Page:Clement Fezandié - Through the Earth.djvu/80

60 doctor was unable to fill all the orders he received. Nevertheless, the coffers of the company were filled to overflowing with the receipts from the sale of this electrical power. In fact, the vexations delay caused by the eruption was destined to prove of the greatest financial benefit to the stock-holders.

The important task of keeping the apparatus in perfect running order the doctor would confide to no one except to his chief engineer during the intervals of time when he himself was obliged to sleep; and even then it was only with strict orders that he should be awakened at the least sign of irregularity in the working of the current on either side—for special wires kept him in constant communication with the New York end of the tube.

To be obliged to wait thus with folded arms until the volcanic activities had quieted down was exceedingly discouraging, and the only hopeful sign the doctor saw was that there was a large proportion of vapor mingled with the molten matter hurled forth by the volcano. This led him to believe that only a pocket had been struck. Such, indeed, seemed to be the case; for after four months of weary waiting the eruption gradually subsided.