the underground city-地下城(英文版)-第3部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！



〃A　good　solid　staff；　Harry；〃　answered　James　Starr。　　〃I　could　not　wish　for　a　better　than　a　fine　fellow　like　you。〃

They　continued　in　silence　along　the　dark　nave。　　Harry　was　evidently　preoccupied；　and　frequently　turned；　trying　to　catch；　either　some　distant　noise；　or　remote　glimmer　of　light。

But　behind　and　before；　all　was　silence　and　darkness。


CHAPTER　IV　THE　FORD　FAMILY


TEN　minutes　afterwards；　James　Starr　and　Harry　issued　from　the　principal　gallery。　　They　were　now　standing　in　a　glade；　if　we　may　use　this　word　to　designate　a　vast　and　dark　excavation。　The　place；　however；　was　not　entirely　deprived　of　daylight。　A　few　rays　straggled　in　through　the　opening　of　a　deserted　shaft。　It　was　by　means　of　this　pipe　that　ventilation　was　established　in　the　Dochart　pit。　　Owing　to　its　lesser　density；　the　warm　air　was　drawn　towards　the　Yarrow　shaft。　　Both　air　and　light；　therefore；　perated　in　some　measure　into　the　glade。

Here　Simon　Ford　had　lived　with　his　family　ten　years；　in　a　subterranean　dwelling；　hollowed　out　in　the　schistous　mass；　where　formerly　stood　the　powerful　engines　which　worked　the　mechanical　traction　of　the　Dochart　pit。

Such　was　the　habitation；　〃his　cottage；〃　as　he　called　it；　in　which　resided　the　old　overman。　　As　he　had　some　means　saved　during　a　long　life　of　toil；　Ford　could　have　afforded　to　live　in　the　light　of　day；　among　trees；　or　in　any　town　of　the　kingdom　he　chose；　but　he　and　his　wife　and　son　preferred　remaining　in　the　mine；　where　they　were　happy　together；　having　the　same　opinions；　ideas；　and　tastes。　　Yes；　they

were　quite　fond　of　their　cottage；　buried　fifteen　hundred　feet　below　Scottish　soil。　　Among　other　advantages；　there　was　no　fear　that　tax　gatherers；　or　rent　collectors　would　ever　e　to　trouble　its　inhabitants。

At　this　period；　Simon　Ford；　the　former　overman　of　the　Dochart　pit；　bore　the　weight　of　sixty…five　years　well。　　Tall；　robust；　well…built；　he　would　have　been　regarded　as　one　of　the　most　conspicuous　men　in　the　district　which　supplies　so　many　fine　fellows　to　the　Highland　regiments。

Simon　Ford　was　descended　from　an　old　mining　family；　and　his　ancestors　had　worked　the　very　first　carboniferous　seams　opened　in　Scotland。　　Without　discussing　whether　or　not　the　Greeks　and　Romans　made　use　of　coal；　whether　the　Chinese　worked　coal　mines　before　the　Christian　era；　whether　the　French　word　for　coal　（HOUILLE）　is　really　derived　from　the　farrier　Houillos；　who　lived　in　Belgium　in　the　twelfth　century；　we　may　affirm　that　the　beds　in　Great　Britain　were　the　first　ever　regularly　worked。　So　early　as　the　eleventh　century；　William　the　Conqueror　divided　the　produce　of　the　Newcastle　bed　among　his　panions…in…arms。　At　the　end　of　the　thirteenth　century；　a　license　for　the　mining　of　〃sea　coal〃　was　granted　by　Henry　III。　　Lastly；　towards　the　end　of　the　same　century；　mention　is　made　of　the　Scotch　and　Welsh　beds。

It　was　about　this　time　that　Simon　Ford's　ancestors　perated　into　the　bowels　of　Caledonian　earth；　and　lived　there　ever　after；　from　father　to　son。　　They　were　but　plain　miners。　　They　labored　like　convicts　at　the　work　of　extracting　the　precious　bustible。　It　is　even　believed　that　the　coal　miners；　like　the　salt…makers　of　that　period；　were　actual　slaves。

However　that　might　have　been；　Simon　Ford　was　proud　of　belonging　to　this　ancient　family　of　Scotch　miners。　He　had　worked　diligently　in　the　same　place　where　his　ancestors　had　wielded　the　pick；　the　crowbar；　and　the　mattock。　At　thirty　he　was　overman　of　the　Dochart　pit；　the　most　important　in　the　Aberfoyle　colliery。　　He　was　devoted　to　his　trade。　During　long　years　he　zealously　performed　his　duty。　His　only　grief　had　been　to　perceive　the　bed　being　impoverished；　and　to　see　the　hour　approaching　when　the　seam　would　be　exhausted。

It　was　then　he　devoted　himself　to　the　search　for　new　veins　in　all　the　Aberfoyle　pits；　which　municated　underground　one　with　another。　　He　had　had　the　good　luck　to　discover　several　during　the　last　period　of　the　working。　His　miner's　instinct　assisted　him　marvelously；　and　the　engineer；　James　Starr；　appreciated　him　highly。　　It　might　be　said　that　he　divined　the　course　of　seams　in　the　depths　of　the　coal　mine　as　a　hydroscope　reveals　springs　in　the　bowels　of　the　earth。　He　was　par　excellence　the　type　of　a　miner　whose　whole　existence　is　indissolubly　connected　with　that　of　his　mine。　He　had　lived　there　from　his　birth；　and　now　that　the　works　were　abandoned　he　wished　to　live　there　still。　　His　son　Harry　foraged　for　the　subterranean　housekeeping；　as　for　himself；　during　those　ten　years　he　had　not　been　ten　times　above　ground。

〃Go　up　there！　　What　is　the　good？〃　he　would　say；　and　refused　to　leave　his　black　domain。　　The　place　was　remarkably　healthy；　subject　to　an　equable　temperature；　the　old　overman　endured　neither　the　heat　of　summer　nor　the　cold　of　winter。　His　family　enjoyed　good　health；　what　more　could　he　desire？

But　at　heart　he　felt　depressed。　　He　missed　the　former　animation；　movement；　and　life　in　the　well…worked　pit。　He　was；　however；　supported　by　one　fixed　idea。　　〃No；　no！　the　mine　is　not　exhausted！〃　he　repeated。

And　that　man　would　have　given　serious　offense　who　could　have　ventured　to　express　before　Simon　Ford　any　doubt　that　old　Aberfoyle　would　one　day　revive！　　He　had　never　given　up　the　hope　of　discovering　some　new　bed　which　would　restore　the　mine　to　its　past　splendor。　Yes；　he　would　willingly；　had　it　been　necessary；　have　resumed　the　miner's　pick；　and　with　his　still　stout　arms　vigorously　attacked　the　rock。　　He　went　through　the　dark　galleries；　sometimes　alone；　sometimes　with　his　son；　examining；　searching　for　signs　of　coal；　only　to　return　each　day；　wearied；　but　not　in　despair；　to　the　cottage。

Madge；　Simon's　faithful　panion；　his　〃gude…wife；〃　to　use　the　Scotch　term；　was　a　tall；　strong；　ely　woman。　　Madge　had　no　wish　to　leave　the　Dochart　pit　any　more　than　had　her　husband。　She　shared　all　his　hopes　and　regrets。　　She　encouraged　him；　she　urged　him　on；　and　talked　to　him　in　a　way　which　cheered　the　heart　of　the　old　overman。　　〃Aberfoyle　is　only　asleep；〃　she　would　say。　〃You　are　right　about　that；　Simon。　　This　is　but　a　rest；　it　is　not　death！〃


Madge；　as　well　as　the　others；　was　perfectly　satisfied　to　live　independent　of　the　outer　world；　and　was　the　center　of　the　happiness　enjoyed　by　the　little　family　in　their　dark　cottage。

The　engineer　was　eagerly　expected。　　Simon　Ford　was　standing　at　his　door；　and　as　soon　as　Harry's　lamp　announced　the　arrival　of　his　former　viewer　he　advanced　to　meet　him。


〃Wele；　Mr。　Starr！〃　he　exclaimed；　his　voice　echoing　under　the　roof　of　schist。　　〃Wele　to　the　old　overman's　cottage！　Though　it　is　buried　fifteen　hundred　feet　under　the　earth；　our　house　is　not　the　less　hospitable。〃

〃And　how　are　you；　good　Simon？〃　asked　James　Starr；　grasping　the　hand　which　his　host　held　out　to　him。

〃Very　well；　Mr。　Starr。　　How　could　I　be　otherwise　here；　sheltered　from　the　inclemencies　of　the　weather？　Your　ladies　who　go　to　Newhaven　or　Portobello　in　the　summer　time　would　do　much　better　to　pass　a　few　months　in　the　coal　mine　of　Aberfoyle！　　They　would　run　no　risk　here　of　catching　a　heavy　cold；　as　they　do　in　the　damp　streets　of　the　old　capital。〃

〃I'm　not　the　man　to　contradict　you；　Simon；〃　answered　James　Starr；　glad　to　find　the　old　man　just　as　he　used　to　be。　　〃Indeed；　I　wonder　why　I　do　not　change　my　home　in　the　Canongate　for　a　cottage　near　you。〃

〃And　why　not；　Mr。　Starr？　　I　know　one　of　your　old　miners　who　would　be　truly　pleased　to　have　only　a　partition　wall　between　you　and　him。〃

〃And　how　is　Madge？〃　asked　the　engineer。

〃The　goodwife　is　in　better　health　than　I　am；　if　that's　possible；〃　replied　Ford；　〃and　it　will　be　a　pleasure　to　her　to　see　you　at　her　table。　I　think　she　will　surpass　herself　to　do　you　honor。〃

〃We　shall　see　that；　Simon；　we　shall　see　that！〃　said　the　engineer；　to　whom　the　announcement　of　a　good　breakfast　could　not　be　indifferent；　after　his　long　walk。

〃Are　you　hungry；　Mr。　Starr？〃

〃Ravenously　hungry。　　My　journey　has　given　me　an　appetite。　I　came　through　horrible　weather。〃

〃Ah；　it　is　raining　up　there；〃　responded　Simon　Ford。

〃Yes；　Simon；　and　the　waters　of　the　Forth　are　as　rough　as　the　sea。〃


〃Well；　Mr。　Starr；　here　it　never　rains。　　But　I　needn't　describe　to　you　all　the　advantages；　which　you　know　as　well　as　myself。　Here　we　are　at　the　cottage。　　That　is　the　chief　thing；　and　I　again　say　you　are　wele；　sir。〃

Simon　Ford；　followed　by　Harry；　ushered　their　guest　into　the　dwelling。　James　Starr　found　himself　in　a　large　room　lighted　by　numerous　lamps；　one　hanging　from　the　colored　beams　of　the　roof。

〃The　soup　is　ready；　wife；〃　said　Ford；　〃and　it　mustn't　be　kept　waiting　any　more　than　Mr。　Starr。　　He　is　as　hungry　as　a　miner；　and　he　shall　see　that　our　boy　doesn't　let　us　want　for　anything　in　the　cottage！　By…the…bye；　Harry；〃　added　the　old　overman；　turning　to　his　son；　〃Jack　Ryan　came　here　to　see　you。〃

〃I　know；　father。　　We　met　him　in　the　Yarrow　shaft。〃

〃He's　an　honest　and　a　merry　fellow；〃　said　Ford；　〃but　he　seems　to　be　quite　happy　above　ground。　　He　hasn't　the　true　miner's　blood　in　his　veins。　Sit　down；　Mr。　Starr；　and　have　a　good　dinner；　for　we　may　not　sup　till　late。〃

As　the　engineer　and　his　hosts　were　taking　their　places：

〃One　moment；　Simon；〃　said　James　Starr。　　〃Do　you　want　me　to　eat　with　a　good　appetite？〃

〃It　will　be　doing　us　all　possible　honor；　Mr。　Starr；〃　answered　Ford。

〃Well；　in　order　to　eat　heartily；　I　must　not　be　at　all　anxious。　Now　I　have　two　questions　to　put　to　you。〃

〃Go　on；　sir。〃

〃Your　letter　told　me　of　a　munication　which　was　to　be　of　an　interesting　nature。〃

〃It　is　very　interesting　indeed。〃

〃To　you？〃

〃To　you　and　to　me；　Mr。　Starr。　　But　I　do　not　want　to　tell　it　you　until　after　dinner；　and　on　the　very　spot　itself。　Without　that　you　would　not　believe　me。〃

〃Simon；〃　resumed　the　engineer；　〃look　me　straight　in　the　face。　An　interesting　munication？　　Yes。　　Good！　　I　will　not　ask　more；〃　he　added；　as　if　he　had　read　the　reply　in　the　old　overman's　eyes。

〃And　the　second　question？〃　asked　the　latter。

〃Do　you　know；　Simon；　who　the　person　is　who　can　have　written　this？〃　answered　the　engineer；　handing　him　the　anonymous　letter。


Ford　took　the　letter　and　read　it　attentively。　　Then　giving　it　to　his　son；　〃Do　you　know　the　writing？〃　he　asked。

〃No；　father；〃　replied　Harry。

〃And　had　this　letter　the　Aberfoyle　postmark？〃　inquired　Simon　Ford。

〃Yes；　like　yours；〃　replied　James　Starr。

〃What　do　you　think　of　that；　Harry？〃　said　his　father；　his　brow　darkening。

〃I　think；　father；〃　returned　Harry；　〃that　someone　has　had　some　interest　in　trying　to　prevent　Mr。　Starr　from　ing　to　the　place　where　you　invited　him。〃

〃But　who；〃　exclaimed　the　old　miner；　〃who　could　have　possibly　guessed　enough　of　my　secret？〃　　And　Simon　fell　into　a　reverie；　from　which　he　was　aroused　by　his　wife。

〃Let　us　begin；　Mr。　Starr；〃　she　said。　　〃The　soup　is　already　getting　cold。　Don't　think　any　more　of　that　letter　just　now。〃

On　the　old　woman's　invitation；　each　drew　in　his　chair；　James　Starr　opposite　to　Madge……to　do　him　honor……the　father　and　son　opposite　to　each　other。　　It　was　a　good　Scotch　dinner。　First　they　ate　〃hotchpotch；〃　soup　with　the　meat　swimming　in　capital　broth。　　As　old　Simon　said；　his　wife　knew　no　rival　in　the　art　of　preparing　hotchpotch。　　It　was　the　same　with　the　〃cockyleeky；〃　a　cock　stewed　with　leeks；　which　merited　high　praise。　The　whole　was　washed　down　with　excellent　ale；　obtained　from　the　best　brewery　in　Edinburgh。

But　the　principal　dish　consisted　of　a　〃haggis；〃　the　national　pudding；　made　of　meat　and　barley　meal。　　This　remarkable　dish；　which　inspired　the　poet　Burns　with　one　of　his　best　odes；　shared　the　fate　of　all　the　good　things　in　this　world……it　passed　away　like　a　dream。

Madge　received　the　sincere　pliments　of　her　guest。　The　dinner　ended　with　cheese　and　oatcake；　acpanied　by　a　few　small　glasses　of　〃usquebaugh；〃　capital　whisky；　five　and　twenty　years　old……just　Harry's　age。　　The　repast　lasted　a　good　hour。　James　Starr　and　Simon　Ford　had　not　only　eaten　much；　but　talked　much　too；　chiefly　of　their　past　life　in　the　old　Aberfoyle　mine。

Harry　had　been　rather　silent。　　Twice　he　had　left　the　table；　and　even　the　house。　　He　evidently　felt　uneasy　since　the　incident　of　the　stone；　and　wished　to　examine　the　environs

of　the　cottage。　　The　anonymous　letter　had　not　contributed　to　reassure　him。

Whilst　he　was　absent；　the　engineer　observed　to　Ford　and　his　wife；　〃That's　a　fine　lad　you　have　there；　my　friends。〃

〃Yes；　Mr。　Starr；　he　is　a　good　and　affectionate　son；〃　replied　the　old　overman　earnestly。

〃Is　he　happy　with　you　in　the　cottage？〃

〃He　would　not　wish　to　leave　us。〃

〃Don't　you　think　of　finding　him　a　wife；　some　day？〃

〃A　wife　for　Harry；〃　exclaimed　Ford。　　〃And　who　would　it　be？　A　girl　from　up　yonder；　who　would　love　merry…makings　and　dancing；　who　would　prefer　her　clan　to　our　mine！　　Harry　wouldn't　do　it！〃

〃Simon；〃　said　Madge；　〃you　would　not　forbid　that　Harry　should　take　a　wife。〃

〃I　would　forbid　nothing；〃　returned　the　old　miner；　〃but　there's　no　hurry　about　that。　　Who　knows　but　we　may　find　one　for　him……〃

Harry　re…entered　at　that　moment；　and　Simon　Ford　was　silent。

When　Madge　rose　from　the　table；　all　followed　her　example；　and　seated　themselves　at　the　door　of　the　cottage。　　〃Well；　Simon；〃　said　the　engineer；　〃I　am　ready　to　hear　you。〃

〃Mr。　Starr；〃　responded　Ford；　〃I　do　not　need　your　ears；　but　your　legs。　Are　you　quite　rested？〃

〃Quite　rested　and　quite　refreshed；　Simon。　　I　am　ready　to　go　with　you　wherever　you　like。〃

〃Harry；〃　said　Simon　Ford；　turning　to　his　son；　〃light　our　safety　lamps。〃

〃Are　you　going　to　take　safety　lamps！〃　exclaimed　James　Starr；　in　amazement；　knowing　that　there　was　no　fear　of　explosions　of　fire…damp　in　a　pit　quite　empty　of　coal。

〃Yes；　Mr。　Starr；　it　will　be　prudent。〃

〃My　good　Simon；　won't　you　propose　next　to　put　me　in　a　miner's　dress？〃

〃Not　just　yet；　sir；　not　just　yet！〃　returned　the　old　overman；　his　deep…set　eyes　gleaming　strangely。

Harry　soon　reappeared；　carrying　three　safety　lamps。　He　handed　one　of　these　to　the　engineer；　the　other　to　his　father；　and　kept　the　third　hanging　from　his　left　hand；　whilst　his　right　was　armed　with　a　long　stick。


〃Forward！〃　said　Simon　Ford；　taking　up　a　strong　pick；　which　was　leaning　against　the　wall　of　the　cottage。

〃Forward！〃　echoed　the　engineer。　　〃Good…by；　Madge。〃

〃GOD　speed　you！〃　responded　the　good　woman。

〃A　good　supper；　wife；　do　you　hear？〃　exclaimed　Ford。　　〃We　shall　be　hungry　when　we　e　back；　and　will　do　it　justice！〃


CHAPTER　V　SOME　STRANGE　PHENOMENA


MANY　superstitious　beliefs　exist　both　in　the　Highlands　and　Lowlands　of　Scotland。　　Of　course　the　mining　population　must　furnish　its　contingent　of　legends　and　fables　to　this　mythological　repertory。　If　the　fields　are　peopled　with　imaginary　beings；　either　good　or　bad；　with　much　more　reason　must　the　dark　mines　be　haunted　to　their　lowest　depths。　　Who　shakes　the　seam　during　tempestuous　nights？　who　puts　the　miners　on　the　track　of　an　as　yet　unworked　vein？　who　lights　the　fire…damp；　and　presides　over　the　terrible　explosions？　who　but　some　spirit　of　the　mine？　　This；　at　least；　was　the　opinion　monly　spread　among　the　superstitious　Scotch。

In　the　first　rank　of　the　believers　in　the　supernatural　in　the　Dochart　pit　figured　Jack　Ryan；　Harry's　friend。　He　was　the　great　partisan　of　all　these　superstitions。　All　these　wild　stories　were　turned　by　him　into　songs；　which　earned　him　great　applause　in　the　winter　evenings。

But　Jack　Ryan　was　not　alone　in　his　belief。　　His　rades　affirmed；　no　less　strongly；　that　the　Aberfoyle　pits　were　haunted；　and　that　certain　strange　beings　were　seen　there　frequently；　just　as　in　the　Highlands。　　To　hear　them　talk；　it　would　have　been　more　extraordinary　if　nothing　of　the　kind　appeared。　Could　there　indeed　be　a　better　place　than　a　dark　and　deep　coal　mine　for　the　freaks　of　fairies；　elves；　goblins；　and　other　actors　in　the　fantastical　dramas？　　The　scenery　was　all　ready；　why　should　not　the　supernatural　personages　e　there　to　play　their　parts？

So　reasoned　Jack　Ryan　and　his　rades　in　the　Aberfoyle　mines。　We　have　said　that　the　different　pits　municated　with　each　other　by　means　of　long　subterranean　galleries。　Thus　there　existed　beneath　the　county　of　Stirling　a　vast　tract；　full　of　burrows；　tunnels；　bored　with　caves；　and　perforated　with　shafts；　a　subterranean　labyrinth；　which　might　be　pared　to　an　enormous　ant…hill。

Miners；　though　belonging　to　different　pits；　often　met；　when　going　to　or　returning　from　their　work。　　Consequently　there　was　a　constant　opportunity　of　exchanging　talk；　and　circulating　the　stories　which　had　their　origin　in　the　mine；　from　one　pit　to　another。　These　accounts　were　transmitted　with　marvelous　rapidity；　passing　from　mouth　to　mouth；　and　gaining　in　wonder　as　they　went。

Two　men；　however；　better　educated　and　with　more　practical　minds　than　the　rest；　had　always　resisted　this　temptation。　They　in　no　degree　believed　in　the　intervention　of　spirits；　elves；　or　goblins。　　These　two　were　Simon　Ford　and　his　son。　And　they　proved　it　by　continuing　to　inhabit　the　dismal　crypt；　after　the　desertion　of　the　Dochart　pit。　　Perhaps　good　Madge；　like　every　Highland　woman；　had　some　leaning　towards　the　supernatural。　But　she　had　to　repeat　all　these　stories　to　herself；　and　so　she　did；　most　conscientiously；　so　as　not　to　let　the　old　traditions　be　lost。

Even　had　Simon　and　Harry　Ford　been　as　credulous　as　their　panions；　they　would　not　have　abandoned　the　mine　to　the　imps　and　fairies。　For　ten　years；　without　missing　a　single　day；　obstinate　and　immovable　in　their　convictions；　the　father　and　son　took　their　picks；　their　sticks；　and　their　lamps。　　They　went　about　searching；　sounding　the　rock　with　a　sharp　blow；　listening　if　it　would　return　a　favor…able　sound。　So　long　as　the　soundings　had　not　been　pushed　to　the　granite　of　the　primary　formation；　the　Fords　were　agreed　that　the　search；　unsuccessful　to…day；　might　succeed　to…morrow；　and　that　it　ought　to　be　resumed。　They　spent　their　whole　life　in　endeavoring　to　bring　Aberfoyle　back　to　its　former　prosperity。　　If　the　father　died　before　the　hour　of　success；　the　son　was　to　go　on　with　the　task　alone。

It　was　during　these　excursions　that　Harry　was　more　particularly　struck　by　certain　phenomena；　which　he　vainly　sought　to　explain。　Several　times；　while　walking　along　some　narrow　cross…alley；　he　seemed　to　hear　sounds　similar　to　those　which　would　be　produced　by　violent　blows　of　a　pickax　against　the　wall。

Harry　hastened　to　seek　the　cause　of　this　mysterious　work。　The　tunnel　was　empty。　　The　light　from　the　young　miner's

lamp；　thrown　on　the　wall；　revealed　no　trace　of　any　recent　work　with　pick　or　crowbar。　　Harry　would　then　ask　himself　if　it　was　not　the　effect　of　some　acoustic　illusion；　or　some　strange　and　fantastic　echo。　At　other　times；　on　suddenly　throwing　a　bright　light　into　a　suspicious…looking　cleft　in　the　rock；　he　thought　he　saw　a　shadow。　He　rushed　forward。　　Nothing；　and　there　was　no　opening　to　permit　a　human　being　to　evade　his　pursuit！

Twice　in　one　month；　Harry；　whilst　visiting　the　west　end　of　the　pit；　distinctly　heard　distant　reports；　as　if　some　miner　had　exploded　a　charge　of　dynamite。　　The　second　time；　after　many　careful　researches；　he　found　that　a　pillar　had　just　been　blown　up。

By　the　light　of　his　lamp；　Harry　carefully　examined　the　place　attacked　by　the　explosion。　　It　had　not　been　made　in　a　simple　embankment　of　stones；　but　in　a　mass　of　schist；　which　had　perated　to　this　depth　in　the　coal　stratum。　Had　the　object　of　the　explosion　been　to　discover　a　new　vein？　Or　had　someone　wished　simply　to　destroy　this　portion　of　the　mine？　Thus　he　questioned；　and　when　he　made　known　this