the underground city-第24节
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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 incomprehensible；〃 replied James Starr。 〃This case is something perfectly unlike that of a band of common 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 immediatelyhis 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。 Starrand 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 usfor 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 companions 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 complaint。 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 uncomfortable 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 hi
