But, for fear of accident, I
have taken some precautions."
Alan and Elmer then saw that the top of the case was fitted with a
lid the edges of which were bound with rubber. In the center of the
covering was a short spout.
"What's the use of an air and gas proof top with a hole in it?"
asked Alan, inspecting it curiously.
"Maybe dat's to let de air in and de lid's to keep de hydrogum from
gettin' out," volunteered the colored boy.
Ned was too busy to answer the one or to laugh at the other. He had
unlocked the lid and thrown it back. About six inches beneath the
top of the case stood eight iron boxes--two rows with four boxes in
each. These boxes, six inches square, were each about three feet in
height and in each could be seen the neck of a glass vessel.
Securely packed in their iron jackets to prevent breaking, stood the
glass receptacles, open-mouthed and apparently empty. But down
below the shadowed rims were soft clouds of gaseous vapor, beneath
which reposed the precious contents that had cost Ned over a
thousand dollars--the liquid hydrogen.
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