CyrusHarding’sprojecthadsucceeded,but,accordingtohisusualhabitheshowednosatisfaction;withclosedlipsandafixedlook,heremainedmotionless.Herbertwasinecstasies,Nebboundedwithjoy,Pencroftnoddedhisgreathead,murmuringthesewords,—

           "Come,ourengineergetsoncapitally!"

           Thenitro-glycerinehadindeedactedpowerfully.Theopeningwhichithadmadewassolargethatthevolumeofwaterwhichescapedthroughthisnewoutletwasatleasttreblethatwhichbeforepassedthroughtheoldone.Theresultwas,thatashorttimeaftertheoperationthelevelofthelakewouldbeloweredtwofeet,ormore.

           ThesettlerswenttotheChimneystotakesomepickaxes,iron-tippedspears,stringmadeoffibers,flintandsteel;theythenreturnedtotheplateau,Topaccompanyingthem.

           Onthewaythesailorcouldnothelpsayingtotheengineer,—

           "Don’tyouthink,captain,thatbymeansofthatcharmingliquidyouhavemade,onecouldblowupthewholeofourisland?"

           "Withoutanydoubt,theisland,continents,andtheworlditself,"repliedtheengineer."Itisonlyaquestionofquantity."

           "Thencouldyounotusethisnitro-glycerineforloadingfirearms?"askedthesailor.

           "No,Pencroft;foritistooexplosiveasubstance.Butitwouldbeeasytomakesomeguncotton,orevenordinarypowder,aswehaveazoticacid,saltpeter,sulphur,andcoal.Unhappily,itisthegunswhichwehavenotgot.