That which stirred them so was, seeing with what serenity the builder stood three hundred feet in air, upon an unrailed perch.  This none but he durst do.  But his periodic standing upon the pile, in each stage of its growth—­such discipline had its last result.

Little remained now but the bells.  These, in all respects, must correspond with their receptacle.

The minor ones were prosperously cast.  A highly enriched one followed, of a singular make, intended for suspension in a manner before unknown.  The purpose of this bell, its rotary motion, and connection with the clock-work, also executed at the time, will, in the sequel, receive mention.

In the one erection, bell-tower and clock-tower were united, though, before that period, such structures had commonly been built distinct; as the Campanile and Torre del ’Orologio of St. Mark to this day attest.

But it was upon the great state-bell that the founder lavished his more daring skill.  In vain did some of the less elated magistrates here caution him; saying that though truly the tower was Titanic, yet limit should be set to the dependent weight of its swaying masses.  But undeterred, he prepared his mammoth mould, dented with mythological devices; kindled his fires of balsamic firs; melted his tin and copper, and, throwing in much plate, contributed by the public spirit of the nobles, let loose the tide.

The unleashed metals bayed like hounds.  The workmen shrunk.  Through their fright, fatal harm to the bell was dreaded.  Fearless as Shadrach, Bannadonna, rushing through the glow, smote the chief culprit with his ponderous ladle.  From the smitten part, a splinter was dashed into the seething mass, and at once was melted in.

Next day a portion of the work was heedfully uncovered.  All seemed right.  Upon the third morning, with equal satisfaction, it was bared still lower.  At length, like some old Theban king, the whole cooled casting was disinterred.  All was fair except in one strange spot.  But as he suffered no one to attend him in these inspections, he concealed the blemish by some preparation which none knew better to devise.

The casting of such a mass was deemed no small triumph for the caster; one, too, in which the state might not scorn to share.  The homicide was overlooked.  By the charitable that deed was but imputed to sudden transports of esthetic passion, not to any flagitious quality.  A kick from an Arabian charger; not sign of vice, but blood.

His felony remitted by the judge, absolution given him by the priest, what more could even a sickly conscience have desired.

Honoring the tower and its builder with another holiday, the republic witnessed the hoisting of the bells and clock-work amid shows and pomps superior to the former.

Some months of more than usual solitude on Bannadonna’s part ensued.  It was not unknown that he was engaged upon something for the belfry, intended to complete it, and surpass all that had gone before.  Most people imagined that the design would involve a casting like the bells.  But those who thought they had some further insight, would shake their heads, with hints, that not for nothing did the mechanician keep so secret.  Meantime, his seclusion failed not to invest his work with more or less of that sort of mystery pertaining to the forbidden.