So he replied laconically:
"Guess the captain will tell us all about it after a while, Miss
Baring."
"Que diable! I feel like the rat in the trap," said Count Edouard,
suppressed excitement rendering his English less fluent.
At another time the phrase would have sent a ripple of amusement
through that cheery company. Now, no one smiled. They knew too well
what he meant to pay heed to the mere form of his words. No matter how
large or sumptuously equipped the trap, the point of view of the rat
was new to them.
CHAPTER III
WHEREIN THE CAPTAIN REAPPEARS
The fierce hissing of the continuous escape of steam excited alarm in
those not accustomed to machinery. Men and women share the unreasoning
panic of animals when an unknown force reveals its pent-up fury. They
forget that safety-valves are provided, that diminished pressure means
less risk; the knowledge that restraint, not freedom, is dangerous
comes ever in the guise of a new discovery.
The mining engineers, of course, did not share this delusion.
"There must be something serious the matter, or they would not be
wasting power like that," murmured the American to one of his
fellow-professionals.
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