less mole, and you'll
always be a mere abomination to the Metal Prince. You're of no use up
above either--trying to get hold of the pure Regulus; which you never
will--hey! You want to marry Pehrson Dahlsjoe's daughter; that's what
you've taken to mine work for, not from any love of your own for the
thing. Mind what you're after, double-face; take care that the Metal
Prince, whom you are trying to deceive, doesn't take you and dash you
down so that the sharp rocks tear you limb from limb. And Ulla will
never be your wife; that much I tell you.'

"Elis's anger was kindled at the old man's insulting words.

"'What are you about,' he cried, 'here in my master, Herr Pehrson
Dahlsjoe's shaft, where I am doing my duty, and working as hard at it
as I can? Be off out of this the way you came, or we'll see which of us
two will dash the other's brains out down here.'

"With which he placed himself in a threatening attitude, and swung his
hammer about the old man's ears; who only gave a sneering laugh, and
Elis saw with terror how he swarmed up the narrow ladder rungs like a
squirrel, and disappeared amongst the black labyrinths of the chasms.

"The young man felt paralyzed in all his limbs; he could not go on with
his work, but went up. When the old Head-Captain--who had been busy in
another part of the mine--saw him, he cried:

"'For God's sake, Elis, what has happened to you? You're as pale as
death. I suppose it's the sulphur gas; you're not accustomed to it yet.
Here, take a drink, my lad; that'll do you good.'

"Elis took a good mouthful of brandy out of the flask which the
Head-Captain handed to him; and then, feeling better, told him what had
happened down in the mine, as also how he had made the uncanny old
miner's acquaintance in Goethaborg.

"The Head-Captain listened silently; then dubiously shook his head and
said:

"'That must have been old Torbern that you met with, Elis; and I see,
now, that there really is something in the tales that people tell about
him. More than one hundred years ago, there was a miner here of the
name of Torbern. He seems to have been one of the first to bring mining
into a flourishing condition at Falun here, and in his time the profits
far exceeded anything that we know of now. Nobody at that time knew so
much about mining as Torbern, who had great scientific skill, and
thoroughly understood all the ins and outs of the business. The
richest lodes seemed to disclose themselves to hi