e can be called. Be bold, young
fellow."

"Father, is this also a part of the test you have put me to?"

"You are a plucky youth," answered Sonnenkamp, with emotion.

The train rumbled in. A great number of black trunks, studded with
yellow nails, were put on board, Joseph and Lootz showing themselves
expert travelling-marshals. Boxes, bags, portmanteaus, bottles, and
packages were placed in the first-class car which Sonnenkamp, Frau
Ceres and Fraeulein Perini occupied. Roland was kissed once more,
Sonnenkamp whispering at the same time something in his ear. The train
rolled away, and Eric and Roland stood alone on the station-steps.

They went silently back to the villa. Roland looked pale; every drop of
blood seemed to have left his face. They reached the villa, where all
was so silent and desolate.

After they had got out of the carriage, Roland grasped Eric's hand,
saying,--

"Now we two are alone in the world. What can one undertake at such a
time?"

The wind roared in gusts through the park, and shook the trees, whose
blossoms went whirling into the air, while the river tossed up its
waves; a thunder-storm was coming on.

Eric ordered the horses to be put again to the carriage, and entered it
with Roland, who asked,--

"Where are we going?"

Eric quieted him with the assurance that he was about to show him a
miracle. They drove down the road, where the wind was dashing about the
branches of the nut-trees, while the lightning flashed and the thunder
rolled overhead.

"Where are we driving?" Roland asked again.

"We are now going to school to Franklin. I can now show you how the
lightning is tamed." And they drove on to the railroad station.

The telegraphist gave Eric a very friendly reception. Eric showed his
pupil, in the office of the telegraph, the electrical current in a
pretty little glass box, where a blue spark darted rapidly hither and
thither, and then vanished over the connecting wires. At every flash a
sharp click came from the connecting rods, and, at the same instant,
the little blue flame appeared and then vanished.

Eric was glad to be able to exhibit this to his pupil, and the
telegraphist added many important and interesting details. He related
how they were inexpressibly troubled in their communications during a
thunderstorm, for incomprehensible words came over the wires, and he
was once hurled by a shock of electricity against the stove yonder. He
showed the metal plates to