After attending to his chores, Ben decided to take a walk—not in the direction of the village, but away from it. A quarter of a mile to the westward there was a river with a rapid current which had yielded Ben plenty of enjoyment in the way of fishing and boating.

Across from shore to shore was a dam, by means of which the water was made available for a factory for the manufacture of leather board. The superintendent of this factory, a Mr. Foster, was one of Ben’s special friends.

Ben overtook the superintendent sauntering along beside the river.

“How are you, Ben?” said the superintendent kindly.

“Very well, thank you, Mr. Foster.”

“You are going to the high school next term, I suppose.”

“I expected to do so, but I am likely to be disappointed.”

“How is that?” “My stepfather, Jacob Winter, is not in favor of my going.”

“What is his reason?”

“I suppose he wants me to work on the farm.”

“And you don’t like farming?”

“No. I hope you won’t think I don’t like work, Mr. Foster, for I enjoy nothing better; but to work on a farm, and especially under Mr. Winter, would be very disagreeable to me.”

“How would you like to work in the factory?”

“Much better than on the farm, but I will say frankly that I have not secured the education which I desire, and I shall be much disappointed if I can’t go to the high school.”

“You were always fond of study, Ben. My boys don’t care much for it. Well, I suppose tastes differ. Have you ever thought of your future?”

“I have thought of it a good deal. A good many things will be open to me if I am well educated, which would otherwise be closed to me.”

“I see, and I understand why you want a better education.”

“I am not likely to get it, however. If the choice lies between working on a farm and working in your factory, I will work for you if I can get the chance. The wages I got would hire a boy to work on the farm, and there are boys who would be willing to do it.”

“We employ about thirty at present, but I could make room for a boy of your age and ability. What pay would you want?”

“It is for you to fix that.”

“I might give you five dollars a week to begin with.”

“That would be satisfactory. Would I be preparing myself for higher work?”

“Yes, I would put you in the way of that.”

“I would certainly rather work for you than for Mr. Winter.”

“I am to consider that a compliment, I suppose?”

“Yes, but not much of a one. Any one would be better than Jacob Winter.”

“Man proposes, but God disposes.” Even while they were talking unseen forces were at work which were to defeat all their plans. Suddenly, as they stood on the river bank, a strange rumbling noise was heard, and before their astonished eyes there rose into the air fragments of wood mingled with stones and dirt, like a volcanic eruption.

“Good Heavens!” exclaimed the superintendent in great excitement, “the dam has been undermined and blown up!”

“But how?”

“It must be by dynamite or giant powder.”

“But who could have done it?”

“I dismissed two workmen two weeks since. They must have done it from revenge.”

“And what will be the consequence?”

“The factory must shut down till the dam is rebuilt.”

“And then ends my hopes of employment under you?”

“I am sorry to say—yes.”

“I wish that were all the harm likely to come of it. Will it take long to repair the dam?”

“A good while, I fear.”

“At any rate, one thing I am resolved upon. I won’t work for Mr. Winter. I will run away first.”

Ben’s face assumed a look of resolution as he left the superintendent and wended his way back to the farmhouse.