They were
standing on the main deck near the engine-room door, and examining
something which resembled a lump of coal; she saw the engineer take
three similar lumps from a pocket.
Christobal appeared, carrying a bucket of water, into which the lumps
were placed by Walker, who handled them very gingerly. After a slight
delay, he began to crumble one in his fingers, still keeping it in the
water, until finally he drew forth what Elsie recognized at once as a
stick of dynamite. Though it was blackened by contact with the coal,
she was certain of its real nature. She had visited a great many
mines, and the officials always scared the ladies of the party by
telling them what would happen if the explosives' shed were to blow up.
She had even seen dynamite placed in the sun to dry, as it is very
susceptible to moisture, and she wondered, naturally enough, why such a
dangerous agent should be hidden in, or disguised as, a piece of coal.
She thought that the men should be made aware of her presence, so she
leaned over and said:
"May I ask what you four are plotting?"
They looked at her in surprise.
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