“N–no, not exactly. They had a steamboat, you know, to carry over the telegraph from England to France; but we haven’t got a steamer—not even a plank to make-believe one. Cousin Sam says that a good workman can do his work with almost any tools that come to hand. As we have no tools at all, we will improve on that and go to work without them. Now, catch!”
Robin made a splendid heave—so splendid indeed that it caused him to stagger backward, and again he stumbled into his own battery! This time, however, only one leg was immersed.
“Another danger!” shouted Madge in great glee, “but I’ve caught the cable.”
“All right. Now make fast the shore-end to a bush, and we’ll commence telegraphing. The first must be a message from the Queen to the King of Denmark—Or is it the President?”
“King, I think, Robin, but I’m not sure.”
“Well, it won’t matter. But—I say—”
“What’s wrong now?”
“Why, the cable won’t sink. It is floating about on the top of the pool, and it can’t be a submarine cable, you know, unless it sinks.”
“Another difficulty, Robin.”
“We will face and overcome it, Madge. Cast off the shore-end and I’ll soon settle that.”