“We must make an artificial rock for our gunpowder,” replied his father, “and see if our powder will burst it. I’ll try, if you will go into the other room, and get the ball of twine out of the drawer.”
While Rollo was gone after the ball of twine, his father took a piece of strong wrapping-paper, which Jonas got for him, and, bending it around over his hand in a peculiar manner, he formed it into a conical sort of cup, into which he poured the gunpowder which he had made. This paper cup was pointed at the bottom, growing larger and larger upwards. He then folded over the upper part, so as to enclose the powder completely; and, when Rollo brought the twine, he began to wind the twine around it, as if he was going to tie it up. Rollo and James expected that he was going pretty soon to cut off the string, and tie it; but instead of that, he went on winding it up like a ball. After he had carried the string round a number of times, he began to wind it tighter and tighter, taking care, however, always not to pass the twine over the little tip or apex of the cone. By this means, in a short time the whole paper was covered in every part with the twine except the apex, which remained exposed.
“There,” said he, when he had finished, “I have enclosed the powder now in this ball, and confined it tight. We can imagine this to be a rock. The air cannot get at it. If it burns at all, it must burn by means of its internal composition. Now we will go out and set it on fire. Jonas must get a short board and a few shavings.”
While Jonas was gone after the board and shavings, Mr. Holiday made a little more gunpowder in the mortar for priming, as he said. When it was ready, they went out to the door, where they found Jonas with a board, and a little basket of shavings.
Mr. Holiday put the board down upon the ground at a little distance from the door. Then he placed his wound parcel of gunpowder upon the board, with the tip down. With his penknife he made a little opening into the gunpowder at the tip, so that a little of it came out upon the board. He then poured his priming down at the same place, and laid the shavings carefully upon it. He finally folded up a paper, and lighted it in the house, and came up cautiously and lighted the shavings. The others all stood upon the piazza looking on, and Mr. Holiday himself, as soon as he saw the shavings began to burn, retreated to the same place of security. The shavings burned slowly for some time. The flame approached nearer and nearer to the charge; for a minute, the flame seemed to come from the very apex of the cone, and Rollo had just come to the conclusion that the powder would not go off, when suddenly there was a flash and a great puff of smoke, and immediately after a loud explosion. The children ran to the spot and found that the ball in which the gunpowder had been enveloped, was torn all to pieces, and the fragments of the twine were slowly burning.
QUESTIONS.
Why was Rollo particularly sorry that he failed in making the charcoal? What did Jonas tell him? What dangers did Jonas anticipate in his making gunpowder? What did his father say to his request? What preliminary arrangements were made? What is the meaning of pulverize? Of impalpable? How did Jonas pulverize the charcoal? How did Rollo find his father employed, when he went to call him? What did his father say that the proportions were? Did he attempt to be exact? Did he suppose that the parts ought to be measured by bulk or by weight? Which did he think was the heaviest of the materials? How did he make allowance for this? What was the success of the experiment? How did their gunpowder differ from real gunpowder in appearance? In what respect does gunpowder differ from other highly combustible substances? How did Mr. Holiday confine his gunpowder, to show whether it had the property of burning without a supply of air?
CHAPTER VII.
THE ALARM.
After the explosion, James said that it was time for him to go home. It was about sundown. Rollo said that he would go home with him to keep him company, if his mother would let him. She had no objection, and Rollo and James went away together.