4/15 But tell me how, by what signs, are you sure ?" "Listen, sir!" resumed Simon. "It is not a seam that I have found." "What is it, then ?" "Only positive proof that such a seam exists." "And the proof ?" "Could fire-damp issue from the bowels of the earth if coal was not there to produce it ?" "No, certainly not!" replied the engineer. No effects without a cause." "Just as no smoke without fire." "And have you recognized the presence of light carburetted hydrogen ?" "An old miner could not be deceived," answered Ford. "I have met with our old enemy, the fire-damp!" "But suppose it was another gas," said Starr. |