It took the rest of the day to do this, as the inventor found it would be advisable to attach a weight to the end of the cylinder, to hold it upright in the column of water. The weight could be detached automatically when they were shot up into the midst of the ocean, where, as Hankos had told them, the column spurted forth.
Then some food was stored in the tiny ship that was destined to be their last hope, and some tanks of water were placed in it.
“I think we are almost ready,” Mr. Henderson said about noon the next day.
“What about our gold and diamonds?” asked Jack suddenly. “Can we take them with us in the cylinder?”
“That’s so!” exclaimed Mr. Henderson. “I forgot about them. I’m afraid we’ll have to leave the riches behind. We will not be able to carry them and the food we need, for it may be a week or more before we can leave the cylinder. Gold and diamonds will be a poor substitute for something to eat.”
“I’m goin’ t’ take mine!” said Washington with much conviction. “I might as well starve rich as starve poor!”
“We may be able to take a few diamonds,” the professor answered. “The gold will be too heavy. Let each one select the largest of the diamonds he has and put them in his pockets.”
Then began a sorting of the wealth. It was strange, as they recalled afterward, throwing away riches that would have made millionaires envious, but it had to be done. All the wealth in the world would not equal a beef capsule when they were starving, and they realized it. So they only saved a few pieces of gold as souvenirs, and took the best of the diamonds. But even then they had a vast fortune with them.
At last all was in readiness. The cylinder had been placed in the tube from which it was to be shot gently forth by compressed air, so that it would fall into the upward spouting column of water. The charge of compressed air was put in and the electric wires arranged.
“Are we all ready?” asked Mr. Henderson.