Page:Clement Fezandié - Through the Earth.djvu/201

Rh completely. I left the faucet open, and there was accordingly a pressure on the water, from below, of fifteen pounds to the square inch. Consequently when I lifted up the cover a partial vacuum was formed, and the pressure from below pushed up the water after the cover in much the same manner that it would in a suction-pump. And as the vacuum continued as the cover moved along, the water would naturally tend to follow, having no weight to overcome, and its own inertia helping it."

This explanation was all very satisfactory, but it did not tend to quench our hero's thirst. There was, of course, enough loose water suspended in the car to enable him to get a good drink, if he were willing to swim after it, and swallow a few drops here and a few drops there, frog-fashion; but he was not much tempted to try this experiment. He had noticed a second reservoir of water, fastened upside down in the car for the convenience of passengers traveling from the New York side, and he therefore set to work to obtain a drink from this. He had, however, learned a lesson by experience, and reflected carefully before acting.

"Even if I could fill a tumbler with water," said he, "I should n't be able to drink it, as the water