and others, opened the door of the shed, taking off their hats in the
presence of the Master Workman, they saw that his seat was empty. The
dead Caliban was gone--who should say how, or where? The lock was still
on the doors, the walls were intact, there was no window for entrance or
escape. He had vanished as weirdly as he came.

All day the people sought the place, viewing with awe and superstition
the shed of death, and the spot in the smithy where, it was said,
Valmond had killed the giant.

The day following was the feast of St. John the Baptist. Mass was said
in the church, all the parish attending; and Valmond was present, with
Lagroin in full regimentals.

Plates of blessed bread were passed round at the close of mass, as was
the custom on this feast-day; and with a curious feeling that came to him
often afterwards, Valmond listened to his General saying solemnly:

"Holy bread, I take thee;
If I die suddenly,
Serve me as a sacrament."

With many eyes watching him curiously, he also ate the bread, repeating
the holy words.

All day there were sports and processions, the habitants gay in rosettes
and ribbons, flowers and maple leaves, as they idled or filed along the
streets, under arches of evergreens, where the Tricolor and Union Jack
mingled and fluttered amiably together. Anvils, with powder placed
between, were touched off with a bar of red-hot iron, making a vast noise