Chapter 8 Chapter Eight A Dynamite Explosion
The experiment the old foreman had predicted was a success.It is well known that primary hydrocarbons can only develop in coal seams.Therefore, there is no doubt that there is a vein containing valuable fuel.What is its importance and quality?There will be a conclusion in the future.
This is what the engineer infers from what he has just observed.These conclusions are completely consistent with those that Simon Ford had already drawn.
"Yes," thought James Starr, "behind this wall lies a carbonaceous formation that our surveys have failed to reach! This is annoying, because all the tools in the mine have been abandoned for ten years, Now we have to do it again! We have found a vein that people thought was exhausted, and this time, we will mine it to the end!"
"So, Mr. James," asked Simon Ford, "how do you feel about our discovery? Am I wrong to interrupt you? Do you regret this last visit to the Dochart Coal Bunker?"
"No, no, my old companion!" replied James Starr, "we did not waste our time, but we will now, if we do not return to the cottage at once. To-morrow, we shall return here again. We're going to blast this wall with dynamite. We're going to reveal outcrops of new veins, and then, after a series of surveys, if the seam appears to be of any importance, I'm going to rebuild a new Aberford Ill Company, satisfy the old shareholders to the greatest extent! Within three months, the first buckets must extract coal from the new seam!"
"Well said, Mr. James!" cried Simon Ford, "the old coal mine is rejuvenated, like a widow married again! With the motion of the pickaxe, the motion of the pickaxe, the blasting of the mine, The drive of the wagons, the neighing of the horses, the creaking of the buckets, the roar of the machines, the old busyness will begin again! I, I shall see it all!—I hope, Mr. James, you will not Am I too old to take on my foreman duties?"
"No, brave Simon, no, never! You're still younger than me, my old chap!"
"Then let St. Mungo bless us! You will still be our 'viewer'! May the new mining continue for many years, God willing, when I die, it will not be finished, and that will be my consolation! "
The happiness of the old miner is beyond words.James Starr shared all his joy, but he got Simon Ford excited for the two together.
Only Harry continued to brood.The strange, inexplicable succession of circumstances surrounding the discovery of new deposits recurred in his memory.These things did not worry him about the future.
An hour later James Starr and his two companions were back at the cottage.
The engineer had a good appetite at supper, and nodded his head in agreement with all the plans the old foreman had detailed, wishing it were tomorrow, and he had never slept so well in this utterly peaceful cottage.
The second oldest, after eating a nutritious lunch, James Starr, Simon Ford, Harry, and Madditch retook the path they had walked the next day.All go there like real miners.They carried all kinds of tools and cartridges with which to blast the last rock face.In addition to a very bright lantern, Harry also brought a huge security lamp that could be lit for 12 hours.In this way, on the way back and forth, including a few necessary breaks during the exploration, it is enough to light up-if there is a prospecting.
"Work," cried Simon, who had reached the end of the lane with his companions.
He had a heavy crowbar in his hand, and he was swinging it vigorously.
"Wait a minute," said James Starr at this moment, "let's check to see if there is no change at all, and whether the gas has been leaking from the laminae in the wall."
"You're right, Mr. Starr," replied Harry, "what was blocked yesterday may well be blocked today!"
Ma Deqi sitting on a rock is carefully observing the cave and the rock wall to be blasted.
After observation, the situation is still the same as when they left.The cracks on the laminae did not undergo any modification.Primary hydrocarbons are still seeping, but in small quantities.There is no doubt that this is because it has found a passage to escape freely since last night.However, this diffusion is too weak to form an explosive mixture with the air in the cave.James Starr and his partners can thus act in absolute safety.What's more, the air here became purer after reaching the upper floors of Dochart's coal bunker, and the gas disappeared in such an environment, and it was impossible to cause any explosion.
"Go to work!" said Simon Ford again.
After a while, under the crowbar he fiddled vigorously, the rock was quickly broken into flying fragments.
This vein fracture, like the usual outcrops of carbonaceous veins, is composed mainly of round conglomerate between sandstone and slate.
James Starr collected the tool-beaten debris and examined them carefully, hoping to find some signs of carbon.
This first step lasted about an hour.From this it was evident that it was at a considerable depth at the end of the rock face.
James Starr then chose a location where he could drill the mine, and with the drill bit and the hammer in Harry's hand, the work was quickly completed.Dynamite cartridges were stuffed into these holes.They had just put a long, tarred line of safety fuze in it and ignited it close to the ground, with a detonator at the end of the line.James Starr and his buddies went into hiding.
"Ah! Mr. James," said Simon Ford, with unconcealed excitement, "never, no, never did my old heart beat so fast! I'm already thinking of attacking the vein!"
"Be patient, Simon," replied the engineer, "and don't you expect to find a wide opening behind this rock face?"
"Forgive me, Mr. James," replied the old foreman. "I expected everything possible! If luck once brought me and Harry to this seam, why didn't the luck continue to the end?"
The dynamite went off.A dull roar spread through the underground alley network and spread in all directions.
Immediately James Starr, Madge, Harry, and Simon Ford resumed their walk towards the cave wall.
"Mr. James! Mr. James!" cried the old foreman. "Look! The door is open! . . . "
This analogy of Simon Ford is confirmed by the appearance of a cave, the depth of which cannot be estimated.
Harry was about to slip in through the hole...
The engineer was greatly surprised to find that there was a cave here, which held the young miner.
"Wait a minute, let the air in there be purer," he said.
"Yes! Beware!" cried Simon Ford.
Waited for a quarter of an hour in anxiety.So a lantern, fastened to the end of a stick, was thrust into the cave, and it continued to burn without changing its brightness.
"Go, Harry," said James Starr, "we'll come after you."
The opening opened by the dynamite is quite large enough for a person to pass through.
Lantern in hand, Harry slipped in without hesitation and disappeared into the darkness.
James Starr, Simon Ford, and Madge waited motionless.
A minute—a very long time for them—passed.Harry didn't reappear, didn't shout.As James Starr approached, he no longer even saw his lamp, which was supposed to illuminate the dark cavern.
Could the ground suddenly give way under Harry's feet?Did the young miner fall into a pothole?His voice can no longer reach his partner's ears?
The old foreman didn't want to hear anything, and was about to go in through the hole. At this moment, a ray of light appeared, which was dim at first, and then gradually brightened. Harry's voice also sounded:
"Come, Mr. Starr! Come, father! The way is open to new Aberfoyle."
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Notes: