CHAPTER 5

The engineer's declaration—Pencroft’s grand hypothesis—An aerial battery—The four cannons—The surviving convicts—Ayrton's hesitation—Cyrus Harding's generous sentiments—Pencraft's regret. So, then, all was explained by the submarine explosion of this torpedo. Cyrus Harding could not be mistaken, as, during the war of the Union, he had had occasion to try these terrible engines of destruction. It was under the action of this cylinder, charged with some explosive substance, nitro-glycerine, picrate, or…