him, her eyes all flame, her
cheeks going a little pale, and flushing again. With a quick motion
she pushed her hair back, and as he stepped inside and closed the door
behind him, she blew the bellows, as if to give a brighter light to
the place. The fire flared up, but there were corners in deep shadow.
Valmond doffed his hat again and said ceremoniously: "Mademoiselle
Madelinette, Mademoiselle Elise, pray do not stop your work. Let me sit
here and watch you."

Taking from his pocket a cigarette, he came over to the forge and
was about to light it with the red steel from the fire, when Elise,
snatching up a tiny piece of wood, thrust it in the coals, and, drawing
it out, held it towards the cigarette, saying:

"Ah, no, your Excellency--this!"

As Valmond reached to take it from her, he heard a sound, as of a hoarse
breathing, and turned quickly; but his outstretched hand touched
Elise's fingers, and it involuntarily closed on them, all her impulsive
temperament and warm life thrilling through him. The shock of feeling
brought his eyes to hers with a sudden burning mastery. For an instant
their looks fused and were lost in a passionate affiance. Then, as
if pulling himself out of a dream, he released her fingers with a
"Pardon--my child!"

As he did so, a cry ran through the smithy. Madelinette was standing,
tense and set with terror, her eyes riveted on something that crouched
beside a pile of cart-wheels a few feet away; something with shaggy
head, flaring eyes, and a devilish face. The thing raised itself and
sprang towards hers with a devouring cry. With desperate swiftness
leaping forward, Valmond caught the half man, half beast--it seemed
that--by the throat. Madelinette fell fainting against the anvil, and,
dazed and trembling, Elise hurried to her.

Valmond was in the grasp of a giant, and, struggle as he might, he could
not withstand the powerful arms of his assailant. They came to their
knees on the ground, where they clutched and strained for a wild minute,
Valmond desperately fighting to keep the huge bony fingers from
his neck. Suddenly the giant's knee touched the red-hot steel that
Madelinette had dropped, and with a snarl he flung Valmond back against
the anvil, his head striking the iron with a sickening thud. Then,
seizing the steel, he raised it to plunge the still glowing point into
Valmond's eyes.

Centuries of doom seemed crowded into that instant of time. Valmond
caught the giant's wrist w