He hoped it might distract
the attention of the person who, by accident or design, opposed the
execution of his purpose. He had sent Vernon to the cabin to watch the
movements of Henry, while he remained upon the main deck, forward of the
furnaces, to encourage the firemen in their ambitious project of passing
the other boat. Several barrels of hams which lay upon the deck the
apparently excited attorney ordered the firemen to throw into the
furnaces, promising to screen them from blame by paying the owner double
their value. The firemen, not blessed with an undue amount of caution,
willingly obeyed the order, and soon the boilers hissed and groaned
under the extraordinary pressure. The engineers, roused from their
slumbers, and entering at once into the sport, secured the safety-valve
in its place by attaching to the lever double the usual weight.
Still the person whom Maxwell wished to lure from his post remained
immovable. A few pitch-barrels were now split up, and cast into the
furnaces, which so increased the pressure that the faithful safety-valve
refused longer to endure the curb placed upon the discharge of its
function.
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