Part 56 (2/2)

”If you fail,” said the Vicar, laughing, ”I can't apply Lord Lytton's words to you If it were Toht lexicon of youth, there is no such word as fail'”

”Very well then, though no longer youthful, I'll take the words to e this dull opaque silver to glistening, dazzling light”

He held the leather polisher over the glass for a few moments, and then, as the others looked on, he let it fall sreyish powder, and began to rub it s, deafening, sharp,explosion, that seemed to shake the old mill to its foundations; the ere blown out; bottles, vessels, and tray were shi+vered, and the glass flew tinkling in all directions; and then an awful silence, succeeded by a strange singing noise in the ears, through which, as Toled half-stunned and helpless to his feet, he could hear a loud shrieking and yelling for help

”What has happened? what, has happened?” he muttered, as he clapped his hands to his ears, and tried to look about him; but his eyes had been teht which had blazed through the workshop, and some --”Oh dear me, oh dear ainst the wall, holding his hands to his ears, and rocking hiently to and fro

Hardly had Toht of Richard Brandon upon his side in the middle of the place, perfectlyhorribly, the boy ran to his uncle's side, and tried to raise his head

And all the while the shrieking and cries for help ca of feet

Then, sounding reat distance, Tom heard David's voice

”What is it? where are you hurt?”

”Oh, all over,” came in Pete's voice; ”I was a-lookin' over the wall and they shot un”

”Yah!” cried David, as if still at a great distance, but his words sounded with peculiar distinctness through the

”Shootin'! It was a thunderbolt struck the mill”

”Oh, what is the matter?” came now in Mrs Fidler's voice

”Thunderbolt, mum; I saw the flash,” cried David; and as Tom still held up his uncle's head, and knelt there confused, half-stunned and helpless, Mrs Fidler's voice rose again

”Quick! help them before the place falls Master! poor master! Mr Maxted--Master To feet, and as To down,voices were heard outside, and Pete's voice rose again

”They shot un”

”Master! master!” shrieked Mrs Fidler ”Oh, there you are! Oh, Master Tom, don't say he's dead”

To Then, as he felt himself lifted up, he heard the Vicar say--

”Oh dear ood deal hurt”

Then quite a cloud gathered about the, Tom felt himself lifted out, water was sprinkled over his face, and he began to see things more clearly; but every word spoken sounded small and distant, while the faces of David, Mrs Fidler, and the people who gathered about thee Then he heard the Vicar's voice

”Thank you--yes, thank you,” he said; ”I' better”

”Bones broke, sir?” said David

”No, I think not; see to poor Mr Brandon I was thrown against the wall, right across; I can't quite get my breath yet, and I'm as if I was deaf Ah, Tom, my boy, how are you?”

”I don't know, sir, I don't think I'h , ”Where's uncle?”