"There are no remnants; not a vestige of it is to be found." "Of what was it made ?" "We used to have an old treasure chest here made of oak, bound with iron; but some years ago, a new receptacle being needed, one was especially built of hardened steel, constructed on the modern principles of those burglar-proof and fire-proof safes." "And do you mean to say that there is nothing left of this ?" "Nothing that we have been able to discover." "Well, I have seen places where dynamite explosions have occurred, but I know of nothing to compare with this.

I am sure that if dynamite has been used, or any explosive now generally obtainable, there would have been left, at least, some remnant of the safe.

Hasn't this pile of rubbish been disturbed since the explosion ?" "Yes, it has been turned over; we made a search for the two men, but we found no trace of them." "And you found no particles of iron or steel ?" "The heap throughout is just as you see it on the surface--a fine, almost impalpable dust.

We had to exercise the greatest care in searching through it, for the moment it was disturbed with a shovel it filled the air with suffocating clouds.

Of course we shall have it removed by-and-by, and carted away, but I considered it better to allow it to remain here until we had penetrated somewhat further into the mystery than we have already done." Jennie stooped and picked up a handful from the heap, her action caused a mist to rise in the air that made them both choke and cough, and yet she was instantly struck by the fact that her handful seemed inordinately heavy for its bulk.
"May I take some of this with me ?" she asked.
"Of course," replied the Director.