Numerous wires ran into these metal plates, and were
attached at the other end to the rows of dynamic machines. Beneath was
a glass stand, which was hollowed out in the centre into a succession
of troughs.
"You will soon understand all about it," said Raffles Haw, throwing off
his coat, and pulling on a smoke-stained and dirty linen jacket.
"We must first stoke up a little." He put his weight on a pair of great
bellows, and an answering roar came from the furnace. "That will do.
The more heat the more electric force, and the quicker our task. Now
for the lead! Just give me a hand in carrying it."
They lifted a dozen of the pigs of lead from the floor on to the glass
stand, and having adjusted the plates on either side, Haw screwed up the
handle so as to hold them in position.
"It used in the early days to be a slow process," he remarked; "but now
that I have immense facilities for my work it takes a very short time.
I have now only to complete the connection in order to begin."
He took hold of a long glass lever which projected from among the wires,
and drew it downwards. A sharp click was heard, followed by a loud,
sparkling, crackling noise. Great spurts of flame sprang from the two
electrodes, and the mass of lead was surrounded by an aureole of golden
sparks, which hissed and snapped like pistol-shots.
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