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！

　powerfully　as　he　held　it　in　his　iron　grasp；　he　could　feel　it　gradually　slipping　through　his　fingers。

He　might　have　caught　it；　and　held　on　with　both　hands　by　sacrificing　the　life　of　the　child　he　supported　in　his　left　arm。　The　idea　crossed　him；　but　was　banished　in　an　instant；　although　he　believed　himself　quite　unable　to　hold　out　until

drawn　to　the　surface。　　For　a　second　he　closed　his　eyes；　believing　they　were　about　to　plunge　back　into　the　abyss。

He　looked　up　once　more；　the　huge　bird　had　disappeared；　his　hand　was　at　the　very　extremity　of　the　broken　rope……when；　just　as　his　convulsive　grasp　was　failing；　he　was　seized　by　the　men；　and　with　the　child　was　placed　on　the　level　ground。

The　fearful　strain　of　anxiety　removed；　a　reaction　took　place；　and　Harry　fell　fainting　into　the　arms　of　his　friends。


CHAPTER　XII　NELL　ADOPTED


A　COUPLE　of　hours　later；　Harry　still　unconscious；　and　the　child　in　a　very　feeble　state；　were　brought　to　the　cottage　by　Jack　Ryan　and　his　panions。　　The　old　overman　listened　to　the　account　of　their　adventures；　while　Madge　attended　with　the　utmost　care　to　the　wants　of　her　son；　and　of　the　poor　creature　whom　he　had　rescued　from　the　pit。

Harry　imagined　her　a　mere　child；　but　she　was　a　maiden　of　the　age　of　fifteen　or　sixteen　years。

She　gazed　at　them　with　vague　and　wondering　eyes；　and　the　thin　face；　drawn　by　suffering；　the　pallid　plexion；　which　light　could　never　have　tinged；　and　the　fragile；　slender　figure；　gave　her　an　appearance　at　once　singular　and　attractive。　Jack　Ryan　declared　that　she　seemed　to　him　to　be　an　unmonly　interesting　kind　of　ghost。

It　must　have　been　due　to　the　strange　and　peculiar　circumstances　under　which　her　life　hitherto　had　been　led；　that　she　scarcely　seemed　to　belong　to　the　human　race。　Her　countenance　was　of　a　very　unmon　cast；　and　her　eyes；　hardly　able　to　bear　the　lamp…light　in　the　cottage；　glanced　around　in　a　confused　and　puzzled　way；　as　if　all　were　new　to　them。

As　this　singular　being　reclined　on　Madge's　bed　and　awoke　to　consciousness；　as　from　a　long　sleep；　the　old　Scotchwoman　began　to　question　her　a　little。

〃What　do　they　call　you；　my　dear？〃　said　she。

〃Nell；〃　replied　the　girl。

〃Do　you　feel　anything　the　matter　with　you；　Nell？〃

〃I　am　hungry。　　I　have　eaten　nothing　since……since……〃


Nell　uttered　these　few　words　like　one　unused　to　speak　much。　　They　were　in　the　Gaelic　language；　which　was　often　spoken　by　Simon　and　his　family。　Madge　immediately　brought　her　some　food；　she　was　evidently　famished。　It　was　impossible　to　say　how　long　she　might　have　been　in　that　pit。

〃How　many　days　had　you　been　doadge。

Nell　made　no　answer；　she　seemed　not　to　understand　the　question。

〃How　many　days；　do　you　think？〃

〃Days？〃　repeated　Nell；　as　though　the　word　had　no　meaning　for　her；　and　she　shook　her　head　to　signify　entire　want　of　prehension。

Madge　took　her　hand；　and　stroked　it　caressingly。　　〃How　old　are　you；　my　lassie？〃　she　asked；　smiling　kindly　at　her。

Nell　shook　her　head　again。

〃Yes；　yes；〃　continued　Madge；　〃how　many　years　old？〃

〃Years？〃　replied　Nell。　　She　seemed　to　understand　that　word　no　better　than　days！　　Simon；　Harry；　Jack；　and　the　rest；　looked　on　with　an　air　of　mingled　passion；　wonder；　and　sympathy。　The　state　of　this　poor　thing；　clothed　in　a　miserable　garment　of　coarse　woolen　stuff；　seemed　to　impress　them　painfully。

Harry；　more　than　all　the　rest；　seemed　attracted　by　the　very　peculiarity　of　this　poor　stranger。　　He　drew　near；　took　Nell's　hand　from　his　mother；　and　looked　directly　at　her；　while　something　like　a　smile　curved　her　lip。　〃Nell；〃　he　said；　〃Nell；　away　down　there……in　the　mine……were　you　all　alone？〃

〃Alone！　alone！〃　cried　the　girl；　raising　herself　hastily。　Her　features　expressed　terror；　her　eyes；　which　had　appeared　to　soften　as　Harry　looked　at　her；　became　quite　wild　again。　〃Alone！〃　repeated　she；　〃alone！〃……and　she　fell　back　on　the　bed；　as　though　deprived　of　all　strength。

〃The　poor　bairn　is　too　weak　to　speak　to　us；〃　said　Madge；　when　she　had　adjusted　the　pillows。　　〃After　a　good　rest；　and　a　little　more　food；　she　will　be　stronger。　　e　away；　Simon　and　Harry；　and　all　the　rest　of　you；　and　let　her　go　to　sleep。〃　So　Nell　was　left　alone；　and　in　a　very　few　minutes　slept　profoundly。

This　event　caused　a　great　sensation；　not　only　in　the　coal

mines；　but　in　Stirlingshire；　and　ultimately　throughout　the　kingdom。　The　strangeness　of　the　story　was　exaggerated；　the　affair　could　not　have　made　more　motion　had　they　found　the　girl　enclosed　in　the　solid　rock；　like　one　of　those　antediluvian　creatures　who　have　occasionally　been　released　by　a　stroke　of　the　pickax　from　their　stony　prison。　Nell　became　a　fashionable　wonder　without　knowing　it。　Superstitious　folks　made　her　story　a　new　subject　for　legendary　marvels；　and　were　inclined　to　think；　as　Jack　Ryan　told　Harry；　that　Nell　was　the　spirit　of　the　mines。

〃Be　it　so；　Jack；〃　said　the　young　man；　〃but　at　any　rate　she　is　the　good　spirit。　　It　can　have　been　none　but　she　who　brought　us　bread　and　water　when　we　were　shut　up　down　there；　and　as　to　the　bad　spirit；　who　must　still　be　in　the　mine；　we'll　catch　him　some　day。〃

Of　course　James　Starr　had　been　at　once　informed　of　all　this；　and　came；　as　soon　as　the　young　girl　had　sufficiently　recovered　her　strength；　to　see　her；　and　endeavor　to　question　her　carefully。

She　appeared　ignorant　of　nearly　everything　relating　to　life；　and；　although　evidently　intelligent；　was　wanting　in　many　elementary　ideas；　such　as　time；　for　instance。　　She　had　never　been　used　to　its　division；　and　the　words　signifying　hours；　days；　months；　and　years　were　unknown　to　her。

Her　eyes；　accustomed　to　the　night；　were　pained　by　the　glare　of　the　electric　discs；　but　in　the　dark　her　sight　was　wonderfully　keen；　the　pupil　dilated　in　a　remarkable　manner；　and　she　could　see　where　to　others　there　appeared　profound　obscurity。　It　was　certain　that　her　brain　had　never　received　any　impression　of　the　outer　world；　that　her　eyes　had　never　looked　beyond　the　mine；　and　that　these　somber　depths　had　been　all　the　world　to　her。

The　poor　girl　probably　knew　not　that　there　were　a　sun　and　stars；　towns　and　counties；　a　mighty　universe　posed　of　myriads　of　worlds。　But　until　she　prehended　the　significance　of　words　at　present　conveying　no　precise　meaning　to　her；　it　was　impossible　to　ascertain　what　she　knew。

As　to　whether　or　not　Nell　had　lived　alone　in　the　recesses　of　New　Aberfoyle；　James　Starr　was　obliged　to　remain　uncertain；　indeed；　any　allusion　to　the　subject　excited　evident　alarm　in　the　mind　of　this　strange　girl。　　Either　Nell　could　not　or　would　not　reply　to　questions；　but　that　some　secret

existed　in　connection　with　the　place；　which　she　could　have　explained；　was　manifest。

〃Should　you　like　to　stay　with　us？　　Should　you　like　to　go　back　to　where　we　found　you？〃　asked　James　Starr。

〃Oh；　yes！〃　exclaimed　the　maiden；　in　answer　to　his　first　question；　but　a　cry　of　terror　was　all　she　seemed　able　to　say　to　the　second。

James　Starr；　as　well　as　Simon　and　Harry　Ford；　could　not　help　feeling　a　certain　amount　of　uneasiness　with　regard　to　this　persistent　silence。　They　found　it　impossible　to　forget　all　that　had　appeared　so　inexplicable　at　the　time　they　made　the　discovery　of　the　coal　mine；　and　although　that　was　three　years　ago；　and　nothing　new　had　happened；　they　always　expected　some　fresh　attack　on　the　part　of　the　invisible　enemy。

They　resolved　to　explore　the　mysterious　well；　and　did　so；　well　armed　and　in　considerable　numbers。　　But　nothing　suspicious　was　to　be　seen；　the　shaft　municated　with　lower　stages　of　the　crypt；　hollowed　out　in　the　carboniferous　bed。

Many　a　time　did　James　Starr；　Simon；　and　Harry　talk　over　these　things。　If　one　or　more　malevolent　beings　were　concealed　in　the　coal…pit；　and　there　concocted　mischief；　Nell　surely　could　have　warned　them　of　it；　yet　she　said　nothing。　　The　slightest　allusion　to　her　past　life　brought　on　such　fits　of　violent　emotion；　that　it　was　judged　best　to　avoid　the　subject　for　the　present。　Her　secret　would　certainly　escape　her　by…and…by。

By　the　time　Nell　had　been　a　fortnight　in　the　cottage；　she　had　bee　a　most　intelligent　and　zealous　assistant　to　old　Madge。　　It　was　clear　that　she　instinctively　felt　she　should　remain　in　the　dwelling　where　she　had　been　so　charitably　received；　and　perhaps　never　dreamt　of　quitting　it。　This　family　was　all　in　all　to　her；　and　to　the　good　folks　themselves　Nell　had　seemed　an　adopted　child　from　the　moment　when　she　first　came　beneath　their　roof。　　Nell　was　in　truth　a　charming　creature；　her　new　mode　of　existence　added　to　her　beauty；　for　these　were　no　doubt　the　first　happy　days　of　her　life；　and　her　heart　was　full　of　gratitude　towards　those　to　whom　she　owed　them。　　Madge　felt　towards　her　as　a　mother　would；　the　old　woman　doted　upon　her；　in　short；　she　was　beloved　by　everybody。　Jack　Ryan　only　regretted　one　thing；　which　was　that　he　had　not　saved　her　himself。　　Friend

Jack　often　came　to　the　cottage。　　He　sang；　and　Nell；　who　had　never　heard　singing　before；　admired　it　greatly；　but　anyone　might　see　that　she　preferred　to　Jack's　songs　the　graver　conversation　of　Harry；　from　whom　by　degrees　she　learnt　truths　concerning　the　outer　world；　of　which　hitherto　she　had　known　nothing。

It　must　be　said　that；　since　Nell　had　appeared　in　her　own　person；　Jack　Ryan　had　been　obliged　to　admit　that　his　belief　in　hobgoblins　was　in　a　measure　weakened。　　A　couple　of　months　later　his　credulity　experienced　a　further　shock。　　About　that　time　Harry　unexpectedly　made　a　discovery　which；　in　part　at　least；　accounted　for　the　apparition　of　the　fire…maidens　among　the　ruins　of　Dundonald　Castle　at　Irvine。

During　several　days　he　had　been　engaged　in　exploring　the　remote　galleries　of　the　prodigious　excavation　towards　the　south。　　At　last　he　scrambled　with　difficulty　up　a　narrow　passage　which　branched　off　through　the　upper　rock。　To　his　great　astonishment；　he　suddenly　found　himself　in　the　open　air。　The　passage；　after　ascending　obliquely　to　the　surface　of　the　ground；　led　out　directly　among　the　ruins　of　Dundonald　Castle。

There　was；　therefore；　a　munication　between　New　Aberfoyle　and　the　hills　crowned　by　this　ancient　castle。　　The　upper　entrance　to　this　gallery；　being　pletely　concealed　by　stones　and　brushwood；　was　invisible　from　without；　at　the　time　of　their　search；　therefore；　the　magistrates　had　been　able　to　discover　nothing。

A　few　days　afterwards；　James　Starr；　guided　by　Harry；　came　himself　to　inspect　this　curious　natural　opening　into　the　coal　mine。　　〃Well；〃　said　he；　〃here　is　enough　to　convince　the　most　superstitious　among　us。　Farewell　to　all　their　brownies；　goblins；　and　fire…maidens　now！〃

〃I　hardly　think；　Mr。　Starr；　we　ought　to　congratulate　ourselves；〃　replied　Harry。　　〃Whatever　it　is　we　have　instead　of　these　things；　it　can't　be　better；　and　may　be　worse　than　they　are。〃

〃That's　true；　Harry；〃　said　the　engineer；　〃but　what's　to　be　done？　It　is　plain　that；　whatever　the　beings　are　who　hide　in　the　mine；　they　reach　the　surface　of　the　earth　by　this　passage。　No　doubt　it　was　the　light　of　torches　waved　by　them　during　that　dark　and　stormy　night　which　attracted　the　MOTALA　towards　the　rocky　coast；　and　like　the　wreckers

of　former　days；　they　would　have　plundered　the　unfortunate　vessel；　had　it　not　been　for　Jack　Ryan　and　his　friends。　　Anyhow；　so　far　it　is　evident；　and　here　is　the　mouth　of　the　den。　　As　to　its　occupants；　the　question　is……　Are　they　here　still？〃

〃I　say　yes；　because　Nell　trembles　when　we　mention　them……　yes；　because　Nell　will　not；　or　dare　not；　speak　about　them；〃　answered　Harry　in　a　tone　of　decision。

Harry　was　surely　in　the　right。　　Had　these　mysterious　denizens　of　the　pit　abandoned　it；　or　ceased　to　visit　the　spot；　what　reason　could　the　girl　have　had　for　keeping　silence？

James　Starr　could　not　rest　till　he　had　perated　this　mystery。　He　foresaw　that　the　whole　future　of　the　new　excavations　must　depend　upon　it。　　Renewed　and　strict　precautions　were　therefore　taken。　The　authorities　were　informed　of　the　discovery　of　the　entrance。　Watchers　were　placed　among　the　ruins　of　the　castle。　Harry　himself　lay　hid　for　several　nights　in　the　thickets　of　brushwood　which　clothed　the　hill…side。

Nothing　was　discovered……no　human　being　emerged　from　the　opening。　So　most　people　came　to　the　conclusion　that　the　villains　had　been　finally　dislodged　from　the　mine；　and　that；　as　to　Nell；　they　must　suppose　her　to　be　dead　at　the　bottom　of　the　shaft　where　they　had　left　her。

While　it　remained　unworked；　the　m