The obvious spot to attack was
the interior of the tunnel through which the streamlet ran, but Jack,
testing the temperature of the water with his hand, doubted his
physical ability to remain in that ice-cold current more than a few
minutes at a time, and if he worked in the tunnel he would be all but
submerged. He feared he would perish with cold and cramp before he had
made any impression on the rock.
To the edge of the stream he drew the table, and, mounting it,
examined the upper orifice through which the water escaped when the
cell was full. He found he could stand on the table and work in
comfort until he had excavated sufficient rock to allow him to clamber
into the upper tunnel and so continue his operations. The water he
used would flow through the tunnel, and down to the main stream in the
next cell. All he had to do was to dissolve a semi-circular hole in
the rock that would bend round the end of those steel bars, and enter
the tunnel again on the other side. Eager to be at work, he took the
full basin, shoved it far along the tunnel until it was stopped by the
bars, then, placing his candle beside it, and standing on the table,
he began operations.
The limestone, under the influence of the spray, dissolved very
slowly, and by the time the basin of water was exhausted, all the
effect visible under the light of the candle was an exceedingly slight
circular impression which was barely visible to the naked eye.
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