or nearly so," replied the comrade, with an anxious look at the clock;

approaches."

"D' you know that that is Cyrus Field?" said the first clerk.

"And who is Cyrus Field?" demanded the second clerk.

"O ignoramus! Thy name is Bob, and thou art not worth a 'bob'—miserable snob! Don't you know that Cyrus Field is the man who brought about the laying of the great Atlantic Cable in 1858?"

"No, most learned Fred, I did not know that, but I am very glad to know it now. Moreover, I know nothing whatever about cables—Atlantic or otherwise. I am as blind as a bat, as ignorant as a bigot, as empty as a soap-bubble, and as wise as Solomon, because I 'm willing to be taught."

"What a delicious subject to work upon!" said Fred.

"Well then, work away," returned Bob; "suppose you give me a discourse on Cables. But, I say—be