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If　a　cleft　or　side　opening　presented　itself；　he　felt　with　his　hand　that　it　was　not　the　main　way；　either　the　cleft　was　too　shallow；　or　the　opening　too　narrow；　and　he　thus　kept　in　the　right　road。

In　darkness　through　which　the　eye　could　not　in　the　slightest　degree　pierce；　this　difficult　return　lasted　two　hours。　By　reckoning　the　time　since　they　started；　taking　into　consideration　that　the　walking　had　not　been　rapid；　Starr　calculated　that　he　and　his　panions　were　near　the　opening。　In　fact；　almost　immediately；　Harry　stopped。

〃Have　we　got　to　the　end　of　the　gallery？〃　asked　Simon　Ford。

〃Yes；〃　answered　the　young　miner。

〃Well！　have　you　not　found　the　hole　which　connects　New　Aberfoyle　with　the　Dochart　pit？〃

〃No；〃　replied　Harry；　whose　impatient　hands　met　with　nothing　but　a　solid　wall。

The　old　overman　stepped　forward；　and　himself　felt　the　schistous　rock。　A　cry　escaped　him。

Either　the　explorers　had　strayed　from　the　right　path　on　their　return；　or　the　narrow　orifice；　broken　in　the　rock　by　the　dynamite；　had　been　recently　stopped　up。　　James　Starr　and　his　panions　were　prisoners　in　New　Aberfoyle。


CHAPTER　IX　THE　FIRE…MAIDENS


A　WEEK　after　the　events　just　related　had　taken　place；　James　Starr's　friends　had　bee　very　anxious。　　The　engineer　had　disappeared；　and　no　reason　could　be　brought　forward　to　explain　his　absence。　They　learnt；　by　questioning　his　servant；　that　he　had　embarked　at　Granton　Pier。　　But　from　that　time　there　were　no　traces　of　James　Starr。　　Simon　Ford's　letter　had　requested　secrecy；　and　he　had　said　nothing　of　his　departure　for　the　Aberfoyle　mines。

Therefore　in　Edinburgh　nothing　was　talked　of　but　the　unaccountable　absence　of　the　engineer。　　Sir　W。　Elphiston；　the　President　of　the　Royal　Institution；　municated　to　his　colleagues　a　letter　which　James　Starr　had　sent　him；　excusing　himself　from　being　present　at　the　next　meeting　of　the　society。　Two　or　three　others　produced　similar　letters。　　But

though　these　documents　proved　that　Starr　had　left　Edinburgh……　which　was　known　before……they　threw　no　light　on　what　had　bee　of　him。　　Now；　on　the　part　of　such　a　man；　this　prolonged　absence；　so　contrary　to　his　usual　habits；　naturally　first　caused　surprise；　and　then　anxiety。

A　notice　was　inserted　in　the　principal　newspapers　of　the　United　Kingdom　relative　to　the　engineer　James　Starr；　giving　a　description　of　him　and　the　date　on　which　he　left　Edinburgh；　nothing　more　could　be　done　but　to　wait。　　The　time　passed　in　great　anxiety。　The　scientific　world　of　England　was　inclined　to　believe　that　one　of　its　most　distinguished　members　had　positively　disappeared。　At　the　same　time；　when　so　many　people　were　thinking　about　James　Starr；　Harry　Ford　was　the　subject　of　no　less　anxiety。　Only；　instead　of　occupying　public　attention；　the　son　of　the　old　overman　was　the　cause　of　trouble　alone　to　the　generally　cheerful　mind　of　Jack　Ryan。

It　may　be　remembered　that；　in　their　encounter　in　the　Yarrow　shaft；　Jack　Ryan　had　invited　Harry　to　e　a　week　afterwards　to　the　festivities　at　Irvine。　　Harry　had　accepted　and　promised　expressly　to　be　there。　Jack　Ryan　knew；　having　had　it　proved　by　many　circumstances；　that　his　friend　was　a　man　of　his　word。　　With　him；　a　thing　promised　was　a　thing　done。　　Now；　at　the　Irvine　merry…making；　nothing　was　wanting；　neither　song；　nor　dance；　nor　fun　of　any　sort……nothing　but　Harry　Ford。

The　notice　relative　to　James　Starr；　published　in　the　papers；　had　not　yet　been　seen　by　Ryan。　　The　honest　fellow　was　therefore　only　worried　by　Harry's　absence；　telling　himself　that　something　serious　could　alone　have　prevented　him　from　keeping　his　promise。　So；　the　day　after　the　Irvine　games；　Jack　Ryan　intended　to　take　the　railway　from　Glasgow　and　go　to　the　Dochart　pit；　and　this　he　would　have　done　had　he　not　been　detained　by　an　accident　which　nearly　cost　him　his　life。　Something　which　occurred　on　the　night　of　the　12th　of　December　was　of　a　nature　to　support　the　opinions　of　all　partisans　of　the　supernatural；　and　there　were　many　at　Melrose　Farm。

Irvine；　a　little　seaport　of　Renfrew；　containing　nearly　seven　thousand　inhabitants；　lies　in　a　sharp　bend　made　by　the　Scottish　coast；　near　the　mouth　of　the　Firth　of　Clyde。　　The　most　ancient　and　the　most　famed　ruins　on　this　part

of　the　coast　were　those　of　this　castle　of　Robert　Stuart；　which　bore　the　name　of　Dundonald　Castle。

At　this　period　Dundonald　Castle；　a　refuge　for　all　the　stray　goblins　of　the　country；　was　pletely　deserted。　　It　stood　on　the　top　of　a　high　rock；　two　miles　from　the　town；　and　was　seldom　visited。　Sometimes　a　few　strangers　took　it　into　their　heads　to　explore　these　old　historical　remains；　but　then　they　always　went　alone。　The　inhabitants　of　Irvine　would　not　have　taken　them　there　at　any　price。　　Indeed；　several　legends　were　based　on　the　story　of　certain　〃fire…maidens；〃　who　haunted　the　old　castle。

The　most　superstitious　declared　they　had　seen　these　fantastic　creatures　with　their　own　eyes。　　Jack　Ryan　was　naturally　one　of　them。　It　was　a　fact　that　from　time　to　time　long　flames　appeared；　sometimes　on　a　broken　piece　of　wall；　sometimes　on　the　summit　of　the　tower　which　was　the　highest　point　of　Dundonald　Castle。

Did　these　flames　really　assume　a　human　shape；　as　was　asserted？　Did　they　merit　the　name　of　fire…maidens；　given　them　by　the　people　of　the　coast？　　It　was　evidently　just　an　optical　delusion；　aided　by　a　good　deal　of　credulity；　and　science　could　easily　have　explained　the　phenomenon。

However　that　might　be；　these　fire…maidens　had　the　reputation　of　frequenting　the　ruins　of　the　old　castle　and　there　performing　wild　strathspeys；　especially　on　dark　nights。　Jack　Ryan；　bold　fellow　though　he　was；　would　never　have　dared　to　acpany　those　dances　with　the　music　of　his　bagpipes。

〃Old　Nick　is　enough　for　them！〃　said　he。　　〃He　doesn't　need　me　to　plete　his　infernal　orchestra。〃

We　may　well　believe　that　these　strange　apparitions　frequently　furnished　a　text　for　the　evening　stories。　Jack　Ryan　was　ending　the　evening　with　one　of　these。　His　auditors；　transported　into　the　phantom　world；　were　worked　up　into　a　state　of　mind　which　would　believe　anything。

All　at　once　shouts　were　heard　outside。　　Jack　Ryan　stopped　short　in　the　middle　of　his　story；　and　all　rushed　out　of　the　barn。　The　night　was　pitchy　dark。　　Squalls　of　wind　and　rain　swept　along　the　beach。　　Two　or　three　fishermen；　their　backs　against　a　rock；　the　better　to　resist　the　wind；　were　shouting　at　the　top　of　their　voices。

Jack　Ryan　and　his　panions　ran　up　to　them。　　The

shouts　were；　however；　not　for　the　inhabitants　of　the　farm；　but　to　warn　men　who；　without　being　aware　of　it；　were　going　to　destruction。　A　dark；　confused　mass　appeared　some　way　out　at　sea。　　It　was　a　vessel　whose　position　could　be　seen　by　her　lights；　for　she　carried　a　white　one　on　her　foremast；　a　green　on　the　starboard　side；　and　a　red　on　the　outside。　She　was　evidently　running　straight　on　the　rocks。

〃A　ship　in　distress？〃　said　Ryan。

〃Ay；〃　answered　one　of　the　fishermen；　〃and　now　they　want　to　tack；　but　it's　too　late！〃

〃Do　they　want　to　run　ashore？〃　said　another。

〃It　seems　so；〃　responded　one　of　the　fishermen；　〃unless　he　has　been　misled　by　some……〃

The　man　was　interrupted　by　a　yell　from　Jack。　　Could　the　crew　have　heard　it？　　At　any　rate；　it　was　too　late　for　them　to　beat　back　from　the　line　of　breakers　which　gleamed　white　in　the　darkness。

But　it　was　not；　as　might　be　supposed；　a　last　effort　of　Ryan's　to　warn　the　doomed　ship。　　He　now　had　his　back　to　the　sea。　　His　panions　turned　also；　and　gazed　at　a　spot　situated　about　half　a　mile　inland。　It　was　Dundonald　Castle。　　A　long　flame　twisted　and　bent　under　the　gale；　on　the　summit　of　the　old　tower。

〃The　Fire…Maiden！〃　cried　the　superstitious　men　in　terror。

Clearly；　it　needed　a　good　strong　imagination　to　find　any　human　likeness　in　that　flame。　　Waving　in　the　wind　like　a　luminous　flag；　it　seemed　sometimes　to　fly　round　the　tower；　as　if　it　was　just　going　out；　and　a　moment　after　it　was　seen　again　dancing　on　its　blue　point。

〃The　Fire…Maiden！　the　Fire…Maiden！〃　cried　the　terrified　fishermen　and　peasants。

All　was　then　explained。　　The　ship；　having　lost　her　reckoning　in　the　fog；　had　taken　this　flame　on　the　top　of　Dundonald　Castle　for　the　Irvine　light。　She　thought　herself　at　the　entrance　of　the　Firth；　ten　miles　to　the　north；　when　she　was　really　running　on　a　shore　which　offered　no　refuge。

What　could　be　done　to　save　her；　if　there　was　still　time？　　It　was　too　late。　　A　frightful　crash　was　heard　above　the　tumult　of　the　elements。　The　vessel　had　struck。　　The　white　line　of　surf　was　broken　for　an　instant；　she　heeled　over　on　her　side　and　lay　among　the　rocks。


At　the　same　time；　by　a　strange　coincidence；　the　long　flame　disappeared；　as　if　it　had　been　swept　away　by　a　violent　gust。　　Earth；　sea；　and　sky　were　plunged　in　plete　darkness。

〃The　Fire…Maiden！〃　shouted　Ryan；　for　the　last　time；　as　the　apparition；　which　he　and　his　panions　believed　supernatural；　disappeared。　But　then　the　courage　of　these　superstitious　Scotchmen；　which　had　failed　before　a　fancied　danger；　returned　in　face　of　a　real　one；　which　they　were　ready　to　brave　in　order　to　save　their　fellow…creatures。　The　tempest　did　not　deter　them。　As　heroic　as　they　had　before　been　credulous；　fastening　ropes　round　their　waists；　they　rushed　into　the　waves　to　the　aid　of　those　on　the　wreck。

Happily；　they　succeeded　in　their　endeavors；　although　some……and　bold　Jack　Ryan　was　among　the　number……were　severely　wounded　on　the　rocks。　But　the　captain　of　the　vessel　and　the　eight　sailors　who　posed　his　crew　were　hauled　up；　safe　and　sound；　on　the　beach。

The　ship　was　the　Norwegian　brig　MOTALA；　laden　with　timber；　and　bound　for　Glasgow。　　Of　the　MOTALA　herself　nothing　remained　but　a　few　spars；　washed　up　by　the　waves；　and　dashed　among　the　rocks　on　the　beach。

Jack　Ryan　and　three　of　his　panions；　wounded　like　himself；　were　carried　into　a　room　of　Melrose　Farm；　where　every　care　was　lavished　on　them。　　Ryan　was　the　most　hurt；　for　when　with　the　rope　round　his　waist　he　had　rushed　into　the　sea；　the　waves　had　almost　immediately　dashed　him　back　against　the　rocks。　He　was　brought；　indeed；　very　nearly　lifeless　on　to　the　beach。

The　brave　fellow　was　therefore　confined　to　bed　for　several　days；　to　his　great　disgust。　　However；　as　soon　as　he　was　given　permission　to　sing　as　much　as　he　liked；　he　bore　his　trouble　patiently；　and　the　farm　echoed　all　day　with　his　jovial　voice。　But　from　this　adventure　he　imbibed　a　more　lively　sentiment　of　fear　with　regard　to　brownies　and　other　goblins　who　amuse　themselves　by　plaguing　mankind；　and　he　made　them　responsible　for　the　catastrophe　of　the　Motala。　　It　would　have　been　vain　to　try　and　convince　him　that　the　Fire…Maidens　did　not　exist；　and　that　the　flame；　so　suddenly　appearing　among　the　ruins；　was　but　a　natural　phenomenon。　　No　reasoning　could　make　him　believe　it。　His　panions　were；　if　possible；　more　obstinate　than　he　in

their　credulity。　　According　to　them；　one　of　the　Fire…Maidens　had　maliciously　attracted　the　MOTALA　to　the　coast。　　As　to　wishing　to　punish　her；　as　well　try　to　bring　the　tempest　to　justice！　The　magistrates　might　order　what　arrests　they　pleased；　but　a　flame　cannot　be　imprisoned；　an　impalpable　being　can't　be　handcuffed。　It　must　be　acknowledged　that　the　researches　which　were　ultimately　made　gave　ground；　at　least　in　appearance；　to　this　superstitious　way　of　explaining　the　facts。

The　inquiry　was　made　with　great　care。　　Officials　came　to　Dundonald　Castle；　and　they　proceeded　to　conduct　a　most　vigorous　search。　The　magistrate　wished　first　to　ascertain　if　the　ground　bore　any　footprints；　which　could　be　attributed　to　other　than　goblins'　feet。　It　was　impossible　to　find　the　least　trace；　whether　old　or　new。　Moreover；　the　earth；　still　damp　from　the　rain　of　the　day　before；　would　have　preserved　the　least　vestige。

The　result　of　all　this　was；　that　the　magistrates　only　got　for　their　trouble　a　new　legend　added　to　so　many　others……a　legend　which　would　be　perpetuated　by　the　remembrance　of　the　catastrophe　of　the　MOTALA；　and　indisputably　confirm　the　truth　of　the　apparition　of　the　Fire…Maidens。

A　hearty　fellow　like　Jack　Ryan；　with　so　strong　a　constitution；　could　not　be　long　confined　to　his　bed。　　A　few　sprains　and　bruises　were　not　quite　enough　to　keep　him　on　his　back　longer　than　he　liked。　He　had　not　time　to　be　ill。

Jack；　therefore；　soon　got　well。　　As　soon　as　he　was　on　his　legs　again；　before　resuming　his　work　on　the　farm；　he　wished　to　go　and　visit　his