When Norman received this order he set to work without a moment's delay and made a half-dozen dynamite bombs, gave one each to Tom and Joe and their assistants, laid in a supply of provisions, erected a tent on the beach beside the dredge, and set the big machine to work for all it was worth. Wolf promptly ordered his arrest. The men who attempted to execute the order fled in terror at the sight of the bombs and reported for instructions. Wolf came in person at the head of a picked company of fifty guards. Norman had stretched a rope a hundred feet from the dredge and posted a notice that he would kill any man daring to cross it without his permission. Wolf paused at the rope. Norman stood alone on one of the big pumps with his arms folded watching his enemy in silence. The captain of the guard laid his hand on the regent's arm: "You'd better not try it." "He won't dare," Wolf growled. "Yes, he will," the captain insisted. "I'll risk it," the regent snapped. "Are you mad? What's the use? He'll blow it up. You can't rebuild the dredge--no one understands it. Use common sense. Send the girl with a flag of truce and ask for a conference." "A good idea--if it works," Wolf answered hesitating. "It's worth trying," the captain urged. Wolf returned to the house with his men, and in a few minutes Barbara came to Norman, her face white with terror, her voice quivering with pleading intensity. "Please," she gasped, "for my sake, I beg of you not to do this insane thing! The regent asks for a conference under a flag of truce. He recognizes that it is impossible that you should remain here after what has happened. He asks for a half-hour's talk with you to offer an adjustment under which you can resign and return to San Francisco." "It's a trick and a lie. He's deceiving you," Norman replied, sullenly. "No, I swear it's true. He is in earnest, Catherine is beside herself with fear lest he be killed. He swore to her as he swore to me to respect your wishes. I'll gladly give my life if he proves false." Norman turned his face away and looked over the still, blue waters, struggling with himself as he felt the tug of her soft hand on his heart. Suddenly a hundred men with Wolf at their head sprang over the steep embankment and rushed to the dredge. Tom leaped to his feet and lifted his bomb without a word. Norman covered Barbara and grasped his uplifted arm. "It's all over boys. I've surrendered!" he shouted. Barbara faced Wolf with blazing eyes: "You have betrayed my trust!" Wolf brushed her aside and confronted Norman, who had thrown the bomb he had taken from Tom's hand into the sea. Norman paid no attention to Wolf, and seemed to see only the girl's face convulsed with passion. His eyes never left her for a moment. Wolf turned and secured the other men who had defended the dredge, marching them with their hands tied behind their backs between two rows of guardsmen off to jail. Norman spoke at last to Barbara in low, cold tones: