contemptuously replied the knight, as he poured some more oil
into the lamp, "get on. We did but want to see."

"This," continued Edmund, unabashed, "is more dreadful than Roger
Bacon's powder;" and pulling out a short, stout iron canister, he
poured some crystals into a hole. "Look and behold," he added. "I
invoke no saints, nor do I seek the aid of any deity, but see;" and
rolling some of the crystals tightly up in some parchment, he dropped
it into the midst of the fire.

For a few moments nothing was seen or heard of it, and the onlookers
were smiling to each other when the wonderful crystals began to
splutter and fizz, till the packet suddenly exploded with a loud
report, rattling the bottles and jars together, while the rumbling
report rolled up the long subterranean passage.

"Ha!" exclaimed Edmund, triumphantly. "You shudder at the sight; that
is nothing, I can do infinitely more than that. I will do it with more
crystals now."

"Nay, we are convinced of thy prowess; when the fumes have cleared
away, show us this engine," replied Manners. "It is full of wheels;
show us their purpose."

"That shook this chamber," Edmund replied, "but this could well nigh
shatter it."

"Great man, we acknowledge thy mighty genius," responded Sir Ronald.
"Reveal the limit of thy powers."

"I will," said Edmund, enthusiastically, "I will."

All his reserve was worn off now, and he expatiated at length upon the
wonderful powers of his mighty engine. No such power had been known
before; nothing would stand against it; it was indeed a miracle of
force.

"But, prithee," asked Manners, heartily sick of the ceaseless
explanations, and anxious to see the practical outcome of it all, "how
worketh it? Show us, let it move this piece of rock."

"You doubt me; I will show it thee; I will test it but this once
again, and then the baron, curse him! dies."

Edmund busied himself for some time in compounding some evil-smelling
ingredients in a huge mortar, and, as he stirred the pestle round and
round, the contents hissed and crackled, and emitted sparks of fire.
At length, after many bottles had been partially emptied, and many
powders and the like had been employed, the mysterious substance was
obtained, and he sprinkled a little of it upon the red embers, when a
series of miniature explosions followed.

"Look, see!" he passionately exclaimed, "I have discovered something
still more powerful; nay, stand back. I found it once bef