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His¡¡finger¡¡was¡¡pointing¡¡to¡¡a¡¡tolerably¡¡bright¡¡light£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡moving¡¡about¡¡in¡¡the¡¡distance¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨After¡¡that¡¡light£»¡¡my¡¡men£¡¡¨¡¡exclaimed¡¡Sir¡¡William¡£

¡¨It's¡¡a¡¡goblin¡¡light£¡¡¨¡¡said¡¡Ryan¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨So¡¡what's¡¡the¡¡use£¿¡¡We¡¡shall¡¡never¡¡catch¡¡it¡£¡¨

The¡¡president¡¡and¡¡his¡¡men£»¡¡little¡¡given¡¡to¡¡superstition£»¡¡darted¡¡off¡¡in¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡of¡¡the¡¡moving¡¡light¡£¡¡¡¡Jack¡¡Ryan£»¡¡bravely¡¡following¡¡their¡¡example£»¡¡quickly¡¡overtook¡¡the¡¡head¡­most¡¡of¡¡the¡¡party¡£

It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡long¡¡and¡¡fatiguing¡¡chase¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡lantern¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡carried¡¡by¡¡a¡¡being¡¡of¡¡small¡¡size£»¡¡but¡¡singular¡¡agility¡£

Every¡¡now¡¡and¡¡then¡¡it¡¡disappeared¡¡behind¡¡some¡¡pillar£»¡¡then¡¡was¡¡seen¡¡again¡¡at¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡a¡¡cross¡¡gallery¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡sharp¡¡turn¡¡would¡¡place¡¡it¡¡out¡¡of¡¡sight£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡have¡¡completely¡¡disappeared£»¡¡when¡¡all¡¡at¡¡once¡¡there¡¡would¡¡be¡¡the¡¡light¡¡as¡¡bright¡¡as¡¡ever¡£¡¡However£»¡¡they¡¡gained¡¡very¡¡little¡¡on¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡Ryan's¡¡belief¡¡that¡¡they¡¡could¡¡never¡¡catch¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡far¡¡from¡¡groundless¡£

After¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡of¡¡this¡¡vain¡¡pursuit¡¡Sir¡¡William¡¡Elphiston¡¡and¡¡his¡¡companions¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡a¡¡long¡¡way¡¡in¡¡the¡¡southwest¡¡direction¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pit£»¡¡and¡¡began¡¡to¡¡think¡¡they¡¡really¡¡had¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡an¡¡impalpable¡¡being¡£¡¡Just¡¡then¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡as¡¡if¡¡the¡¡distance¡¡between¡¡the¡¡goblin¡¡and¡¡those¡¡who¡¡were¡¡pursuing¡¡it¡¡was¡¡becoming¡¡less¡£¡¡¡¡Could¡¡it¡¡be¡¡fatigued£»¡¡or¡¡did¡¡this¡¡invisible¡¡being¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡entice¡¡Sir¡¡William¡¡and¡¡his¡¡companions¡¡to¡¡the¡¡place¡¡where¡¡the¡¡inhabitants¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cottage¡¡had¡¡perhaps¡¡themselves¡¡been¡¡enticed¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡hard¡¡to¡¡say¡£

The¡¡men£»¡¡seeing¡¡that¡¡the¡¡distance¡¡lessened£»¡¡redoubled¡¡their¡¡efforts¡£¡¡The¡¡light¡¡which¡¡had¡¡before¡¡burnt¡¡at¡¡a¡¡distance¡¡of¡¡more¡¡than¡¡two¡¡hundred¡¡feet¡¡before¡¡them¡¡was¡¡now¡¡seen¡¡at¡¡less¡¡than¡¡fifty¡£¡¡The¡¡space¡¡continued¡¡to¡¡diminish¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡bearer¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lamp¡¡became¡¡partially¡¡visible¡£¡¡¡¡Sometimes£»¡¡when¡¡it¡¡turned¡¡its¡¡head£»¡¡the¡¡indistinct¡¡profile¡¡of¡¡a¡¡human¡¡face¡¡could¡¡be¡¡made¡¡out£»¡¡and¡¡unless¡¡a¡¡sprite¡¡could¡¡assume¡¡bodily¡¡shape£»¡¡Jack¡¡Ryan¡¡was¡¡obliged¡¡to¡¡confess¡¡that¡¡here¡¡was¡¡no¡¡supernatural¡¡being¡£¡¡Then£»¡¡springing¡¡forward£»

¡¨Courage£»¡¡comrades£¡¡¨¡¡he¡¡exclaimed£»¡¡¡¨it¡¡is¡¡getting¡¡tired£¡¡¡We¡¡shall¡¡soon¡¡catch¡¡it¡¡up¡¡now£»¡¡and¡¡if¡¡it¡¡can¡¡talk¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡it¡¡can¡¡run¡¡we¡¡shall¡¡hear¡¡a¡¡fine¡¡story¡£¡¨

But¡¡the¡¡pursuit¡¡had¡¡suddenly¡¡become¡¡more¡¡difficult¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡in¡¡unknown¡¡regions¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mine£»¡¡narrow¡¡passages¡¡crossed¡¡each¡¡other¡¡like¡¡the¡¡windings¡¡of¡¡a¡¡labyrinth¡£¡¡The¡¡bearer¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lamp¡¡might¡¡escape¡¡them¡¡as¡¡easily¡¡as¡¡possible£»¡¡by¡¡just¡¡extinguishing¡¡the¡¡light¡¡and¡¡retreating¡¡into¡¡some¡¡dark¡¡refuge¡£

¡¨And¡¡indeed£»¡¨¡¡thought¡¡Sir¡¡William£»¡¡¡¨if¡¡it¡¡wishes¡¡to¡¡avoid¡¡us£»¡¡why¡¡does¡¡it¡¡not¡¡do¡¡so£¿¡¨

Hitherto¡¡there¡¡had¡¡evidently¡¡been¡¡no¡¡intention¡¡to¡¡avoid¡¡them£»¡¡but¡¡just¡¡as¡¡the¡¡thought¡¡crossed¡¡Sir¡¡William's¡¡mind¡¡the¡¡light¡¡suddenly¡¡disappeared£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡party£»¡¡continuing¡¡the¡¡pursuit£»¡¡found¡¡themselves¡¡before¡¡an¡¡extremely¡¡narrow¡¡natural¡¡opening¡¡in¡¡the¡¡schistous¡¡rocks¡£


To¡¡trim¡¡their¡¡lamps£»¡¡spring¡¡forward£»¡¡and¡¡dart¡¡through¡¡the¡¡opening£»¡¡was¡¡for¡¡Sir¡¡William¡¡and¡¡his¡¡party¡¡but¡¡the¡¡work¡¡of¡¡an¡¡instant¡£¡¡But¡¡before¡¡they¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡paces¡¡along¡¡this¡¡new¡¡gallery£»¡¡much¡¡wider¡¡and¡¡loftier¡¡than¡¡the¡¡former£»¡¡they¡¡all¡¡stopped¡¡short¡£¡¡There£»¡¡near¡¡the¡¡wall£»¡¡lay¡¡four¡¡bodies£»¡¡stretched¡¡on¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡four¡¡corpses£»¡¡perhaps£¡

¡¨James¡¡Starr£¡¡¨¡¡exclaimed¡¡Sir¡¡William¡¡Elphiston¡£

¡¨Harry£¡¡¡¡¡Harry£¡¡¨¡¡cried¡¡Ryan£»¡¡throwing¡¡himself¡¡down¡¡beside¡¡his¡¡friend¡£

It¡¡was¡¡indeed¡¡the¡¡engineer£»¡¡Madge£»¡¡Simon£»¡¡and¡¡Harry¡¡Ford¡¡who¡¡were¡¡lying¡¡there¡¡motionless¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bodies¡¡moved¡¡slightly£»¡¡and¡¡Madge's¡¡voice¡¡was¡¡heard¡¡faintly¡¡murmuring£»¡¡¡¨See¡¡to¡¡the¡¡others£¡¡¡help¡¡them¡¡first£¡¡¨

Sir¡¡William£»¡¡Jack£»¡¡and¡¡their¡¡companions¡¡endeavored¡¡to¡¡reanimate¡¡the¡¡engineer¡¡and¡¡his¡¡friends¡¡by¡¡getting¡¡them¡¡to¡¡swallow¡¡a¡¡few¡¡drops¡¡of¡¡brandy¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡very¡¡soon¡¡succeeded¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡unfortunate¡¡people£»¡¡shut¡¡up¡¡in¡¡that¡¡dark¡¡cavern¡¡for¡¡ten¡¡days£»¡¡were¡¡dying¡¡of¡¡starvation¡£¡¡They¡¡must¡¡have¡¡perished¡¡had¡¡they¡¡not¡¡on¡¡three¡¡occasions¡¡found¡¡a¡¡loaf¡¡of¡¡bread¡¡and¡¡a¡¡jug¡¡of¡¡water¡¡set¡¡near¡¡them¡£¡¡No¡¡doubt¡¡the¡¡charitable¡¡being¡¡to¡¡whom¡¡they¡¡owed¡¡their¡¡lives¡¡was¡¡unable¡¡to¡¡do¡¡more¡¡for¡¡them¡£

Sir¡¡William¡¡wondered¡¡whether¡¡this¡¡might¡¡not¡¡have¡¡been¡¡the¡¡work¡¡of¡¡the¡¡strange¡¡sprite¡¡who¡¡had¡¡allured¡¡them¡¡to¡¡the¡¡very¡¡spot¡¡where¡¡James¡¡Starr¡¡and¡¡his¡¡companions¡¡lay¡£

However¡¡that¡¡might¡¡be£»¡¡the¡¡engineer£»¡¡Madge£»¡¡Simon£»¡¡and¡¡Harry¡¡Ford¡¡were¡¡saved¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡were¡¡assisted¡¡to¡¡the¡¡cottage£»¡¡passing¡¡through¡¡the¡¡narrow¡¡opening¡¡which¡¡the¡¡bearer¡¡of¡¡the¡¡strange¡¡light¡¡had¡¡apparently¡¡wished¡¡to¡¡point¡¡out¡¡to¡¡Sir¡¡William¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡was¡¡a¡¡natural¡¡opening¡£¡¡The¡¡passage¡¡which¡¡James¡¡Starr¡¡and¡¡his¡¡companions¡¡had¡¡made¡¡for¡¡themselves¡¡with¡¡dynamite¡¡had¡¡been¡¡completely¡¡blocked¡¡up¡¡with¡¡rocks¡¡laid¡¡one¡¡upon¡¡another¡£

So£»¡¡then£»¡¡whilst¡¡they¡¡had¡¡been¡¡exploring¡¡the¡¡vast¡¡cavern£»¡¡the¡¡way¡¡back¡¡had¡¡been¡¡purposely¡¡closed¡¡against¡¡them¡¡by¡¡a¡¡hostile¡¡hand¡£


CHAPTER¡¡X¡¡COAL¡¡TOWN


THREE¡¡years¡¡after¡¡the¡¡events¡¡which¡¡have¡¡just¡¡been¡¡related£»¡¡the¡¡guide¡­books¡¡recommended¡¡as¡¡a¡¡¡¨great¡¡attraction£»¡¨¡¡to¡¡the¡¡numerous¡¡tourists¡¡who¡¡roam¡¡over¡¡the¡¡county¡¡of¡¡Stirling£»¡¡a¡¡visit¡¡of¡¡a¡¡few¡¡hours¡¡to¡¡the¡¡mines¡¡of¡¡New¡¡Aberfoyle¡£

No¡¡mine¡¡in¡¡any¡¡country£»¡¡either¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Old¡¡or¡¡New¡¡World£»¡¡could¡¡present¡¡a¡¡more¡¡curious¡¡aspect¡£

To¡¡begin¡¡with£»¡¡the¡¡visitor¡¡was¡¡transported¡¡without¡¡danger¡¡or¡¡fatigue¡¡to¡¡a¡¡level¡¡with¡¡the¡¡workings£»¡¡at¡¡fifteen¡¡hundred¡¡feet¡¡below¡¡the¡¡surface¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ground¡£¡¡¡¡Seven¡¡miles¡¡to¡¡the¡¡southwest¡¡of¡¡Callander¡¡opened¡¡a¡¡slanting¡¡tunnel£»¡¡adorned¡¡with¡¡a¡¡castellated¡¡entrance£»¡¡turrets¡¡and¡¡battlements¡£¡¡This¡¡lofty¡¡tunnel¡¡gently¡¡sloped¡¡straight¡¡to¡¡the¡¡stupendous¡¡crypt£»¡¡hollowed¡¡out¡¡so¡¡strangely¡¡in¡¡the¡¡bowels¡¡of¡¡the¡¡earth¡£

A¡¡double¡¡line¡¡of¡¡railway£»¡¡the¡¡wagons¡¡being¡¡moved¡¡by¡¡hydraulic¡¡power£»¡¡plied¡¡from¡¡hour¡¡to¡¡hour¡¡to¡¡and¡¡from¡¡the¡¡village¡¡thus¡¡buried¡¡in¡¡the¡¡subsoil¡¡of¡¡the¡¡county£»¡¡and¡¡which¡¡bore¡¡the¡¡rather¡¡ambitious¡¡title¡¡of¡¡Coal¡¡Town¡£

Arrived¡¡in¡¡Coal¡¡Town£»¡¡the¡¡visitor¡¡found¡¡himself¡¡in¡¡a¡¡place¡¡where¡¡electricity¡¡played¡¡a¡¡principal¡¡part¡¡as¡¡an¡¡agent¡¡of¡¡heat¡¡and¡¡light¡£¡¡Although¡¡the¡¡ventilation¡¡shafts¡¡were¡¡numerous£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡not¡¡sufficient¡¡to¡¡admit¡¡much¡¡daylight¡¡into¡¡New¡¡Aberfoyle£»¡¡yet¡¡it¡¡had¡¡abundance¡¡of¡¡light¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡was¡¡shed¡¡from¡¡numbers¡¡of¡¡electric¡¡discs£»¡¡some¡¡suspended¡¡from¡¡the¡¡vaulted¡¡roofs£»¡¡others¡¡hanging¡¡on¡¡the¡¡natural¡¡pillarsall£»¡¡whether¡¡suns¡¡or¡¡stars¡¡in¡¡size£»¡¡were¡¡fed¡¡by¡¡continuous¡¡currents¡¡produced¡¡from¡¡electro¡­magnetic¡¡machines¡£¡¡When¡¡the¡¡hour¡¡of¡¡rest¡¡arrived£»¡¡an¡¡artificial¡¡night¡¡was¡¡easily¡¡produced¡¡all¡¡over¡¡the¡¡mine¡¡by¡¡disconnecting¡¡the¡¡wires¡£

Below¡¡the¡¡dome¡¡lay¡¡a¡¡lake¡¡of¡¡an¡¡extent¡¡to¡¡be¡¡compared¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Dead¡¡Sea¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Mammoth¡¡cavesa¡¡deep¡¡lake¡¡whose¡¡transparent¡¡waters¡¡swarmed¡¡with¡¡eyeless¡¡fish£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡which¡¡the¡¡engineer¡¡gave¡¡the¡¡name¡¡of¡¡Loch¡¡Malcolm¡£

There£»¡¡in¡¡this¡¡immense¡¡natural¡¡excavation£»¡¡Simon¡¡Ford¡¡built¡¡his¡¡new¡¡cottage£»¡¡which¡¡he¡¡would¡¡not¡¡have¡¡exchanged¡¡for¡¡the¡¡finest¡¡house¡¡in¡¡Prince's¡¡Street£»¡¡Edinburgh¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡dwelling¡¡was¡¡situated¡¡on¡¡the¡¡shores¡¡of¡¡the¡¡loch£»¡¡and¡¡its¡¡five¡¡windows¡¡looked¡¡out¡¡on¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡waters£»¡¡which¡¡extended¡¡further¡¡than¡¡the¡¡eye¡¡could¡¡see¡£¡¡¡¡Two¡¡months¡¡later¡¡a¡¡second¡¡habitation¡¡was¡¡erected¡¡in¡¡the¡¡neighborhood¡¡of¡¡Simon¡¡Ford's¡¡cottage£º¡¡this¡¡was¡¡for¡¡James¡¡Starr¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡engineer¡¡had¡¡given

337

himself¡¡body¡¡and¡¡soul¡¡to¡¡New¡¡Aberfoyle£»¡¡and¡¡nothing¡¡but¡¡the¡¡most¡¡imperative¡¡necessity¡¡ever¡¡caused¡¡him¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡the¡¡pit¡£¡¡There£»¡¡then£»¡¡he¡¡lived¡¡in¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡his¡¡mining¡¡world¡£

On¡¡the¡¡discovery¡¡of¡¡the¡¡new¡¡field£»¡¡all¡¡the¡¡old¡¡colliers¡¡had¡¡hastened¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡the¡¡plow¡¡and¡¡harrow£»¡¡and¡¡résum£¿the¡¡pick¡¡and¡¡mattock¡£¡¡Attracted¡¡by¡¡the¡¡certainty¡¡that¡¡work¡¡would¡¡never¡¡fail£»¡¡allured¡¡by¡¡the¡¡high¡¡wages¡¡which¡¡the¡¡prosperity¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mine¡¡enabled¡¡the¡¡company¡¡to¡¡offer¡¡for¡¡labor£»¡¡they¡¡deserted¡¡the¡¡open¡¡air¡¡for¡¡an¡¡underground¡¡life£»¡¡and¡¡took¡¡up¡¡their¡¡abode¡¡in¡¡the¡¡mines¡£

The¡¡miners'¡¡houses£»¡¡built¡¡of¡¡brick£»¡¡soon¡¡grew¡¡up¡¡in¡¡a¡¡picturesque¡¡fashion£»¡¡some¡¡on¡¡the¡¡banks¡¡of¡¡Loch¡¡Malcolm£»¡¡others¡¡under¡¡the¡¡arches¡¡which¡¡seemed¡¡made¡¡to¡¡resist¡¡the¡¡weight¡¡that¡¡pressed¡¡upon¡¡them£»¡¡like¡¡the¡¡piers¡¡of¡¡a¡¡bridge¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡was¡¡founded¡¡Coal¡¡Town£»¡¡situated¡¡under¡¡the¡¡eastern¡¡point¡¡of¡¡Loch¡¡Katrine£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡north¡¡of¡¡the¡¡county¡¡of¡¡Stirling¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡regular¡¡settlement¡¡on¡¡the¡¡banks¡¡of¡¡Loch¡¡Malcolm¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡chapel£»¡¡dedicated¡¡to¡¡St¡£¡¡Giles£»¡¡overlooked¡¡it¡¡from¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡a¡¡huge¡¡rock£»¡¡whose¡¡foot¡¡was¡¡laved¡¡by¡¡the¡¡waters¡¡of¡¡the¡¡subterranean¡¡sea¡£

When¡¡this¡¡underground¡¡town¡¡was¡¡lighted¡¡up¡¡by¡¡the¡¡bright¡¡rays¡¡thrown¡¡from¡¡the¡¡discs£»¡¡hung¡¡from¡¡the¡¡pillars¡¡and¡¡arches£»¡¡its¡¡aspect¡¡was¡¡so¡¡strange£»¡¡so¡¡fantastic£»¡¡that¡¡it¡¡justified¡¡the¡¡praise¡¡of¡¡the¡¡guide¡­books£»¡¡and¡¡visitors¡¡flocked¡¡to¡¡see¡¡it¡£

It¡¡is¡¡needless¡¡to¡¡say¡¡that¡¡the¡¡inhabitants¡¡of¡¡Coal¡¡Town¡¡were¡¡proud¡¡of¡¡their¡¡place¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡rarely¡¡left¡¡their¡¡laboring¡¡village¡¡in¡¡that¡¡imitating¡¡Simon¡¡Ford£»¡¡who¡¡never¡¡wished¡¡to¡¡go¡¡out¡¡again¡£¡¡The¡¡old¡¡overman¡¡maintained¡¡that¡¡it¡¡always¡¡rained¡¡¡¨up¡¡there£»¡¨¡¡and£»¡¡considering¡¡the¡¡climate¡¡of¡¡the¡¡United¡¡Kingdom£»¡¡it¡¡must¡¡be¡¡acknowledged¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡not¡¡far¡¡wrong¡£¡¡All¡¡the¡¡families¡¡in¡¡New¡¡Aberfoyle¡¡prospered¡¡well£»¡¡having¡¡in¡¡three¡¡years¡¡obtained¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡com¡­petency¡¡which¡¡they¡¡could¡¡never¡¡have¡¡hoped¡¡to¡¡attain¡¡on¡¡the¡¡surface¡¡of¡¡the¡¡county¡£¡¡Dozens¡¡of¡¡babies£»¡¡who¡¡were¡¡born¡¡at¡¡the¡¡time¡¡when¡¡the¡¡works¡¡were¡¡resumed£»¡¡had¡¡never¡¡yet¡¡breathed¡¡the¡¡outer¡¡air¡£

This¡¡made¡¡Jack¡¡Ryan¡¡remark£»¡¡¡¨It's¡¡eighteen¡¡months¡¡since¡¡they¡¡were¡¡weaned£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡have¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡seen¡¡daylight£¡¡¨

It¡¡may¡¡be¡¡mentioned¡¡here£»¡¡that¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡first¡¡to¡¡run¡¡at¡¡the¡¡engineer's¡¡call¡¡was¡¡Jack¡¡Ryan¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡merry¡¡fellow¡¡had

thought¡¡it¡¡his¡¡duty¡¡to¡¡return¡¡to¡¡his¡¡old¡¡trade¡£¡¡But¡¡though¡¡Melrose¡¡farm¡¡had¡¡lost¡¡singer¡¡and¡¡piper¡¡it¡¡must¡¡not¡¡be¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡Jack¡¡Rya

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