快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


〃Harry！　　Harry！〃　cried　Ryan；　throwing　himself　down　beside　his　friend。

It　was　indeed　the　engineer；　Madge；　Simon；　and　Harry　Ford　who　were　lying　there　motionless。　　But　one　of　the　bodies　moved　slightly；　and　Madge's　voice　was　heard　faintly　murmuring；　〃See　to　the　others！　help　them　first！〃

Sir　William；　Jack；　and　their　panions　endeavored　to　reanimate　the　engineer　and　his　friends　by　getting　them　to　swallow　a　few　drops　of　brandy。　　They　very　soon　succeeded。　　The　unfortunate　people；　shut　up　in　that　dark　cavern　for　ten　days；　were　dying　of　starvation。　They　must　have　perished　had　they　not　on　three　occasions　found　a　loaf　of　bread　and　a　jug　of　water　set　near　them。　No　doubt　the　charitable　being　to　whom　they　owed　their　lives　was　unable　to　do　more　for　them。

Sir　William　wondered　whether　this　might　not　have　been　the　work　of　the　strange　sprite　who　had　allured　them　to　the　very　spot　where　James　Starr　and　his　panions　lay。

However　that　might　be；　the　engineer；　Madge；　Simon；　and　Harry　Ford　were　saved。　　They　were　assisted　to　the　cottage；　passing　through　the　narrow　opening　which　the　bearer　of　the　strange　light　had　apparently　wished　to　point　out　to　Sir　William。　　This　was　a　natural　opening。　The　passage　which　James　Starr　and　his　panions　had　made　for　themselves　with　dynamite　had　been　pletely　blocked　up　with　rocks　laid　one　upon　another。

So；　then；　whilst　they　had　been　exploring　the　vast　cavern；　the　way　back　had　been　purposely　closed　against　them　by　a　hostile　hand。


CHAPTER　X　COAL　TOWN


THREE　years　after　the　events　which　have　just　been　related；　the　guide…books　remended　as　a　〃great　attraction；〃　to　the　numerous　tourists　who　roam　over　the　county　of　Stirling；　a　visit　of　a　few　hours　to　the　mines　of　New　Aberfoyle。

No　mine　in　any　country；　either　in　the　Old　or　New　World；　could　present　a　more　curious　aspect。

To　begin　with；　the　visitor　was　transported　without　danger　or　fatigue　to　a　level　with　the　workings；　at　fifteen　hundred　feet　below　the　surface　of　the　ground。　　Seven　miles　to　the　southwest　of　Callander　opened　a　slanting　tunnel；　adorned　with　a　castellated　entrance；　turrets　and　battlements。　This　lofty　tunnel　gently　sloped　straight　to　the　stupendous　crypt；　hollowed　out　so　strangely　in　the　bowels　of　the　earth。

A　double　line　of　railway；　the　wagons　being　moved　by　hydraulic　power；　plied　from　hour　to　hour　to　and　from　the　village　thus　buried　in　the　subsoil　of　the　county；　and　which　bore　the　rather　ambitious　title　of　Coal　Town。

Arrived　in　Coal　Town；　the　visitor　found　himself　in　a　place　where　electricity　played　a　principal　part　as　an　agent　of　heat　and　light。　Although　the　ventilation　shafts　were　numerous；　they　were　not　sufficient　to　admit　much　daylight　into　New　Aberfoyle；　yet　it　had　abundance　of　light。　　This　was　shed　from　numbers　of　electric　discs；　some　suspended　from　the　vaulted　roofs；　others　hanging　on　the　natural　pillars……all；　whether　suns　or　stars　in　size；　were　fed　by　continuous　currents　produced　from　electro…magic　machines。　When　the　hour　of　rest　arrived；　an　artificial　night　was　easily　produced　all　over　the　mine　by　disconnecting　the　wires。

Below　the　dome　lay　a　lake　of　an　extent　to　be　pared　to　the　Dead　Sea　of　the　Mammoth　caves……a　deep　lake　whose　transparent　waters　swarmed　with　eyeless　fish；　and　to　which　the　engineer　gave　the　name　of　Loch　Malcolm。

There；　in　this　immense　natural　excavation；　Simon　Ford　built　his　new　cottage；　which　he　would　not　have　exchanged　for　the　finest　house　in　Prince's　Street；　Edinburgh。　　This　dwelling　was　situated　on　the　shores　of　the　loch；　and　its　five　windows　looked　out　on　the　dark　waters；　which　extended　further　than　the　eye　could　see。　　Two　months　later　a　second　habitation　was　erected　in　the　neighborhood　of　Simon　Ford's　cottage：　this　was　for　James　Starr。　　The　engineer　had　given

337

himself　body　and　soul　to　New　Aberfoyle；　and　nothing　but　the　most　imperative　necessity　ever　caused　him　to　leave　the　pit。　There；　then；　he　lived　in　the　midst　of　his　mining　world。

On　the　discovery　of　the　new　field；　all　the　old　colliers　had　hastened　to　leave　the　plow　and　harrow；　and　r閟um？the　pick　and　mattock。　Attracted　by　the　certainty　that　work　would　never　fail；　allured　by　the　high　wages　which　the　prosperity　of　the　mine　enabled　the　pany　to　offer　for　labor；　they　deserted　the　open　air　for　an　underground　life；　and　took　up　their　abode　in　the　mines。

The　miners'　houses；　built　of　brick；　soon　gree　on　the　banks　of　Loch　Malcolm；　others　under　the　arches　which　seemed　made　to　resist　the　weight　that　pressed　upon　them；　like　the　piers　of　a　bridge。　　So　was　founded　Coal　Town；　situated　under　the　eastern　point　of　Loch　Katrine；　to　the　north　of　the　county　of　Stirling。　　It　was　a　regular　settlement　on　the　banks　of　Loch　Malcolm。　　A　chapel；　dedicated　to　St。　Giles；　overlooked　it　from　the　top　of　a　huge　rock；　whose　foot　was　laved　by　the　waters　of　the　subterranean　sea。

When　this　underground　town　was　lighted　up　by　the　bright　rays　thrown　from　the　discs；　hung　from　the　pillars　and　arches；　its　aspect　was　so　strange；　so　fantastic；　that　it　justified　the　praise　of　the　guide…books；　and　visitors　flocked　to　see　it。

It　is　needless　to　say　that　the　inhabitants　of　Coal　Town　were　proud　of　their　place。　　They　rarely　left　their　laboring　village……　in　that　imitating　Simon　Ford；　who　never　wished　to　go　out　again。　The　old　overman　maintained　that　it　always　rained　〃up　there；〃　and；　considering　the　climate　of　the　United　Kingdom；　it　must　be　acknowledged　that　he　was　not　far　wrong。　All　the　families　in　New　Aberfoyle　prospered　well；　having　in　three　years　obtained　a　certain　…petency　which　they　could　never　have　hoped　to　attain　on　the　surface　of　the　county。　Dozens　of　babies；　who　were　born　at　the　time　when　the　works　were　resumed；　had　never　yet　breathed　the　outer　air。

This　made　Jack　Ryan　remark；　〃It's　eighteen　months　since　they　were　weaned；　and　they　have　not　yet　seen　daylight！〃

It　may　be　mentioned　here；　that　one　of　the　first　to　run　at　the　engineer's　call　was　Jack　Ryan。　　The　merry　fellow　had

thought　it　his　duty　to　return　to　his　old　trade。　But　though　Melrose　farm　had　lost　singer　and　piper　it　must　not　be　thought　that　Jack　Ryan　sung　no　more。　　On　the　contrary；　the　sonorous　echoes　of　New　Aberfoyle　exerted　their　strong　lungs　to　answer　him。

Jack　Ryan　took　up　his　abode　in　Simon　Ford's　new　cottage。　　They　offered　him　a　room；　which　he　accepted　without　ceremony；　in　his　frank　and　hearty　way。　Old　Madge　loved　him　for　his　fine　character　and　good　nature。　She　in　some　degree　shared　his　ideas　on　the　subject　of　the　fantastic　beings　who　were　supposed　to　haunt　the　mine；　and　the　two；　when　alone；　told　each　other　stories　wild　enough　to　make　one　shudder……stories　well　worthy　of　enriching　the　hyperborean　mythology。

Jack　thus　became　the　life　of　the　cottage。　　He　was；　besides　being　a　jovial　panion；　a　good　workman。　　Six　months　after　the　works　had　begun；　he　was　made　head　of　a　gang　of　hewers。

〃That　was　a　good　work　done；　Mr。　Ford；〃　said　he；　a　few　days　after　his　appointment。　　〃You　discovered　a　new　field；　and　though　you　narrowly　escaped　paying　for　the　discovery　with　your　life……　well；　it　was　not　too　dearly　bought。〃

〃No；　Jack；　it　was　a　good　bargain　we　made　that　time！〃　answered　the　old　overman。　　〃But　neither　Mr。　Starr　nor　I　have　forgotten　that　to　you　we　owe　our　lives。〃

〃Not　at　all；〃　returned　Jack。　　〃You　owe　them　to　your　son　Harry；　when　he　had　the　good　sense　to　accept　my　invitation　to　Irvine。〃

〃And　not　to　go；　isn't　that　it？〃　interrupted　Harry；　grasping　his　rade's　hand。　　〃No；　Jack；　it　is　to　you；　scarcely　healed　of　your　wounds……　to　you；　who　did　not　delay　a　day；　no；　nor　an　hour；　that　we　owe　our　being　found　still　alive　in　the　mine！〃

〃Rubbish；　no！〃　broke　in　the　obstinate　fellow。　〃I　won't　have　that　said；　when　it's　no　such　thing。　I　hurried　to　find　out　what　had　bee　of　you；　Harry；　that's　all。　But　to　give　everyone　his　due；　I　will　add　that　without　that　unapproachable　goblin……〃

〃Ah；　there　we　are！〃　cried　Ford。　　〃A　goblin！〃

〃A　goblin；　a　brownie；　a　fairy's　child；〃　repeated　Jack　Ryan；　〃a　cousin　of　the　Fire…Maidens；　an　Urisk；　whatever　you　like！　It's　not　the　less　certain　that　without　it　we　should

never　have　found　our　way　into　the　gallery；　from　which　you　could　not　get　out。〃

〃No　doubt；　Jack；〃　answered　Harry。　　〃It　remains　to　be　seen　whether　this　being　was　as　supernatural　as　you　choose　to　believe。〃

〃Supernatural！〃　exclaimed　Ryan。　　〃But　it　was　as　supernatural　as　a　Will…o'…the…Wisp；　who　may　be　seen　skipping　along　with　his　lantern　in　his　hand；　you　may　try　to　catch　him；　but　he　escapes　like　a　fairy；　and　vanishes　like　a　shadow！　Don't　be　uneasy；　Harry；　we　shall　see　it　again　some　day　or　other！〃

〃Well；　Jack；〃　said　Simon　Ford；　〃Will…o'…the…Wisp　or　not；　we　shall　try　to　find　it；　and　you　must　help　us。〃

〃You'll　get　into　a　scrap　if　you　don't　take　care；　Mr。　Ford！〃　responded　Jack　Ryan。

〃We'll　see　about　that；　Jack！〃

We　may　easily　imagine　how　soon　this　domain　of　New　Aberfoyle　became　familiar　to　all　the　members　of　the　Ford　family；　but　more　particularly　to　Harry。　　He　learnt　to　know　all　its　most　secret　ins　and　outs。　He　could　even　say　what　point　of　the　surface　corresponded　with　what　point　of　the　mine。　　He　knew　that　above　this　seam　lay　the　Firth　of　Clyde；　that　there　extended　Loch　Lomond　and　Loch　Katrine。　　Those　columns　supported　a　spur　of　the　Grampian　mountains。　　This　vault　served　as　a　basement　to　Dumbarton。　　Above　this　large　pond　passed　the　Balloch　railway。　Here　ended　the　Scottish　coast。　　There　began　the　sea；　the　tumult　of　which　could　be　distinctly　heard　during　the　equinoctial　gales。　Harry　would　have　been　a　first…rate　guide　to　these　natural　catabs；　and　all　that　Alpine　guides　do　on　their　snowy　peaks　in　daylight　he　could　have　done　in　the　dark　mine　by　the　wonderful　power　of　instinct。

He　loved　New　Aberfoyle。　　Many　times；　with　his　lamp　stuck　in　his　hat；　did　he　perate　its　furthest　depths。　He　explored　its　ponds　in　a　skillfully…managed　canoe。　He　even　went　shooting；　for　numerous　birds　had　been　introduced　into　the　crypt……pintails；　snipes；　ducks；　who　fed　on　the　fish　which　swarmed　in　the　deep　waters。　　Harry's　eyes　seemed　made　for　the　dark；　just　as　a　sailor's　are　made　for　distances。　But　all　this　while　Harry　felt　irresistibly　animated　by　the　hope　of　finding　the　mysterious　being　whose　intervention；　strictly　speaking；　had　saved　himself　and　his　friends。　　Would

he　succeed？　　He　certainly　would；　if　presentiments　were　to　be　trusted；　but　certainly　not；　if　he　judged　by　the　success　which　had　as　yet　attended　his　researches。

The　attacks　directed　against　the　family　of　the　old　overman；　before　the　discovery　of　New　Aberfoyle；　had　not　been　renewed。


CHAPTER　XI　HANGING　BY　A　THREAD


ALTHOUGH　in　this　way　the　Ford　family　led　a　happy　and　contented　life；　yet　it　was　easy　to　see　that　Harry；　naturally　of　a　grave　disposition；　became　more　and　more　quiet　and　reserved。　　Even　Jack　Ryan；　with　all　his　good　humor　and　usually　infectious　merriment；　failed　to　rouse　him　to　gayety　of　manner。

One　Sunday……it　was　in　the　month　of　June……the　two　friends　were　walking　together　on　the　shores　of　Loch　Malcolm。　　Coal　Town　rested　from　labor。　　In　the　world　above；　stormy　weather　prevailed。　Violent　rains　fell；　and　dull　sultry　vapors　brooded　over　the　earth；　the　atmosphere　was　most　oppressive。

Down　in　Coal　Town　there　was　perfect　calm；　no　wind；　no　rain。　A　soft　and　pleasant　temperature　existed　instead　of　the　strife　of　the　elements　which　raged　without。　　What　wonder　then；　that　excursionists　from　Stirling　came　in　considerable　numbers　to　enjoy　the　calm　fresh　air　in　the　recesses　of　the　mine？

The　electric　discs　shed　a　brilliancy　of　light　which　the　British　sun；　oftener　obscured　by　fogs　than　it　ought　to　be；　might　well　envy。　Jack　Ryan　kept　talking　of　these　visitors；　who　passed　them　in　noisy　crowds；　but　Harry　paid　very　little　attention　to　what　he　said。

〃I　say；　do　look；　Harry！〃　cried　Jack。　　〃See　what　numbers　of　people　e　to　visit　us！　　Cheer　up；　old　fellow！　　Do　the　honors　of　the　place　a　little　better。　　If　you　look　so　glum；　you'll　make　all　these　outside　folks　think　you　envy　their　life　above…ground。〃

〃Never　mind　me；　Jack；〃　answered　Harry。　　〃You　are　jolly　enough　for　two；　I'm　sure；　that's　enough。〃

〃I'll　be　hanged　if　I　don't　feel　your　melancholy　creeping　over　me　though！〃　exclaimed　Jack。　　〃I　declare　my　eyes

are　getting　quite　dull；　my　lips　are　drawn　together；　my　laugh　sticks　in　my　throat；　I'm　forgetting　all　my　songs。　e；　man；　what's　the　matter　with　you？〃

〃You　know　well　enough；　Jack。〃

〃What？　the