“A DIEU VAT!” 223

-the throat of the pitiless scoffer and strangle him by main
‘force. They would kill me then... what matter!
Would it not be better to end in this way than to be
‘condemned to live for years and years in the infamous
surroundings of Backcup?

Then reason reasserts itself, and I merely shrug my
shoulders.

As for Thomas Roch, I scarcely saw him during
the first days after following the departure of the 4dda.
He was shut up in his laboratory, where he worked un-
ceasingly. Suppose he utilized all the ingredients placed
at his disposal, he would have enough to blow up Back-
cup and the whole of the Bermudas!

I cling to the hope that he will never consent to reveal
the composition of the deflagrator, and that all Serko’s
efforts will fail to drag this last secret from him.

Will this hope be frustrated ?

September 13th.—To-day with my own eyes I was able
to attest the power of the explosive, and to observe, at the
same time, the way in which the deflagrator is used.

In the morning the men commenced the tunnelling of
the wall at the spot previously selected.

Under the engineer’s direction the workmen began
operations at the foot of the wall, where the limestone is
so extremely hard, that it might be compared to granite.

It was with the pick, wielded by vigorous arms, that

the first attack was made; but were that implement alone
to be employed, the work would be very slow and very
laborious, since the rock is from twenty to twenty-five