As no thunder-clouds appeared for several days, a guard was stationed, armed with an insulated brass wire, who was directed to test the iron rods with it in case a storm came on during D'Alibard's absence.

The storm did come on, and the guard, not waiting for his employer's arrival, seized the wire and touched the rod.

Instantly there was a report.

Sparks flew and the guard received such a shock that he thought his time had come.

Believing from his outcry that he was mortally hurt, his friends rushed for a spiritual adviser, who came running through rain and hail to administer the last rites; but when he found the guard still alive and uninjured, he turned his visit to account by testing the rod himself several times, and later writing a report of his experiments to M.d'Alibard.