s, a great deal of fresh machinery was soon in
position. New shafts and bands, a new furnace for preparing our own
steel after a fashion invented by Uncle Dick. New grindstones and
polishing-wheels, new forges with tilt-hammers, and anvils.

By degrees I found what was going to be our chief business, and that was
the production of cutlery of a peculiar temper especially for surgical
instruments and swords, Uncle Dick having an idea that he could produce
blades equal to Damascus or the finest Spanish steel.

The days glided by with the works growing more complete, and each night
half our party on guard at Fort Industry, as Uncle Bob christened the
place. And though the couple who had slept at the lodgings went down to
the place every morning feeling nervous, and wondering whether anything
had happened in the night, it was always to find that all was going on
perfectly smoothly, and that there was nothing to mind.

Piter had a kennel just inside the entry, and as each new hand was
engaged he was introduced to the dog, who inspected him, and never
afterwards so much as growled.

Uncle Dick took the lead, and under his orders the change rapidly took
place.

There was one hindrance, though, and that occurred in connection with
the furnaces, for the chimney-shaft needed some repair at the top.
This, however, proved to be an easy task, scaffolding not being
necessary, projecting bars answering the purpose of the rounds of a
ladder having been built in when the shaft was erected, with this end in
view.

At last everything was, as Uncle Dick called it, complete for the
present. There was a good supply of water, and one morning the furnace
was lit, so were the forges, and step by step we progressed till there
was quite a busy scene, the floors and rafters in the forge and furnace
building glowing and seeming turned to gold; while from out of the
chimney there rose every morning a great volume of smoke that rolled out
and bent over, and formed itself into vast feathery plumes.

I could hardly believe it true when it was announced that we had been
down in Arrowfield a month: but so it was.

But little had been done beyond getting the machinery at the works ready
for work to come; now, however, some of the projects were to be put in
action.

"For," said Uncle Dick, "if we should go on forging and grinding as
other manufacturers do, we only enter into competition with them, and I
dare say we should be beaten. We must