Only a few hours before, during an idle moment, the similarity of the big jar to a gravity cell had occurred to him, and the speculation as to whether it could not be turned into a battery if need be.
Could he really make a battery of it? If he could, undoubtedly it would be strong enough to so increase the current in the wire that both Zeisler and the despatcher could hear him.
He ran to a little storage closet at the rear of the room. Yes; there was enough bluestone! But no copper, or zinc! What could he do for that?
As though directed by Providence, his gaze fell on the floor-board of the office stove. It was covered with a sheet of zinc! And even as he uttered a glad “Good!” there came the remembrance that at the house that afternoon he had seen a fine new wash-boiler—with a thick copper bottom.
“That’s it,” cried Alex, again catching up the lantern and darting for the door.
A short distance from the depot Alex was halted by a long, muffled whistle from the east. “The Express,” he exclaimed, and in keen anxiety awaited the next whistle. Would it be for the crossing this side of the bonfire, or—
It came, a series of quick, sharp toots. Yes; they had seen the fire!
“Thank Heaven! She’s safe at any rate,” said Alex, at once running on.
A few minutes later he burst into Mrs. Moore’s kitchen. The farmer’s wife was at the stove, preparing coffee for them.
“Mrs. Moore, where is your new copper-bottomed boiler? I must have it, quick,” said Alex.