up fragments of granite, and stuffed them in with tow, we only scalded our hands without succeeding. The pressure was too great, and our efforts were fruitless.
“It is quite plain,” said I, “that the higher body of this water is at a considerable elevation. The force of the jet shows that.”
“No doubt,” answered my uncle. “If this column of water is 32,000 feet high—that is, from the surface of the earth, it is equal to the weight of a thousand atmospheres. But I have got an idea.”
“Well?”
“Why should we trouble ourselves to stop the stream from coming out at all?”
“Because—” Well, I could not assign a reason.
“When our flasks are empty, where shall