R. M. Ballantyne

The Battery and the Boiler: Adventures in Laying of Submarine Electric Cables R. M. Ballantyne

Somewhere about the middle of this nineteenth century, a baby boy was born on the raging sea in the midst of a howling tempest. That boy was the hero of this tale. He was cradled in squalls, and nourished in squalor?a week of dirty weather having converted the fore-cabin of the emigrant ship into something like a pig-sty. Appreciating the situation, no doubt, the baby boy began his career with a squall that harmonised with the weather, and, as the steward remarked to the ship?s cook, ?continued for to squall straight on end all that day and night without so much as ever takin? breath!? It is but right to add that the steward was prone to exaggeration. ?Stooard,? said the ship?s cook in reply, as he raised his eyes from the contemplation of his bubbling coppers, ?take my word for it, that there babby what has just bin launched ain?t agoin? to shovel off his mortal coil?as the play-actor said?without makin? his mark some?ow an? somew?eres.? ?What makes you think so, Johnson?? asked the steward.