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uld　have　been　the　death　of　Sir　Walter　Scott；　had　he　still　been　in　the　world。

The　accident　was　explicable　when　it　was　ascertained　that；　between　the　bed　of　the　lake　and　the　vast　cavity　beneath；　the　geological　strata　had　bee　reduced　to　a　thin　layer；　incapable　of　longer　sustaining　the　weight　of　water。

Now；　although　to　most　people　this　event　seemed　plainly　due　to　natural　causes；　yet　to　James　Starr　and　his　friends；　Simon　and　Harry　Ford；　the　question　constantly　recurred；　was　it　not　rather　to　be　attributed　to　malevolence？　Uneasy　suspicions　continually　harassed　their　minds。　Was　their　evil

genius　about　to　renew　his　persecution　of　those　who　ventured　to　work　this　rich　mine？

At　the　cottage；　some　days　later；　James　Starr　thus　discussed　the　matter　with　the　old　man　and　his　son：　　〃Well；　Simon；〃　said　he；　〃to　my　thinking　we　must　class　this　circumstance　with　the　others　for　which　we　still　seek　elucidation；　although　it　is　no　doubt　possible　to　explain　it　by　natural　causes。〃

〃I　am　quite　of　your　mind；　Mr。　James；〃　replied　Simon；　〃but　take　my　advice；　and　say　nothing　about　it；　let　us　make　all　researches　ourselves。〃

〃Oh；　I　know　the　result　of　such　research　beforehand！〃　cried　the　engineer。

〃And　what　will　it　be；　then？〃

〃We　shall　find　proofs　of　malevolence；　but　not　the　malefactor。〃

〃But　he　exists！　he　is　there！　　Where　can　he　lie　concealed？　Is　it　possible　to　conceive　that　the　most　depraved　human　being　could；　single…handed；　carry　out　an　idea　so　infernal　as　that　of　bursting　through　the　bed　of　a　lake？　　I　believe　I　shall　end　by　thinking；　like　Jack　Ryan；　that　the　evil　demon　of　the　mine　revenges　himself　on　us　for　having　invaded　his　domain。〃

Nell　was　allowed　to　hear　as　little　as　possible　of　these　discussions。　Indeed；　she　showed　no　desire　to　enter　into　them；　although　it　was　very　evident　that　she　shared　in　the　anxieties　of　her　adopted　parents。　The　melancholy　in　her　countenance　bore　witness　to　much　mental　agitation。

It　was　at　length　resolved　that　James　Starr；　together　with　Simon　and　Harry；　should　return　to　the　scene　of　the　disaster；　and　endeavor　to　satisfy　themselves　as　to　the　cause　of　it。　They　mentioned　their　project　to　no　one。　　To　those　unacquainted　with　the　group　of　facts　on　which　it　was　based；　the　opinion　of　Starr　and　his　friends　could　not　fail　to　appear　wholly　inadmissible。

A　few　days　later；　the　three　friends　proceeded　in　a　small　boat　to　examine　the　natural　pillars　on　which　had　rested　the　solid　earth　forming　the　basin　of　Loch　Katrine。　　They　discovered　that　they　had　been　right　in　suspecting　that　the　massive　columns　had　been　undermined　by　blasting。　The　blackened　traces　of　explosion　were　to　be　seen；　the　waters　having　subsided　below　the　level　of　these　mysterious　operations　Thus　the　fall　of　a　portion　of　the　vast　vaulted　dome　was　proved　to　have　been　premeditated　by　man；　and　by　man's　hand　had　it　been　effected。

〃It　is　impossible　to　doubt　it；〃　said　James　Starr；　〃and　who　can　say　what　might　not　have　happened　had　the　sea；　instead　of　a　little　loch；　been　let　in　upon　us？〃

〃You　may　well　say　that；〃　cried　the　old　overman；　with　a　feeling　of　pride　in　his　beloved　mine；　〃for　nothing　less　than　a　sea　would　have　drowned　our　Aberfoyle。　　But；　once　more；　what　possible　interest　could　any　human　being　have　in　the　destruction　of　our　works？〃

〃It　is　quite　inprehensible；〃　replied　James　Starr。　　〃This　case　is　something　perfectly　unlike　that　of　a　band　of　mon　criminals；　who；　concealing　themselves　in　dens　and　caves；　go　forth　to　rob　and　pillage　the　surrounding　country。　　The　evil　deeds　of　such　men　would　certainly；　in　the　course　of　three　years　have　betrayed　their　existence　and　lurking…places。　Neither　can　it　be；　as　I　sometimes　used　to　think；　that　smugglers　or　coiners　carried　on　their　illegal　practices　in　some　distant　and　unknown　corner　of　these　prodigious　caverns；　and　were　consequently　anxious　to　drive　us　out　of　them。　But　no　one　coins　false　money　or　obtains　contraband　goods　only　to　conceal　them！

〃Yet　it　is　clear　that　an　implacable　enemy　has　sworn　the　ruin　of　New　Aberfoyle；　and　that　some　interest　urges　him　to　seek　in　every　possible　way　to　wreak　his　hatred　upon　us。　He　appears　to　be　too　weak　to　act　openly；　and　lays　his　schemes　in　secret；　but　displays　such　intelligence　as　to　render　him　a　most　formidable　foe。

〃My　friends；　he　must　understand　better　than　we　do　the　secrets　of　our　domain；　since　he　has　all　this　time　eluded　our　vigilance。　He　must　be　a　man　experienced　in　mining；　skilled　beyond　the　most　skillful……　that's　certain；　Simon！　　We　have　proof　enough　of　that。

〃Let　me　see！　　Have　you　never　had　a　personal　enemy；　to　whom　your　suspicions　might　point？　　Think　well！　There　is　such　a　thing　as　hatred　which　time　never　softens。　Go　back　to　recollections　of　your　earliest　days。　What　befalls　us　appears　the　work　of　a　stern　and　patient　will；　and　to　explain　it　demands　every　effort　of　thought　and　memory。〃

Simon　did　not　answer　immediately……his　mind　evidently　engaged　in　a　close　and　candid　survey　of　his　past　life。　　Presently；　raising　his　head；　〃No；〃　said　he；　〃no！　　Heaven　be　my　witness；　neither　Madge　nor　I　have　ever　injured　anybody。　　We　cannot　believe　that　we　have　a　single　enemy　in　the　world。〃

〃Ah！　if　Nell　would　only　speak！〃　cried　the　engineer。

〃Mr。　Starr……and　you；　father；〃　said　Harry；　〃I　do　beg　of　you　to　keep　silence　on　this　matter；　and　not　to　question　my　poor　Nell。　　I　know　she　is　very　anxious　and　uneasy；　and　I　feel　positive　that　some　great　secret　painfully　oppresses　her　heart。　　Either　she　knows　nothing　it　would　be　of　any　use　for　us　to　hear；　or　she　considers　it　her　duty　to　be　silent。　It　is　impossible　to　doubt　her　affection　for　us……for　all　of　us。　If　at　a　future　time　she　informs　me　of　what　she　has　hitherto　concealed　from　us；　you　shall　know　about　it　immediately。〃

〃So　be　it；　then；　Harry；〃　answered　the　engineer；　〃and　yet　I　must　say　Nell's　silence；　if　she　knows　anything；　is　to　me　perfectly　inexplicable。〃

Harry　would　have　continued　her　defense；　but　the　engineer　stopped　him；　saying；　〃All　right；　Harry；　we　promise　to　say　no　more　about　it　to　your　future　wife。〃

〃With　my　father's　consent　she　shall　be　my　wife　without　further　delay。〃

〃My　boy；〃　said　old　Simon；　〃your　marriage　shall　take　place　this　very　day　month。　　Mr。　Starr；　will　you　undertake　the　part　of　Nell's　father？〃

〃You　may　reckon　upon　me　for　that；　Simon；〃　answered　the　engineer。

They　then　returned　to　the　cottage；　but　said　not　a　word　of　the　result　of　their　examinations　in　the　mine；　so　that　to　the　rest　of　its　inhabitants；　the　bursting　in　of　the　vaulted　roof　of　the　caverns　continued　to　be　regarded　as　a　mere　accident。　There　was　but　a　loch　the　less　in　Scotland。

Nell　gradually　resumed　her　customary　duties；　and　Harry　made　good　use　of　her　little　visit　to　the　upper　air；　in　the　instructions　he　gave　her。　She　enjoyed　the　recollections　of　life　above　ground；　yet　without　regretting　it。　　The　somber　region　she　had　loved　as　a　child；　and　in　which　her　wedded　life　would　be　spent；　was　as　dear　to　her　as　ever。

The　approaching　marriage　created　great　excitement　in　New　Aberfoyle。　　Good　wishes　poured　in　on　all　sides；　and　foremost　among　them　were　Jack　Ryan's。　He　was　detected　busily　practicing　his　best　songs　in　preparation　for　the　great

day；　which　was　to　be　celebrated　by　the　whole　population　of　Coal　Town。

During　the　month　preceding　the　wedding…day；　there　were　more　accidents　occurring　in　New　Aberfoyle　than　had　ever　been　known　in　the　place。　One　would　have　thought　the　approaching　union　of　Harry　and　Nell　actually　provoked　one　catastrophe　after　another。　　These　misfortunes　happened　chiefly　at　the　further　and　lowest　extremity　of　the　works；　and　the　cause　of　them　was　always　in　some　way　mysterious。

Thus；　for　instance；　the　wood…work　of　a　distant　gallery　was　discovered　to　be　in　flames；　which　were　extinguished　by　Harry　and　his　panions　at　the　risk　of　their　lives；　by　employing　engines　filled　with　water　and　carbonic　acid；　always　kept　ready　in　case　of　necessity。　The　lamp　used　by　the　incendiary　was　found；　but　no　clew　whatever　as　to　who　he　could　be。

Another　time　an　inundation　took　place　in　consequence　of　the　stanchions　of　a　water…tank　giving　way；　and　Mr。　Starr　ascertained　beyond　a　doubt　that　these　supports　had　first　of　all　been　partially　sawn　through。　Harry；　who　had　been　overseeing　the　works　near　the　place　at　the　time；　was　buried　in　the　falling　rubbish；　and　narrowly　escaped　death。

A　few　days　afterwards；　on　the　steam　tramway；　a　train　of　trucks；　which　Harry　was　passing　along；　met　with　an　obstacle　on　the　rails；　and　was　overturned。　　It　was　then　discovered　that　a　beam　had　been　laid　across　the　line。　　In　short；　events　of　this　description　became　so　numerous　that　the　miners　were　seized　with　a　kind　of　panic；　and　it　required　all　the　influence　of　their　chiefs　to　keep　them　on　the　works。

〃You　would　think　that　there　was　a　whole　band　of　these　ruffians；〃　Simon　kept　saying；　〃and　we　can't　lay　hands　on　a　single　one　of　them。〃

Search　was　made　in　all　directions。　　The　county　police　were　on　the　alert　night　and　day；　yet　discovered　nothing。　　The　evil　intentions　seeming　specially　designed　to　injure　Harry。　　Starr　forbade　him　to　venture　alone　beyond　the　ordinary　limits　of　the　works。

They　were　equally　careful　of　Nell；　although；　at　Harry's　entreaty；　these　malicious　attempts　to　do　harm　were　concealed　from　her；　because　they　might　remind　her　painfully

of　former　times。　　Simon　and　Madge　watched　over　her　by　day　and　by　night　with　a　sort　of　stern　solicitude。　　The　poor　child　yielded　to　their　wishes；　without　a　remark　or　a　plaint。　Did　she　perceive　that　they　acted　with　a　view　to　her　interest？　Probably　she　did。　　And　on　her　part；　she　seemed　to　watch　over　others；　and　was　never　easy　unless　all　whom　she　loved　were　together　in　the　cottage。

When　Harry　came　home　in　the　evening；　she　could　not　restrain　expressions　of　child…like　joy；　very　unlike　her　usual　manner；　which　was　rather　reserved　than　demonstrative。　　As　soon　as　day　broke；　she　was　astir　before　anyone　else；　and　her　constant　uneasiness　lasted　all　day　until　the　hour　of　return　home　from　work。

Harry　became　very　anxious　that　their　marriage　should　take　place。　He　thought　that；　when　the　irrevocable　step　was　taken；　malevolence　would　be　disarmed；　and　that　Nell　would　never　feel　safe　until　she　was　his　wife。　James　Starr；　Simon；　and　Madge；　were　all　of　the　same　opinion；　and　everyone　counted　the　intervening　days；　for　everyone　suffered　from　the　most　unfortable　forebodings。

It　was　perfectly　evident　that　nothing　relating　to　Nell　was　indifferent　to　this　hidden　foe；　whom　it　was　impossible　to　meet　or　to　avoid。　Therefore　it　seemed　quite　possible　that　the　solemn　act　of　her　marriage　with　Harry　might　be　the　occasion　of　some　new　and　dreadful　outbreak　of　his　hatred。

One　morning；　a　week　before　the　day　appointed　for　the　ceremony；　Nell；　rising　early；　went　out　of　the　cottage　before　anyone　else。　No　sooner　had　she　crossed　the　threshold　than　a　cry　of　indescribable　anguish　escaped　her　lips。

Her　voice　was　heard　throughout　the　dwelling；　in　a　moment；　Madge；　Harry；　and　Simon　were　at　her　side。　　Nell　was　pale　as　death；　her　countenance　agitated；　her　features　expressing　the　utmost　horror。　Unable　to　speak；　her　eyes　were　riveted　on　the　door　of　the　cottage；　which　she　had　just　opened。

With　rigid　fingers　she　pointed　to　the　following　words　traced　upon　it　during　the　night：　　〃Simon　Ford；　you　have　robbed　me　of　the　last　vein　in　our　old　pit。　　Harry；　your　son；　has　robbed　me　of　Nell。　　Woe　betide　you！　Woe　betide　you　all！　　Woe　betide　New　Aberfoyle！……SILFAX。〃

〃Silfax！〃　exclaimed　Simon　and　Madge　together。


〃Who　is　this　man？〃　demanded　Harry；　looking　alternately　at　his　father　and　at　the　maiden。

〃Silfax！〃　repeated　Nell　in　tones　of　despair；　〃Silfax！〃……and；　murmuring　this　name；　her　whole　frame　shuddering　with　fear　and　agitation；　she　was　borne　away　to　her　chamber　by　old　Madge。

James　Starr；　hastening　to　the　spot；　read　the　threatening　sentences　again　and　again。

〃The　hand　which　traced　these　lines；〃　said　he　at　length；　〃is　the　same　which　wrote　me　the　letter　contradicting　yours；　Simon。　　The　man　calls　himself　Silfax。　　I　see　by　your　troubled　manner　that　you　know　him。　Who　is　this　Silfax？〃


CHAPTER　XVII　THE　〃MONK〃


THIS　name　revealed　everything　to　the　old　overman。　It　was　that　of　the　last　〃monk〃　of　the　Dochart　pit。

In　former　days；　before　the　invention　of　the　safety…lamp；　Simon　had　known　this　fierce　man；　whose　business　it　was　to　go　daily；　at　the　risk　of　his　life；　to　produce　partial　explosi