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"Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which

he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three

of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside,

and the colonel ushered me in.

"'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and

it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were

to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the

end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of

many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns

of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and

multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine

goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working

of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will

have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set

it right.'