ion with him. I had already become somewhat alarmed on account
of their long absence. Megret is a fiend, and bears the most bitter
hatred towards my husband.'

At this moment Arwed heard voices from without. He raised the window,
and to his astonishment saw Megret arm in arm with Mac Donalbain and in
earnest conversation with an old clerk of the mine.

'I repeat it my friend,' said Megret, 'your way of exploding is bad.
Greater results may be produced with half the labor and powder, when
one begins right.'

'I have all proper respect for your mathematical sciences, sir
officer,' the clerk peevishly answered; 'but still I think that we, who
are in constant practice here, must better understand how to obtain the
ore than you can by theoretical calculations.'

'Must not the engineer be also familiar with the practice?' asked
Megret. 'Our mines traverse every variety of earth, and we are often
under the necessity of calculating the resistance of walls and masses
of stone.'

The clerk, who adhered as pertinaciously to old customs as the ore to
its native mountains, shook his head in token of disbelief.

'You want proof,' said Megret, with some apparent irritation. 'Show me
a suitable place and let me spring a mine in my way. I will pay for the
labor and powder if I do not make my words good.'

'Vivat!' cried the clerk, confident of victory; at that moment Arwed
stepped directly in front of Megret, with his pistols in his hand and
bowed in silence.

'I rejoice to find you here,' said Megret with great equanimity,
courteously returning his greeting. 'Allow me but to settle a contest
between the old practice and the new science, and I shall immediately
afterwards have the pleasure to be at your service.'

During these few moments Mac Donalbain had hastened into the house, and
now returning in a state of great excitement, seized Megret by the arm
and drew him away.

The clerk followed them, talking to himself and gesticulating with
great animation, and they all soon disappeared in the dark windings of
the mine.

Christine now came out, casting her troubled glances in every
direction. As soon as she perceived Arwed she hastened to him. 'Mac
Donalbain was with me just now,' said she anxiously. 'He pressed me
silently to his bosom, and then rushed forth as if frantic! Where is
he? where is Megret?'

'Megret is essaying a new method of springing mines,' answered Arwed,
'and will soon be here again.'

'And Mac Donal