floors, they proceeded to put out of action the more valuable and
more complicated machines in the building. It was necessary, of course,
that they should be almost silent; so their mode of procedure was to
muffle up in an old blanket the most delicate and fragile parts of the
machines before smashing them with a heavy hammer well swathed in
flannel wrappings.

The machines dealt with first were those farthest from the route that
would be taken by the watchman on his next round. Consequently, when he
came, he passed along swinging his lantern in utter ignorance that
anything was amiss, or that two men lay in ambush close at hand, ready
to spring upon him should he suspect anything wrong and pause to
investigate. As soon as he had passed out of ear-shot the two
recommenced their work with redoubled energy, and some two and a half
hours were thus consumed in work that utterly spoiled a large proportion
of the valuable machines which filled the great workshop.

Skilful, vigilant, and almost silent as they had been, they were yet
after all caught napping. How or by whom they never knew, until, some
time after, Dubec told them of a tale that was going the round among the
workmen to the effect that one of Schenk's hired ferrets had all the
time been hidden on the upper floor. Strange to say, he had been there
not so much to deal with disaffected workmen--the sentinels were
expected to do that--as to spy upon the watchmen themselves. The story
seemed to fit in well with what Max knew of Schenk's character, and he
accepted it as in all probability true. At any rate, neither Max nor
Dale dreamed that aught was amiss until the latter heard the sound of
marching outside, and that upon an unusual scale. He slid quickly to the
nearest window and peeped out.

"We're done, Max!" he cried soberly. "Scores of soldiers, and they look
to be forming a cordon right round the building."

"Are you sure?" Max cried incredulously, hurrying to a window on the
opposite side of the block. One glance was enough to show that a strong
cordon of soldiers was being drawn--nay, to all appearances was already
drawn--all round the workshop. The soldiers faced inwards, and stood
with bayonets fixed, as though prepared for an attempt at escape from
some body of men caught within their armed circle.

"We've been seen, Jack, old man!" cried Max, coming back to the side of
his friend. "It's all up, I fear. They've made up their minds they've
got us, and d