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Some of them, already blinded, writhed in agony on the ground and dipped their faces in the cool puddles formed by the flowing beer. Old Onucz had not a hair of his head left, but for all that he was still sitting on a heap of ducats, which were rolling in every direction out of the half charred sacks.
The old man made no reply, but he seized the girl by the hand and led her away with him, returning to the mill with her by the same way that he had come. They found their horses by the alder trees and remounted. It was a fine clear night, and Onucz told his daughter to ride in front. They had now divided the coined gold into two portions.
"Come Onucz," said the youth, "can Black Face make himself invisible then? He could not pass here without my knowing it!" "What do you know about it?" answered the old man, adjusting himself on the bolting-hutch. "Let the mill go!"
Old Onucz rushed towards Anicza and angrily tore her away: "You little fool, be off!" cried he, "you will spoil the machine, it is not for the likes of you." But Fatia Negra now picked up the ducat which had fallen to the ground and showed it with a smile to Anicza: "Look," said he, "there is now a double picture on it." The girl turned it curiously between her fingers.
I shall deceive you and wed another. Then we shall see whether you will love me; then we shall see whether you will kill me." Anicza thought all this so amusing that she laughed aloud. The noise brought old Onucz into the room. His daughter turned towards him smilingly. "Isn't it true, father, that three suitors are courting me?" she asked.
Each of the two workmen held his mould beneath it and the girl surveyed the scene with bated breath. When the operation was finished Black Face turned to the girl again and embraced her saying: "So you see, darling, that is how gold is melted." The girl smiled back at him; what a pity the Black Mask could not smile in return. And now old Onucz came up with his sack for the purifying furnace.
The dogs that are to lick your blood are already barking for it. I have betrayed you. Look behind you!" The armed band of soldiers, moving forward in line, like a piece of machinery, suddenly disclosed a row of bayonets glittering in the light of the torches. Onucz rushed roaring towards his sacks of ducats, the women scattered screaming among the tents.
Old Onucz tremblingly stretched out his hand in the direction of Fatia Negra and the next moment collapsed with fear when he perceived sparks crackle forth from his leader's garments which burnt his finger tips. More than one elder was afraid at first to put out his hand till curiosity made him venture everything.
Then Paul stopped the mill, hung the chain in an iron ring and the machinery once more set in motion, raised the millstone up, Paul fastened the revolving disc to it and it began to rattle round again so furiously that sparks flew out of it. Now whoever had any meal to grind might come, he was quite ready for them. It was a huge subterraneous cavern into which Onucz and Anicza had descended.
And holding the girl in his arms, he carried her with him into the building while old Onucz had to dress himself from head to foot in other clothes and leave those he had brought with him outside. He would have on his return to put on his own again and leave these others behind. Thus smuggling was impossible. The first room was for the smelting.
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