As a next move, I paid a private visit to that old cave of Merlin's--not the small one--the big one--" "Yes, the one where we secretly established our first great electric plant when I was projecting a miracle." "Just so.

And as that miracle hadn't become necessary then, I thought it might be a good idea to utilize the plant now.

I've provisioned the cave for a siege--" "A good idea, a first-rate idea." "I think so.

I placed four of my boys there as a guard--inside, and out of sight.

Nobody was to be hurt--while outside; but any attempt to enter--well, we said just let anybody try it! Then I went out into the hills and uncovered and cut the secret wires which connected your bedroom with the wires that go to the dynamite deposits under all our vast factories, mills, workshops, magazines, etc., and about midnight I and my boys turned out and connected that wire with the cave, and nobody but you and I suspects where the other end of it goes to.