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e　sea；　the　infinity　of　the　heavens。


CHAPTER　XV　LOCH　LOMOND　AND　LOCH　KATRINE


HARRY　bore　Nell　carefully　down　the　steeps　of　Arthur's　Seat；　and；　acpanied　by　James　Starr　and　Jack　Ryan；　they　reached　Lambert's　Hotel。　　There　a　good　breakfast　restored　their　strength；　and　they　began　to　make　further　plans　for　an　excursion　to　the　Highland　lakes。

Nell　was　now　refreshed；　and　able　to　look　boldly　forth　into　the　sunshine；　while　her　lungs　with　ease　inhaled　the　free　and　healthful　air。　Her　eyes　learned　gladly　to　know　the　harmonious　varieties　of　color　as　they　rested　on　the　green　trees；　the　azure　skies；　and　all　the　endless　shades　of　lovely　flowers　and　plants。

The　railway　train；　which　they　entered　at　the　Waverley　Station；　conveyed　Nell　and　her　friends　to　Glasgow。　　There；　from　the　new　bridge　across　the　Clyde；　they　watched　the　curious　sea…like　movement　of　the　river。　After　a　night's　rest　at　rie's　Royal　Hotel；　they　betook　themselves　to　the　terminus　of　the　Edinburgh　and　Glasgow　Railway；　from　whence　a　train　would　rapidly　carry　them；　by　way　of　Dumbarton　and　Balloch；　to　the　southern　extremity　of　Loch　Lomond。

〃Now　for　the　land　of　Rob　Roy　and　Fergus　MacIvor！……the　scenery　immortalized　by　the　poetical　descriptions　of　Walter　Scott；〃　exclaimed　James　Starr。　　〃You　don't　know　this　country；　Jack？〃

〃Only　by　its　songs；　Mr。　Starr；〃　replied　Jack；　〃and　judging　by　those；　it　must　be　grand。〃

〃So　it　is；　so　it　is！〃　cried　the　engineer；　〃and　our　dear　Nell　shall　see　it　to　the　best　advantage。〃

A　steamboat；　the　SINCLAIR　by　name；　awaited　tourists　about　to　make　the　excursion　to　the　lakes。　　Nell　and　her　panions　went　on　board。　The　day　had　begun　in　brilliant　sunshine；　free　from　the　British　fogs　which　so　often　veil　the　skies。

The　passengers　were　determined　to　lose　none　of　the　beauties　of　nature　to　be　displayed　during　the　thirty　miles'　voyage。　　Nell；　seated　between　James　Starr　and　Harry；　drank　in　with　every　faculty　the　magnificent　poetry　with　which　lovely　Scottish　scenery　is　fraught。　　Numerous　small　isles　and　islets　soon　appeared；　as　though　thickly　sown　on　the　bosom　of　the　lake。　The　SINCLAIR　steamed　her　way　among

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them；　while　between　them　glimpses　could　be　had　of　quiet　valleys；　or　wild　rocky　gorges　on　the　mainland。

〃Nell；〃　said　James　Starr；　〃every　island　here　has　its　legend；　perhaps　its　song；　as　well　as　the　mountains　which　overshadow　the　lake。　One　may；　without　much　exaggeration；　say　that　the　history　of　this　country　is　written　in　gigantic　characters　of　mountains　and　islands。〃

Nell　listened；　but　these　fighting　stories　made　her　sad。　Why　all　that　bloodshed　on　plains　which　to　her　seemed　enormous；　and　where　surely　there　must　have　been　room　for　everybody？

The　shores　of　the　lake　form　a　little　harbor　at　Luss。　　Nell　could　for　a　moment　catch　sight　of　the　old　tower　of　its　ancient　castle。　Then；　the　SINCLAIR　turning　northward；　the　tourists　gazed　upon　Ben　Lomond；　towering　nearly　3；000　feet　above　the　level　of　the　lake。

〃Oh；　what　a　noble　mountain！〃　cried　Nell；　〃what　a　view　there　must　be　from　the　top！〃

〃Yes；　Nell；〃　answered　James　Starr；　〃see　how　haughtily　its　peak　rises　from　amidst　the　thicket　of　oaks；　birches；　and　heather；　which　clothe　the　lower　portion　of　the　mountain！　　From　thence　one　may　see　two…thirds　of　old　Caledonia。　　This　eastern　side　of　the　lake　was　the　special　abode　of　the　clan　McGregor。　　At　no　great　distance；　the　struggles　of　the　Jacobites　and　Hanoverians　repeatedly　dyed　with　blood　these　lonely　glens。　　Over　these　scenes　shines　the　pale　moon；　called　in　old　ballads　'Macfarlane's　lantern。'　Among　these　rocks　still　echo　the　immortal　names　of　Rob　Roy　and　McGregor　Campbell。〃

As　the　SINCLAIR　advanced　along　the　base　of　the　mountain；　the　country　became　more　and　more　abrupt　in　character。　Trees　were　only　scattered　here　and　there；　among　them　were　the　willows；　slender　wands　of　which　were　formerly　used　for　hanging　persons　of　low　degree。

〃To　economize　hemp；〃　remarked　James　Starr。

The　lake　narrowed　very　much　as　it　stretched　northwards。

The　steamer　passed　a　few　more　islets；　Inveruglas；　Eilad…whow；　where　stand　some　ruins　of　a　stronghold　of　the　clan　MacFarlane。　　At　length　the　head　of　the　loch　was　reached；　and　the　SINCLAIR　stopped　at　Inversnaid。

Leaving　Loch　Arklet　on　the　left；　a　steep　ascent　led　to　the　Inn　of　Stronachlacar；　on　the　banks　of　Loch　Katrine。


There；　at　the　end　of　a　light　pier；　floated　a　small　steamboat；　named；　as　a　matter　of　course；　the　Rob　Roy。　　The　travelers　immediately　went　on　board；　it　was　about　to　start。　　Loch　Katrine　is　only　ten　miles　in　length；　its　width　never　exceeds　two　miles。　The　hills　nearest　it　are　full　of　a　character　peculiar　to　themselves。

〃Here　we　are　on　this　famous　lake；〃　said　James　Starr。　　〃It　has　been　pared　to　an　eel　on　account　of　its　length　and　windings：　and　justly　so。　　They　say　that　it　never　freezes。　I　know　nothing　about　that；　but　what　we　want　to　think　of　is；　that　here　are　the　scenes　of　the　adventures　in　the　Lady　of　the　Lake。　　I　believe；　if　friend　Jack　looked　about　him　carefully；　he　might　see；　still　gliding　over　the　surface　of　the　water；　the　shade　of　the　slender　form　of　sweet　Ellen　Douglas。〃

〃To　be　sure；　Mr。　Starr；〃　replied　Jack；　〃why　should　I　not？　I　may　just　as　well　see　that　pretty　girl　on　the　waters　of　Loch　Katrine；　as　those　ugly　ghosts　on　Loch　Malcolm　in　the　coal　pit。〃

It　was　by　this　time　three　o'clock　in　the　afternoon。　　The　less　hilly　shores　of　Loch　Katrine　westward　extended　like　a　picture　framed　between　Ben　An　and　Ben　Venue。　　At　the　distance　of　half　a　mile　was　the　entrance　to　the　narrow　bay；　where　was　the　landing…place　for　our　tourists；　who　meant　to　return　to　Stirling　by　Callander。

Nell　appeared　pletely　worn　out　by　the　continued　excitement　of　the　day。　A　faint　ejaculation　was　all　she　was　able　to　utter　in　token　of　admiration　as　new　objects　of　wonder　or　beauty　met　her　gaze。　She　required　some　hours　of　rest；　were　it　but　to　impress　lastingly　the　recollection　of　all　she　had　seen。

Her　hand　rested　in　Harry's；　and；　looking　earnestly　at　her；　he　said；　〃Nell；　dear　Nell；　we　shall　soon　be　home　again　in　the　gloomy　region　of　the　coal　mine。　　Shall　you　not　pine　for　what　you　have　seen　during　these　few　hours　spent　in　the　glorious　light　of　day？〃

〃No；　Harry；〃　replied　the　girl；　〃I　shall　like　to　think　about　it；　but　I　am　glad　to　go　back　with　you　to　our　dear　old　home。〃

〃Nell！〃　said　Harry；　vainly　attempting　to　steady　his　voice；　〃are　you　willing　to　be　bound　to　me　by　the　most　sacred　tie？　Could　you　marry　me；　Nell？〃


〃Yes；　Harry；　I　could；　if　you　are　sure　that　I　am　able　to　make　you　happy；〃　answered　the　maiden；　raising　her　innocent　eyes　to　his。

Scarcely　had　she　pronounced　these　words　when　an　unaccountable　phenomenon　took　place。　　The　Rob　Roy；　still　half　a　mile　from　land；　experienced　a　violent　shock。　　She　suddenly　grounded。　No　efforts　of　the　engine　could　move　her。

The　cause　of　this　accident　was　simply　that　Loch　Katrine　was　all　at　once　emptied；　as　though　an　enormous　fissure　had　opened　in　its　bed。　In　a　few　seconds　it　had　the　appearance　of　a　sea　beach　at　low　water。　Nearly　the　whole　of　its　contents　had　vanished　into　the　bosom　of　the　earth。

〃My　friends！〃　exclaimed　James　Starr；　as　the　cause　of　this　marvel　became　suddenly　clear　to　him；　〃God　help　New　Aberfoyle！〃


CHAPTER　XVI　A　FINAL　THREAT


ON　that　day；　in　the　colliery　of　New　Aberfoyle；　work　was　going　on　in　the　usual　regular　way。　　In　the　distance　could　be　heard　the　crash　of　great　charges　of　dynamite；　by　which　the　carboniferous　rocks　were　blasted。　Here　masses　of　coal　were　loosened　by　pick…ax　and　crowbar；　there　the　perforating　machines；　with　their　harsh　grating；　bored　through　the　masses　of　sandstone　and　schist。

Hollow；　cavernous　noises　resounded　on　all　sides。　Draughts　of　air　rushed　along　the　ventilating　galleries；　and　the　wooden　swing…doors　slammed　beneath　their　violent　gusts。　In　the　lower　tunnels；　trains　of　trucks　kept　passing　along　at　the　rate　of　fifteen　miles　an　hour；　while　at　their　approach　electric　bells　warned　the　workmen　to　cower　down　in　the　refuge　places。　Lifts　went　incessantly　up　and　down；　worked　by　powerful　engines　on　the　surface　of　the　soil。　　Coal　Town　was　throughout　brilliantly　lighted　by　the　electric　lamps　at　full　power。

Mining　operations　were　being　carried　on　with　the　greatest　activity；　coal　was　being　piled　incessantly　into　the　trucks；　which　went　in　hundreds　to　empty　themselves　into　the　corves　at　the　bottom　of　the　shaft。　While　parties　of　miners　who

had　labored　during　the　night　were　taking　needful　rest；　the　others　worked　without　wasting　an　hour。

Old　Simon　Ford　and　Madge；　having　finished　their　dinner；　were　resting　at　the　door　of　their　cottage。　　Simon　smoked　a　good　pipe　of　tobacco；　and　from　time　to　time　the　old　couple　spoke　of　Nell；　of　their　boy；　of　Mr。　Starr；　and　wondered　how　they　liked　their　trip　to　the　surface　of　the　earth。　　Where　would　they　be　now？　　What　would　they　be　doing？　How　could　they　stay　so　long　away　from　the　mine　without　feeling　homesick？

Just　then　a　terrific　roaring　noise　was　heard。　　It　was　like　the　sound　of　a　mighty　cataract　rushing　down　into　the　mine。　　The　old　people　rose　hastily。　They　perceived　at　once　that　the　waters　of　Loch　Malcolm　were　rising。

A　great　wave；　unfurling　like　a　billow；　swept　up　the　bank　and　broke　against　the　walls　of　the　cottage。　　Simon　caught　his　wife　in　his　arms；　and　carried　her　to　the　upper　part　of　their　dwelling。

At　the　same　moment；　cries　arose　from　all　parts　of　Coal　Town；　which　was　threatened　by　a　sudden　inundation。　　The　inhabitants　fled　for　safety　to　the　top　of　the　schist　rocks　bordering　the　lake；　terror　spread　in　all　directions；　whole　families　in　frantic　haste　rushed　towards　the　tunnel　in　order　to　reach　the　upper　regions　of　the　pit。

It　was　feared　that　the　sea　had　burst　into　the　colliery；　for　its　galleries　and　passages　perated　as　far　as　the　Caledonian　Canal。　　In　that　case　the　entire　excavation；　vast　as　it　was；　would　be　pletely　flooded。　Not　a　single　inhabitant　of　New　Aberfoyle　would　escape　death。

But　when　the　foremost　fugitives　reached　the　entrance　to　the　tunnel；　they　encountered　Simon　Ford；　who　had　quitted　his　cottage。　〃Stop；　my　friends；　stop！〃　shouted　the　old　man；　〃if　our　town　is　to　be　overwhelmed；　the　floods　will　rush　faster　than　you　can；　no　one　can　possibly　escape。　　But　see！　the　waters　are　rising　no　further！　it　appears　to　me　the　danger　is　over。〃

〃And　our　rades　at　the　far　end　of　the　works……what　about　them？〃　cried　some　of　the　miners。

〃There　is　nothing　to　fear　for　them；〃　replied　Simon；　〃they　are　working　on　a　higher　level　than　the　bed　of　the　loch。〃

It　was　soon　evident　that　the　old　man　was　in　the　right。　The　sudden　influx　of　water　had　rushed　to　the　very　lowest

bed　of　the　vast　mine；　and　its　only　ultimate　effect　was　to　raise　the　level　of　Loch　Malcolm　a　few　feet。　　Coal　Town　was　uninjured；　and　it　was　reasonable　to　hope　that　no　one　had　perished　in　the　flood　of　water　which　had　descended　to　the　depths　of　the　mine　never　yet　perated　by　the　workmen。

Simon　and　his　men　could　not　decide　whether　this　inundation　was　owing　to　the　overflow　of　a　subterranean　sheet　of　water　perating　fissures　in　the　solid　rock；　or　to　some　underground　torrent　breaking　through　its　worn　bed；　and　precipitating　itself　to　the　lowest　level　of　the　mine。　But　that　very　same　evening　they　knew　what　to　think　about　it；　for　the　local　papers　published　an　account　of　the　marvelous　phenomenon　which　Loch　Katrine　had　exhibited。

The　surprising　news　was　soon　after　confirmed　by　the　four　travelers；　who；　returning　with　all　possible　speed　to　the　cottage；　learned　with　extreme　satisfaction　that　no　serious　damage　was　done　in　New　Aberfoyle。

The　bed　of　Loch　Katrine　had　fairly　given　way。　　The　waters　had　suddenly　broken　through　by　an　enormous　fissure　into　the　mine　beneath。　Of　Sir　Walter　Scott's　favorite　loch　there　was　not　left　enough　to　wet　the　pretty　foot　of　the　Lady　of　the　Lake；　all　that　remained　was　a　pond　of　a　few　acres　at　the　further　extremity。

This　singular　event　made　a　profound　sensation　in　the　country。　It　was　a　thing　unheard　of　that　a　lake　should　in　the　space　of　a　few　minutes　empty　itself；　and　disappear　into　the　bowels　of　the　earth。　There　was　nothing　for　it　but　to　erase　Loch　Katrine　from　the　map　of　Scotland　until　（by　public　subscription）　it　could　be　refilled；　care　being　of　course　taken；　in　the　first　place；　to　stop　the　rent　up　tight。　This　catastrophe　would　have　been　the　death　of　Sir　Walter　Scott；　had　he　still　been　in　the　world。

The　accident　was　exp