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over　your　very　thoughts　and　intentions；　from　that　time　when　the　letter　was　written　to　Mr。　Starr；　up　to　now　that　my　marriage　with　Harry　has　been　arranged；　if　he　did　not　possess　the　extraordinary　faculty　of　knowing　everything。　As　far　as　I

am　able　to　judge；　my　grandfather；　in　his　very　insanity；　is　a　man　of　most　powerful　mind。　　He　formerly　used　to　talk　to　me　on　very　lofty　subjects。　　He　taught　me　the　existence　of　God；　and　never　deceived　me　but　on　one　point；　which　was……that　he　made　me　believe　that　all　men　were　base　and　perfidious；　because　he　wished　to　inspire　me　with　his　own　hatred　of　all　the　human　race。　When　Harry　brought　me　to　the　cottage；　you　thought　I　was　simply　ignorant　of　mankind；　but；　far　beyond　that；　I　was　in　mortal　fear　of　you　all。　　Ah；　forgive　me！　　I　assure　you；　for　many　days　I　believed　myself　in　the　power　of　wicked　wretches；　and　I　longed　to　escape。　　You；　Madge；　first　led　me　to　perceive　the　truth；　not　by　anything　you　said；　but　by　the　sight　of　your　daily　life；　for　I　saw　that　your　husband　and　son　loved　and　respected　you！　Then　all　these　good　and　happy　workmen；　who　so　revere　and　trust　Mr。　Starr；　I　used　to　think　they　were　slaves；　and　when；　for　the　first　time；　I　saw　the　whole　population　of　Aberfoyle　e　to　church　and　kneel　down　to　pray　to　God；　and　praise　Him　for　His　infinite　goodness；　I　said　to　myself；　'My　grandfather　has　deceived　me。'　　But　now；　enlightened　by　all　you　have　taught　me；　I　am　inclined　to　think　he　himself　is　deceived。　I　mean　to　return　to　the　secret　passages　I　formerly　frequented　with　him。　　He　is　certain　to　be　on　the　watch。　　I　will　call　to　him；　he　will　hear　me；　and　who　knows　but　that；　by　returning　to　him；　I　may　be　able　to　bring　him　to　the　knowledge　of　the　truth？〃

The　maiden　spoke　without　interruption；　for　all　felt　that　it　was　good　for　her　to　open　her　whole　heart　to　her　friends。

But　when；　exhausted　by　emotion；　and　with　eyes　full　of　tears；　she　ceased　speaking；　Harry　turned　to　old　Madge　and　said；　〃Mother；　what　should　you　think　of　the　man　who　could　forsake　the　noble　girl　whose　words　you　have　been　listening　to？〃

〃I　should　think　he　was　a　base　coward；〃　said　Madge；　〃and；　were　he　my　son；　I　should　renounce　and　curse　him。〃

〃Nell；　do　you　hear　what　our　mother　says？〃　resumed　Harry。　　〃Wherever　you　go　I　will　follow　you。　　If　you　persist　in　leaving　us；　we　will　go　away　together。〃

〃Harry！　　Harry！〃　cried　Nell。

Overe　by　her　feelings；　the　girl's　lips　blanched；　and　she　sank　into　the　arms　of　Madge；　who　begged　she　might　be　left　alone　with　her。


CHAPTER　XVIII　NELL'S　WEDDING


IT　was　agreed　that　the　inhabitants　of　the　cottage　must　keep　more　on　their　guard　than　ever。　　The　threats　of　old　Silfax　were　too　serious　to　be　disregarded。　　It　was　only　too　possible　that　he　possessed　some　terrible　means　by　which　the　whole　of　Aberfoyle　might　be　annihilated。

Armed　sentinels　were　posted　at　the　various　entrances　to　the　mine；　with　orders　to　keep　strict　watch　day　and　night。　Any　stranger　entering　the　mine　was　brought　before　James　Starr；　that　he　might　give　an　account　of　himself。　　There　being　no　fear　of　treason　among　the　inhabitants　of　Coal　Town；　the　threatened　danger　to　the　subterranean　colony　was　made　known　to　them。　Nell　was　informed　of　all　the　precautions　taken；　and　became　more　tranquil；　although　she　was　not　free　from　uneasiness。　Harry's　determination　to　follow　her　wherever　she　went　pelled　her　to　promise　not　to　escape　from　her　friends。

During　the　week　preceding　the　wedding；　no　accident　whatever　occurred　in　Aberfoyle。　　The　system　of　watching　was　carefully　maintained；　but　the　miners　began　to　recover　from　the　panic；　which　had　seriously　interrupted　the　work　of　excavation。　James　Starr　continued　to　look　out　for　Silfax。　　The　old　man　having　vindictively　declared　that　Nell　should　never　marry　Simon's　son；　it　was　natural　to　suppose　that　he　would　not　hesitate　to　mit　any　violent　deed　which　would　hinder　their　union。

The　examination　of　the　mine　was　carried　on　minutely。　Every　passage　and　gallery　was　searched；　up　to　those　higher　ranges　which　opened　out　among　the　ruins　of　Dundonald　Castle。　　It　was　rightly　supposed　that　through　this　old　building　Silfax　passed　out　to　obtain　what　was　needful　for　the　support　of　his　miserable　existence　（which　he　must　have　done；　either　by　purchasing　or　thieving）。

As　to　the　〃fire…maidens；〃　James　Starr　began　to　think　that　appearance　must　have　been　produced　by　some　jet　of　fire…damp　gas　which；　issuing　from　that　part　of　the　pit；　could　be　lighted　by　Silfax。　　He　was　not　far　wrong；　but　all　search　for　proof　of　this　was　fruitless；　and　the　continued　strain　of　anxiety　in　this　perpetual　effort　to　detect　a　malignant　and　invisible　being　rendered　the　engineer……　outwardly　calm……an　unhappy　man。

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As　the　wedding…day　approached；　his　dread　of　some　catastrophe　increased；　and　he　could　not　but　speak　of　it　to　the　old　overman；　whose　uneasiness　soon　more　than　equaled　his　own。　　At　length　the　day　came。　Silfax　had　given　no　token　of　existence。

By　daybreak　the　entire　population　of　Coal　Town　was　astir。　Work　was　suspended；　overseers　and　workmen　alike　desired　to　do　honor　to　Simon　Ford　and　his　son。　　They　all　felt　they　owed　a　large　debt　of　gratitude　to　these　bold　and　persevering　men；　by　whose　means　the　mine　had　been　restored　to　its　former　prosperity。　The　ceremony　was　to　take　place　at　eleven　o'clock；　in　St。　Giles's　chapel；　which　stood　on　the　shores　of　Loch　Malcolm。

At　the　appointed　time；　Harry　left　the　cottage；　supporting　his　mother　on　his　arm；　while　Simon　led　the　bride。　Following　them　came　Starr；　the　engineer；　posed　in　manner；　but　in　reality　nerved　to　expect　the　worst；　and　Jack　Ryan；　stepping　superb　in　full　Highland　piper's　costume。　Then　came　the　other　mining　engineers；　the　principal　people　of　Coal　Town；　the　friends　and　rades　of　the　old　overman……　every　member　of　this　great　family　of　miners　forming　the　population　of　New　Aberfoyle。

In　the　outer　world；　the　day　was　one　of　the　hottest　of　the　month　of　August；　peculiarly　oppressive　in　northern　countries。　　The　sultry　air　perated　the　depths　of　the　coal　mine；　and　elevated　the　temperature。　The　air　which　entered　through　the　ventilating　shafts；　and　the　great　tunnel　of　Loch　Malcolm；　was　charged　with　electricity；　and　the　barometer；　it　was　afterwards　remarked；　had　fallen　in　a　remarkable　manner。　There　was；　indeed；　every　indication　that　a　storm　might　burst　forth　beneath　the　rocky　vault　which　formed　the　roof　of　the　enormous　crypt　of　the　very　mine　itself。

But　the　inhabitants　were　not　at　that　moment　troubling　themselves　about　the　chances　of　atmospheric　disturbance　above　ground。　Everybody；　as　a　matter　of　course；　had　put　on　his　best　clothes　for　the　occasion。　　Madge　was　dressed　in　the　fashion　of　days　gone　by；　wearing　the　〃toy〃　and　the　〃rokelay；〃　or　Tartan　plaid；　of　matrons　of　the　olden　time；　old　Simon　wore　a　coat　of　which　Bailie　Nicol　Jarvie　himself　would　have　approved。

Nell　had　resolved　to　show　nothing　of　her　mental　agitation；　she　forbade　her　heart　to　beat；　or　her　inward　terrors　to

betray　themselves；　and　the　brave　girl　appeared　before　all　with　a　calm　and　collected　aspect。　　She　had　declined　every　ornament　of　dress；　and　the　very　simplicity　of　her　attire　added　to　the　charming　elegance　of　her　appearance。　　Her　hair　was　bound　with　the　〃snood；〃　the　usual　head…dress　of　Scottish　maidens。

All　proceeded　towards　St。　Giles's　chapel；　which　had　been　handsomely　decorated　for　the　occasion。

The　electric　discs　of　light　which　illuminated　Coal　Town　blazed　like　so　many　suns。　　A　luminous　atmosphere　pervaded　New　Aberfoyle。　　In　the　chapel；　electric　lamps　shed　a　glow　over　the　stained…glass　windows；　which　shone　like　fiery　kaleidoscopes。　At　the　porch　of　the　chapel　the　minister　awaited　the　arrival　of　the　wedding　party。

It　approached；　after　having　passed　in　stately　procession　along　the　shore　of　Loch　Malcolm。　　Then　the　tones　of　the　organ　were　heard；　and；　preceded　by　the　minister；　the　group　advanced　into　the　chapel。　The　Divine　blessing　was　first　invoked　on　all　present。　Then　Harry　and　Nell　remained　alone　before　the　minister；　who；　holding　the　sacred　book　in　his　hand；　proceeded　to　say；　〃Harry；　will　you　take　Nell　to　be　your　wife；　and　will　you　promise　to　love　her　always？〃

〃I　promise；〃　answered　the　young　man　in　a　firm　and　steady　voice。

〃And　you；　Nell；〃　continued　the　minister；　〃will　you　take　Harry　to　be　your　husband；　and……〃

Before　he　could　finish　the　sentence；　a　prodigious　noise　resounded　from　without。　　One　of　the　enormous　rocks；　on　which　was　formed　the　terrace　overhanging　the　banks　of　Loch　Malcolm；　had　suddenly　given　way　and　opened　without　explosion；　disclosing　a　profound　abyss；　into　which　the　waters　were　now　wildly　plunging。

In　another　instant；　among　the　shattered　rocks　and　rushing　waves　appeared　a　canoe；　which　a　vigorous　arm　propelled　along　the　surface　of　the　lake。　In　the　canoe　was　seen　the　figure　of　an　old　man　standing　upright。　He　was　clothed　in　a　dark　mantle；　his　hair　was　dishevelled；　a　long　white　beard　fell　over　his　breast；　and　in　his　hand　he　bore　a　lighted　Davy　safety　lamp；　the　flame　being　protected　by　the　metallic　gauze　of　the　apparatus。

In　a　loud　voice　this　old　man　shouted；　〃The　fire…damp　is　upon　you！　Woe……woe　betide　ye　all！〃


At　the　same　moment　the　slight　smell　peculiar　to　carburetted　hydrogen　was　perceptibly　diffused　through　the　atmosphere。　　And；　in　truth；　the　fall　of　the　rock　had　made　a　passage　of　escape　for　an　enormous　quantity　of　explosive　gas；　accumulated　in　vast　cavities；　the　openings　to　which　had　hitherto　been　blocked　up。

Jets　and　streams　of　the　fire…damp　now　rose　upward　in　the　vaulted　dome；　and　well　did　that　fierce　old　man　know　that　the　consequence　of　what　he　had　done　would　be　to　render　explosive　the　whole　atmosphere　of　the　mine。

James　Starr　and　several　others；　having　hastily　quitted　the　chapel；　and　perceived　the　imminence　of　the　danger；　now　rushed　back；　crying　out　in　accents　of　the　utmost　alarm；　〃Fly　from　the　mine！　Fly　instantly　from　the　mine！〃

〃Now　for　the　fire…damp！　Here　es　the　fire…damp！〃　yelled　the　old　man；　urging　his　canoe　further　along　the　lake。

Harry　with　his　bride；　his　father　and　his　mother；　left　the　chapel　in　haste　and　in　terror。

〃Fly！　fly　for　your　lives！〃　repeated　James　Starr。　　Alas！　it　was　too　late　to　fly！　　Old　Silfax　stood　there；　prepared　to　fulfill　his　last　dreadful　threat……prepared　to　stop　the　marriage　of　Nell　and　Harry　by　overwhelming　the　entire　population　of　the　place　beneath　the　ruins　of　the　coal　mine。

As　he　stood　ready　to　acplish　this　act　of　vengeance；　his　enormous　owl；　whose　white　plumage　was　marked　with　black　spots；　was　seen　hovering　directly　above　his　head。

At　that　moment　a　man　flung　himself　into　the　waters　of　the　lake；　and　swam　vigorously　towards　the　canoe。

It　was　Jack　Ryan；　fully　determined　to　reach　the　madman　before　he　could　do　the　dreadful　deed　of　destruction。

Silfax　saw　him　ing。　　Instantly　he　smashed　the　glass　of　his　lamp；　and；　snatching　out　the　burning　wick；　waved　it　in　the　air。

Silence　like　death　fell　upon　the　astounded　multitude。　　James　Starr；　in　the　calmness　of　despair；　marvelled　that　the　inevitable　explosion　was　even　for　a　moment　delayed。

Silfax；　gazing　upwards　with　wild　and　contracted　features；　appeared　to　bee　aware　that　the　gas；　lighter　than　the　lower　atmosphere；　was　accumulating　far　up　under　the　dome；　and　at　a　sign　from　him　the　owl；　seizing　in　its　claw　the　lighted　match；　soared　upwards　to　the　vaulted　roof；　towards　which　the　madman　pointed　with　outstretched　arm。


Another　second　and　New　Aberfoyle　would　be　no　more。

Suddenly　Nell　sprang　from　Harry's　arms；　and；　with　a　bright　look　of　inspiration；　she　ran　to　the　very　brink　of　the　waters　of　the　lake。　　〃Harfang！　　Harfang！〃　cried　she　in　a　clear　voice；　〃here！　e　to　me！〃

The　faithful　bird；　surprised；　appeared　to　hesitate　in　its　flight。　Presently；　recognizing　Nell's　voice；　it　dropped　the　burning　match　into　the　water；　and；　describing　a　wide　circle；　flew　downwards；　alighting　at　the　maiden's　feet。

Then　a　terrible　cry　echoed　through　the　vaulted　roofs。　It　was　the　last　sound　uttered　by　old　Silfax。

Just　as　Jack　Ryan　laid　his　hand　on　the　edge　of　the　canoe；　the　old　man；　foiled　in　his　purpose　of　revenge；　cast　himself　headlong　into　the　waters　of　the　lake。

〃Save　him！　oh；　save　him！〃　shrieked　Nell　in　a　voice　of　agony。　Immediately　Harry　plunged　into　the　water；　and；　swimming　towards　Jack　Ryan；　he　dived　repeatedly。

But　his　efforts　were　useless。　　The　waters　of　Loch　Malcolm　yielded　not　their　prey：　　they　close