ng
believed me. Six times also was I compelled to acknowledge to her that
I had been mistaken, and again she believed me, more thoroughly,
perhaps, than at first. No one, I think, can form the least idea of the
delight with which I pursued this mechanical will-o'-the-wisp.

Growing older, I took to chemistry, and here my love for research and
analysis found ample scope, while the sufferings of my father's
household were intensified. I am not naturally cruel--far from it.
They little knew how much pain their sufferings caused me; how earnestly
I endeavoured to lessen or neutralise the nuisances which the pursuit of
science entailed. But I could not consume my own smoke, or prevent
explosions, or convert bad and suffocating odours into sweet smells.

Settling down to this new pursuit with intense enthusiasm, I soon began
to flow in my natural course, and sought to extend the bounds of
chemical knowledge. I could not help it. The particular direction in
which my interest ultimately became concentrated was that of explosives.

After becoming acquainted with gun-cotton, nitro-glycerine, dynamite,
lithofracteur, and other combinations of powerfully-explosive agents, I
took to searching for and inventing methods by which these might be
utilised. To turn everything to good account, is a desire which I
cannot resist.

Explosives naturally drew my attention to mines--tin-mines, coal-mines,
and other commercial enterprises. They also suggested war and
torpedoes.

At that time I had not reflected on the nature of war. I merely knew it
to be a science, cultivated chiefly by the human race, and that in its
practice explosives are largely used. To "blow-up" effectively, whether
in a literal or figurative sense, is difficult. To improve this power
in war, and in the literal sense, I set myself to work. I invented a
torpedo, which seemed to me better than any that had yet been brought
out. To test its powers, I made a miniature fortification, and blew it
up. I also blew up our groom, Jacob Lancey.

It happened thus:--

The miniature fortress, which was made of cardboard, earth, and bricks,
was erected in a yard near our stables. Under its walls the torpedo was
placed, and the match lighted.

It was night and very dark. I had selected the hour as being that most
suitable to the destruction of an enemy's stronghold. The match was
very slow in burning. Matches invariably are so in the circumstances.
Suddenly I h