Here, however, it flowed in its regular bed, glistening here and there in the light of two oil lamps which burnt on both sides of a small iron bridge that traversed the stream.
In the background of this hollow stood a peculiar, roofless, stone building, whose two round little windows, like the eternally watchful eyes of some underground worm, shone with a red glare which dazzled the eyes, while the slate-covered chimney belched forth a thick smoke filled with sparks into the subterranean midnight.
From the interior of the building resounded heavy thuds and the din of grinding as of machinery in perpetual motion which made the very foundations of the rocks quiver.

On the bridge stood another armed man with whom the new arrivals exchanged watchwords and the same thing was done at the door of the stone building where the old man made the girl stop.
"Now Anicza," said he, "while I go in, you sit down on that stone bench and wait for me." "Why cannot I go into the house as well ?" enquired the girl, impatiently.
"No more of that.

Once a year we come here and every time you ask again if you can come in, and every time I tell you that cannot be.

And now I tell you once more: _it cannot be_--and there's an end on't." "But why may others go in and I not ?" "Why--why! because you are a girl, of course.

Leave me in peace.