“It looks like salt,” said Rollo.
“Yes,” rejoined Jonas, “and tastes a little like salt.”
Rollo and James both wanted to taste a little of the saltpetre, and they did. In the mean time, Jonas had poured some of it into the mortar, and was grinding it up with his pestle; and, when Rollo asked him where saltpetre came from, and what it was for, Jonas said he did not know any thing at all about it, and went on pounding and grinding with his pestle.
Dorothy now brought out another jar, containing sulphur; and as soon as Jonas had finished pulverizing his saltpetre, and had put it all into its cup, he poured out some of the sulphur into the third cup. The jars and the mortar were now put away, and Jonas got two sheets of wrapping-paper, and put upon the table, for he said he thought it probable that they might want some, in trying the powder.
“I expect your father will want a pair of scales, too,” said Jonas.
“What for?” asked Rollo.
“To weigh out the materials,” replied Jonas. “I don’t know what the proportions are; but I suppose that they must be mixed in right proportions.”
“What are the right proportions?” asked Rollo.
“I don’t know,” said Jonas, “but I suppose your father will know.”
“Well,” said Rollo, “I’ll go and call him.”