"I wonder that he
dared go off and leave it unguarded."
When he finally returned to the outer room, he found it even colder
than the cavern in which he had been working, and realised, as never
before, the value of the knowledge that had enabled him to restore the
usefulness of that electric heater. After getting it into operation,
and making his report to the sick man, who had impatiently awaited him,
there was another meal to prepare.
So, in spite of Cabot's overwhelming desire to hear Mr. Balfour's
story, there was so much to be done first that the short day had merged
into another night before the opportunity arrived. When it came, our
lad drew a chair to the bedside of his patient and said:
"Now, sir, if you feel able to talk, and are willing to tell me how you
happen to be living in this place, I shall be more than glad to listen."
"I am willing," replied the other, "but must be brief, since talking
has become an exertion. As perhaps you know, I was a working
electrician in London, where, though I had a good business, I had not
accumulated much money. Consequently I was greatly pleased to receive
what promised to be a lucrative contract from a Canadian railway
company for supplying and installing a quantity of electrical apparatus
along their line. I at once invested every penny I could raise in the
purchase of material and in the charter of a sailing vessel to
transport it to this country.
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