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end that they would prefer to live in the country。
Lesson42 Modern Cavemen
Cave exploration； or potholing； as it has come to be known； is a relatively new sport。 Perhaps it is the desire for solitude or the chance of making an unexpected discovery that lures men down to the depths of the earth。 It is impossible to give a satisfactory explanation for a pot…holer's motives。 For him； caves have the same peculiar fascination which high mountains have for the climber。 They arouse instincts which can only be dimly understood。 Exploring really deep caves is not a task for the Sunday afternoon rambler。 Such undertakings require the precise planning and foresight of military operations。 It can take as long as eight days to rig up rope ladders and to establish supply bases before a descent can be made into a very deep cave。 Precautions of this sort are necessary； for it is impossible to foretell the exact nature of the difficulties which will confront the potholer。 The deepest known cave in the world is the Gouffre Berger near Grenoble。 It extends to a depth of 3723 feet。 This immense chasm has been formed by an underground stream which has tunnelled a course through a flaw in the rocks。 The entrance to the cave is on a plateau in the Dauphine Alps。 As it is only six feet across； it is barely noticeable。 The cave might never have been discovered had not the entrance been spotted by the distinguished French potholer； Berger。 Since its discovery； it has become a sort of potholers' Everest。 Though a number of descents have been made； much of it still remains to be explored。
A team of potholers recently went down the Gouffre Berger。 After entering the narrow gap on the plateau； they climbed down the steep sides of the cave until they came to a narrow corridor。 They had to edge their way along this； sometimes wading across shallow streams； or swimming across deep pools。 Suddenly they came to a waterfall which dropped into an underground lake at the bottom of the cave。 They plunged into the lake； and after loading their gear on an inflatable rubber dinghy； let the current carry them to the other side。 To protect themselves from the icy water； they had to wear special rubber suits。 At the far end of the lake； they came to huge piles of rubble which had been washed up by the water。 In this part of the cave； they could hear an insistent booming sound which they found was caused by a small water…spout shooting down into a pool from the roof of the cave。 Squeezing through a cleft in the rocks； the potholers arrived at an enormous cavern； the size of a huge concert hall。 After switching on powerful arc lights； they saw great stalagmites鈥攕ome of them over forty feet highrising up like tree…trunks to meet the stalactites suspended from the roof。 Round about； piles of lime…stone glistened in all the colours of the rainbow。 In the eerie silence of the cavern； the only sound that could be heard was made by water which dripped continuously from the high dome above them。
Lesson43 Fully insured
Insurance companies are normally willing to insure anything。 Insuring public or private property is a standard practice in most countries in the world。 If； however； you were holding an open air garden party or a fete it would be equally possible to insure yourself in the event of bad weather。 Needless to say； the bigger the risk an insurance company takes； the higher the premium you will have to pay。 It is not uncommon to hear that a ship…ping company has made a claim for the cost of salvaging a sunken ship。 But the claim made by a local authority to recover the cost of salvaging a sunken pie dish must surely be unique。
Admittedly it was an unusual pie dish； for it was eighteen feet long and six feet wide。 It had been purchased by a local authority so that an enormous pie could be baked for an annual fair。 The pie committee decided that the best way to transport the dish would be by canal； so they insured it for the trip。 Shortly after it was launched； the pie committee went to a local inn to celebrate。 At the same time； a number of teenagers climbed on to the dish and held a little party of their own。 Modern dances proved to be more than the disk could bear； for during the party it capsized and sank in seven feet of water。
The pie committee telephoned a local garage owner who arrived in a recovery truck to salvage the pie dish。 Shivering in their wet clothes； the teenagers looked on while three men dived repeatedly into the water to locate the dish。 They had little difficulty in finding it； but hauling it out of the water proved to be a serious problem。 The sides of the dish were so smooth that it was almost impossible to attach hawsers and chains to the rim without damaging it。 Eventually chains were fixed to one end of the dish and a powerful winch was put into operation。 The dish rose to the surface and was gently drawn towards the canal bank。 For one agonizing moment； the dish was perched precariously on the bank of the canal； but it suddenly overbalanced and slid back into the water。 The men were now obliged to try once more。 This time they fixed heavy metal clamps to both sides of the dish so that they could fasten the chains。 The dish now had to be lifted vertically because one edge was resting against the side of the canal。 The winch was again put into operation and one of the men started up the truck。 Several minutes later； the dish was successfully hauled above the surface of the water。 Water streamed in torrents over its sides with such force that it set up a huge wave in the canal。 There was danger that the wave would rebound off the other side of the bank and send the dish plunging into the water again。 By working at tremendous speed； the men managed to get the dish on to dry land before the wave returned。
Lesson44 Speed and comfort
People travelling long distances frequently have to decide whether they would prefer to go by land； sea； or air。 Hardly anyone can positively enjoy sitting in a train for more than a few hours。 Train compartments soon get cramped and stuffy。 It is almost impossible to take your mind off the journey。 Reading is only a partial solution； for the monotonous rhythm of the wheels clicking on the rails soon lulls you to sleep。 During the day； sleep comes in snatches。 At night； when you really wish to go to sleep； you rarely manage to do so。 If you are lucky enough to get a couchette； you spend half the night staring at the small blue light in the ceiling； or fumbling to find your passport when you cross a frontier。 Inevitably you arrive at your destination almost exhausted。 Long car journeys are even less pleasant； for it is quite impossible even to read。 On motor…ways you can； at least； travel fairly safely at high speeds； but more often than not； the greater part of the journey is spent on narrow； bumpy roads which are crowded with traffic。 By comparison； trips by sea offer a great variety of civilized comforts。 You can stretch your legs on the spacious decks； play games； swim； meet interesting people and enjoy good foodalways assuming； of course； that the sea is calm。 If it is not； and you are likely to get sea…sick； no form of transport could be worse。 Even if you travel in ideal weather； sea journeys take a l