These wires were for private service only, as yet, and must be kept private until a riper day should come.

We had a gang of men on the road, working mainly by night.

They were stringing ground wires; we were afraid to put up poles, for they would attract too much inquiry.

Ground wires were good enough, in both instances, for my wires were protected by an insulation of my own invention which was perfect.
My men had orders to strike across country, avoiding roads, and establishing connection with any considerable towns whose lights betrayed their presence, and leaving experts in charge.

Nobody could tell you how to find any place in the kingdom, for nobody ever went intentionally to any place, but only struck it by accident in his wanderings, and then generally left it without thinking to inquire what its name was.