arly a fortnight, however, before the works were again in full
swing, or would have been in full swing had not other events occurred to
hinder the complete resumption of business. That fortnight Max
considered as a specially favourable opportunity for paying further
attention to M. Schenk and his many activities. It meant that the
various workshops were empty, save for two or three watchmen, and that
groups of workmen were necessarily hanging about the premises, idly
watching the proceedings and waiting for the time when they could
recommence work. The first meant opportunities that would not occur when
the workshops were in full swing, and the second that the prowling of
Max and his friends would be the less likely to attract notice.

One of the first things that caught the attention of Max and Dale was
the rapid accumulation of great stocks of coal outside the yard, owing
to the enforced idleness of the power-house. The Durend mines were, of
course, unaffected by the stoppage of the workshops, and coal was sent
up to the surface with the same regularity as before. In fact, the rate
of production was accelerated, as numbers of the workmen thrown out of
employment by the closing of the workshops applied for work at the
collieries. Thus the stores of coal grew and grew, from stacks of the
moderate dimensions (for the Durend Company) of 2000 or 3000 tons, to
great piles of 10,000 and finally 24,000 tons. Then came a rumour that,
as soon as trucks were available, the accumulation was to be transported
into Germany and, worse still, to Krupp's.

This was enough to set Max and Dale discussing the matter with anxious
care. To the former it was as intolerable that the Durend mines should
produce coal for Krupp's as it was that the Durend workshops should cast
shells for the German guns. And yet it was no easy matter to devise
means of dealing with a great mass of coal. Obviously, it could not be
carried off, and to blow it up was hardly practicable. However, after
much discussion, it was decided that an attempt should be made to burn
it. It certainly did not seem a very hopeful scheme, seeing the number
of fire-engines that were close at hand in the city and the unlimited
supply of water in the River Meuse. But to Max and Dale anything seemed
better than to do nothing in such a matter, and they determined to make
the attempt.

For materials all they needed was a good supply of firewood, a gallon or
two of benzine, and some f