his head, that's
all. Wait till the marriage is over, then we'll hear no more of the
trap-runs, the treasures, and the subterranean paradise.'

"The wedding-day, fixed by Dahlsjoe, came at last. For a few days
previously Elis had been more tranquil, more serious, more sunk in deep
reflection than ever. But, on the other hand, never had he shown such
affection for Ulla as at this time. He could not leave her for a
moment, and never went down the mine at all. He seemed to have
forgotten his restless excitement about mining work, and never a word
of the subterranean kingdom crossed his lips. Ulla was all rapture. Her
fear lest the dangerous powers of the subterranean world, of which she
had heard old miners speak, had been luring him to his destruction, had
left her; and Dahlsjoe, too, said, laughing to the Captain, 'You see,
Elis was only a little light-headed for love of my Ulla.'

"Early on the morning of the wedding-day, which was St. John's Day as
it chanced, Elis knocked at the door of Ulla's room. She opened it, and
started back terrified at the sight of Elis, dressed in his wedding
clothes already, deadly pale, with dark gloomy fire sparkling in his
eyes.

"'I only want to tell you, my beloved Ulla,' he said, in a faint,
trembling voice, 'that we are just arrived at the summit of the highest
good fortune which it is possible for mortals to attain. Everything has
been revealed to me in the night which is just over. Down in the depths
below, hidden in chlorite and mica, lies the cherry-coloured sparkling
almandine, on which the tablet of our lives is graven. I have to give
it to you as a wedding present. It is more splendid than the most
glorious blood-red carbuncle, and when, united in truest affection, we
look into its streaming splendour together, we shall see and understand
the peculiar manner in which our hearts and souls have grown together
into the wonderful branch which shoots from the queen's heart, at the
central point of the globe. All that is necessary is that I go and
bring this stone to the surface, and that I will do now, as fast as I
can. Take care of yourself meanwhile, beloved darling. I will be back
to you directly.'

"Ulla implored him, with bitter tears, to give up all idea of such a
dream-like undertaking, for she felt a strong presentiment of disaster;
but Elis declared that without this stone he should never know a
moment's peace or happiness, and that there was not the slightest
danger o