the cone-第2章

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down　the　path。



〃You　see　the　fine　effect　of　the　railway　signals　towards

Burslem；〃　said　Horrocks；　suddenly　breaking　into　loquacity；　striding

fast；　and　tightening　the　grip　of　his　elbow　the　while。　　〃　Little

green　lights　and　red　and　white　lights；　all　against　the　haze。　　You

have　an　eye　for　effect；　Raut。　　It's　a　fine　effect。　　And　look　at

those　furnaces　of　mine；　how　they　rise　upon　us　as　we　come　down　the

hill。　　That　to　the　right　is　my　petseventy　feet　of　him。　　I　packed

him　myself；　and　he's　boiled　away　cheerfully　with　iron　in　his　guts

for　five　long　years。　　I've　a　particular　fancy　for　HIM。　　That

line　of　red　therea　lovely　bit　of　warm　orange　you'd　call　it；

Rautthat's　the　puddlers'　furnaces；　and　there；　in　the　hot　light；

three　black　figuresdid　you　see　the　white　splash　of　the

steam…hammer　then？that's　the　rolling　mills。　　Come　along！　　Clang；

clatter；　how　it　goes　rattling　across　the　floor！　　Sheet　tin；　Raut；

amazing　stuff。　　Glass　mirrors　are　not　in　it　when　that　stuff　comes

from　the　mill。　　And；　squelch！there　goes　the　hammer　again。　　Come

along！〃



He　had　to　stop　talking　to　catch　at　his　breath。　　His　arm

twisted　into　Raut's　with　benumbing　tightness。　　He　had　come　striding

down　the　black　path　towards　the　railway　as　though　he　was　possessed。



Raut　had　not　spoken　a　word；　had　simply　hung　back　against　Horrocks'

pull　with　all　his　strength。



〃I　say；〃　he　said　now；　laughing　nervously；　but　with　an

undernote　of　snarl　in　his　voice；　〃why　on　earth　are　you　nipping　my

arm　off；　Horrocks；　and　dragging　me　along　like　this？〃



At　length　Horrocks　released　him。　　His　manner　changed　again。　

〃Nipping　your　arm　off？〃　he　said。　　〃Sorry。　　But　it's　you　taught　me

the　trick　of　walking　in　that　friendly　way。〃



〃You　haven't　learnt　the　refinements　of　it　yet　then；〃　said

Raut；　laughing　artificially　again。　　〃By　Jove！　　I'm　black　and　blue。〃



Horrocks　offered　no　apology。　　They　stood　now　near　the　bottom　of　the

hill；　close　to　the　fence　that　bordered　the　railway。　　The　ironworks

had　grown　larger　and　spread　out　with　their　approach。　　They　looked

up　to　the　blast　furnaces　now　instead　of　down；　the　further　view　of

Etruria　and　Hanley　had　dropped　out　of　sight　with　their　descent。　

Before　them；　by　the　stile　rose　a　notice…board；　bearing　still　dimly

visible；　the　words；　〃BEWARE　OF　THE　TRAINS；〃　half　hidden　by　splashes

of　coaly　mud。



〃Fine　effects；〃　said　Horrocks；　waving　his　arm。　　〃Here　comes　a

train。　　The　puffs　of　smoke；　the　orange　glare；　the　round　eye　of

light　in　front　of　it；　the　melodious　rattle。　　Fine　effects！　　But

these　furnaces　of　mine　used　to　be　finer；　before　we　shoved　cones　in

their　throats；　and　saved　the　gas。〃



〃How？〃　said　Raut。　　〃Cones？〃



〃Cones；　my　man；　cones。　　I'll　show　you　one　nearer。　　The　flames

used　to　flare　out　of　the　open　throats；　greatwhat　is　it？pillars

of　cloud　by　day；　red　and　black　smoke；　and　pillars　of　fire　by　night。



Now　we　run　it　off　in　pipes；　and　burn　it　to　heat　the　blast；　and　the

top　is　shut　by　a　cone。　　You'll　be　interested　in　that　cone。〃



〃But　every　now　and　then；〃　said　Raut；　〃you　get　a　burst　of　fire

and　smoke　up　there。〃



〃The　cone's　not　fixed；　it's　hung　by　a　chain　from　a　lever；　and

balanced　by　an　equipoise。　　You　shall　see　it　nearer。　　Else；　of

course；　there'd　be　no　way　of　getting　fuel　into　the　thing。　　Every

now　and　then　the　cone　dips；　and　out　comes　the　flare。〃



〃I　see；〃　said　Raut。　　He　looked　over　his　shoulder。　　〃The　moon

gets　brighter；〃　he　said。



〃Come　along；〃　said　Horrocks　abruptly；　gripping　his　shoulder

again；　and　moving　him　suddenly　towards　the　railway　crossing。　　And

then　came　one　of　those　swift　incidents；　vivid；　but　so　rapid　that

they　leave　one　doubtful　and　reeling。　　Halfway　across；　Horrocks'

hand　suddenly　clenched　upon　him　like　a　vice；　and　swung　him　backward

and　through　a　half…turn；　so　that　he　looked　up　the　line。　　And　there

a　chain　of　lamp…lit　carriage…windows　telescoped　swiftly　as　it　came

towards　them；　and　the　red　and　yellow　lights　of　an　engine　grew

larger　and　larger；　rushing　down　upon　them。　　As　he　grasped　what　this

meant；　he　turned　his　face　to　Horrocks；　and　pushed　with　all

his　strength　against　the　arm　that　held　him　back　between　the　rails。　

The　struggle　did　not　last　a　moment。　　Just　as　certain　as　it　was　that

Horrocks　held　him　there；　so　certain　was　it　that　he　had　been

violently　lugged　out　of　danger。



〃Out　of　the　way；〃　said　Horrocks；　with　a　gasp；　as　the　train

came　rattling　by；　and　they　stood　panting　by　the　gate　into　the

ironworks。



〃I　did　not　see　it　coming；〃　said　Raut；　still；　even　in　spite　of

his　own　apprehensions；　trying　to　keep　up　an　appearance　of　ordinary

intercourse。



Horrocks　answered　with　a　grunt。　　〃The　cone；〃　he　said；　and

then；　as　one　who　recovers　himself；　〃I　thought　you　did　not　hear。〃



〃I　didn't；〃　said　Raut。



〃I　wouldn't　have　had　you　run　over　then　for　the　world；〃　said

Horrocks。



〃For　a　moment　I　lost　my　nerve；〃　said　Raut。



Horrocks　stood　for　half　a　minute；　then　turned　abruptly　towards

the　ironworks　again。　　〃See　how　fine　these　great　mounds　of　mine；

these　clinker…heaps；　look　in　the　night！　　That　truck　yonder；　up

above　there！　　Up　it　goes；　and　out…tilts　the　slag。　　See　the

palpitating　red　stuff　go　sliding　down　the　slope。　　As　we　get　nearer；

the　heap　rises　up　and　cuts　the　blast　furnaces。　　See　the　quiver　up

above　the　big　one。　　Not　that　way！　　This　way；　between　the　heaps。　　

That　goes　to　the　puddling　furnaces；　but　I　want　to　show　you　the

canal　first。〃　　He　came　and　took　Raut　by　the　elbow；　and　so　they　went

along　side　by　side。　　Raut　answered　Horrocks　vaguely。　　What；　he

asked　himself；　had　really　happened　on　the　line？　　Was　he　deluding

himself　with　his　own　fancies；　or　had　Horrocks　actually　held　him

back　in　the　way　of　the　train？　　Had　he　just　been　within　an　ace　of

being　murdered？



Suppose　this　slouching；　scowling　monster　DID　know

anything？　　For　a　minute　or　two　then　Raut　was　really　afraid　for　his

life；　but　the　mood　passed　as　he　reasoned　with　himself。　　After　all；

Horrocks　might　have　heard　nothing。　　At　any　rate；　he　had　pulled　him

out　of　the　way　in　time。　　His　odd　manner　might　be　due　to　the　mere

vague　jealousy　he　had　shown　once　before。　　He　was　talking　now　of　the

ash…heaps　and　the　canal。　　〃Eigh？〃　said　Horrocks。



〃What？〃　said　Raut。　　〃Rather！　　The　haze　in　the　moonlight。　

Fine！〃



〃Our　canal；〃　said　Horrocks；　stopping　suddenly。　　〃Our　canal　by

moonlight　and　firelight　is　an　immense　effect。　　You've　never　seen

it？　　Fancy　that！　　You've　spent　too　many　of　your　evenings

philandering　up　in　Newcastle　there。　　I　tell　you；　for　real　florid

effectsBut　you　shall　see。　　Boiling　water　。　。　。　〃



As　they　came　out　of　the　labyrinth　of　clinker…heaps　and　mounds

of　coal　and　ore；　the　noises　of　the　rolling…mill　sprang　upon　them

suddenly；　loud；　near；　and　distinct。　　Three　shadowy　workmen　went　by

and　touched　their　caps　to　Horrocks。　　Their　faces　were　vague　in　the

darkness。　　Raut　felt　a　futile　impulse　to　address　them；　and　before

he　could　frame　his　words；　they　passed　into　the　shadows。　　Horrocks

pointed　to　the　canal　close　before　them　now：　a　weird…looking　place

it　seemed；　in　the　blood…red　reflections　of　the　furnaces。　　The　hot

water　that　cooled　the　tuyeres　came　into　it；　some　fifty　yards　up

a　tumultuous；　almost　boiling　affluent；　and　the　steam　rose　up　from

the　water　in　silent　white　wisps　and　streaks；　wrapping　damply　about

them；　an　incessant　succession　of　ghosts　coming　up　from　the　black

and　red　eddies；　a　white　uprising　that　made　the　head　swim。　　The

shining　black　tower　of　the　larger　blast…furnace　rose　overhead　out

of　the　mist；　and　its　tumultuous　riot　filled　their　ears。　　Raut　kept

away　from　the　edge　of　the　water；　and　watched　Horrocks。



〃Here　it　is　red；〃　said　Horrocks；　〃blood…red　vapour　as　red　and

hot　as　sin；　but　yonder　there；　where　the　moonlight　falls　on　it；　and

it　drives　across　the　clinker…heaps；　it　is　as　white　as　death。〃



Raut　turned　his　head　for　a　moment；　and　then　came　back　hastily

to　his　watch　on　Horrocks。　　〃Come　along　to　the　rolling…mills；〃　said

Horrocks。　　The　threatening　hold　was　not　so　evident　that　time；　and

Raut　felt　a　little　reassured。　　But　all　the　same；　what　on　earth　did

Horrocks　mean　about　〃white　as　death〃　and　〃red　as　sin？〃　

Coincidence；　perhaps？



They　went　and　stood　behind　the　puddlers　for　a　little　while；

and　then　through　the　rolling…mills；　where　amidst　an　incessant　din

the　deliberate　steam…hammer　beat　the　juice　out　of　the　succulent

iron；　and　black；　half…naked　Titans　rushed　the　plastic　bars；　like

hot　sealing…wax；　between　the　wheels。　　〃Come　on；〃　said　Horrocks　in

Raut's　ear；　and　they　went　and　peeped　through　the　little　glass　hole

behind　the　tuyeres；　and　saw　the　tumbled　fire　writhing　in　the　pit　of

the　blast…furnace。　　It　left　one　eye　blinded　for　a　while。　　Then；

with　green　and　blue　patches　dancing　across　the　dark；　they　went　to

the　lift　by　which　the　trucks　of　ore　and　fuel　and　lime　were　raised

to　the　top　of　the　big　cylinder。



And　out　upon　the　narrow　rail　that　overhung　the　furnace；　Raut's

doubts　came　upon　him　again。　　Was　it　wise　to　be　here？　　If　Horrocks

did　knoweverything！　　Do　what　he　would；　he　could　not　resist　a

violent　trembling。　　Right　under　foot　was　a　sheer　depth　of　seventy

feet。　　It　was　a　dangerous　place。　　They　pushed　by　a　truck　of　fuel　to

get　to　the　railing　that　crowned　the　place。　　The　reek　of　the

furnace；　a　sulphurous　vapor　streaked　with　pungent　bitterness；

seemed　to　make　the　distant　hillside　of　Hanley　quiver。　　The　moon　was

riding　out　now　from　among　a　drift　of　clouds；　halfway　up　the　sky

above　the　undulating　wooded　outlines　of　Newcastle。　　The　steaming

canal　ran　away　from　below　them　under　an　indistinct　bridge；　and

vanished　into　the　dim　haze　of　the　flat　fields　towards　Burslem。



〃That's　the　cone　I've　been　telling　you　of；〃　shouted　Horrocks；

〃and；　below　that；　sixty　feet　of　fire　and　molten　metal；　with　the　air

of　the　blast　frothing　through　it　like　gas　in　soda…water。〃



Raut　gripped　the　hand…rail　tightly；　and　stared　down　at　the

cone。　　The　heat　was　intense。　　The　boiling　of　the　iron　and　the

tumult　of　the　blast　made　a　thunderous　accompaniment　to　Horrocks'

voice。　　But　the　thing　had　to　be　gone　through　now。　　Perhaps；　after

all　。　。　。



〃In　the　middle；〃　bawled　Horrocks；　〃temperature　near　a　thousand

degrees。　　If　YOU　were　dropped　into　it　。　。　。　。　flash　into

flame　like　a　pinch　of　gunpowder　in　a　candle。　　Put　your　hand　out　and

feel　the　heat　of　his　breath。　　Why；　even　up　here　I've　seen　the

rain…water　boiling　off　the　trucks。　　And　that　cone　there。　　It's　a

damned　sight　too　hot　for　roasting　cakes。　　The　top　side　of　it's

three　hundred　degrees。〃



〃Three　hundred　degrees！〃　said　Raut。



〃Three　hundred　centigrade；　mind！〃　said　Horrocks。　　〃It　will

boil　the　blood　out　of　you　in　no　time。〃



〃Eigh？〃　said　Raut；　and　turned。



〃Boil　the　blood　out　of　you　in　。　。　。　No；　you　don't！〃



〃Let　me　go！〃　screamed　Raut。　　〃Let　go　my　arm！〃



With　one　hand　he　clutched　at　the　hand…rail；　then　with　both。　

For　a　moment　the　two　men　stood　swaying。　　Then　suddenly；　with　a

violent　jerk