the underground city-地下城(英文版)-第5部分

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Madge；　seated　on　a　rock；　carefully　observed　the　excavation；　and　the　wall　which　was　to　be　blasted。

It　was　found　that　everything　was　just　as　they　left　it。　　The　crevices　had　undergone　no　alteration；　the　carburetted　hydrogen　still　filtered　through；　though　in　a　small　stream；　which　was　no　doubt　because　it　had　had　a　free　passage　since　the　day　before。　　As　the　quantity　was　so　small；　it　could　not　have　formed　an　explosive　mixture　with　the　air　inside。　James　Starr　and　his　panions　could　therefore　proceed　in　security。　Besides；　the　air　grew　purer　by　rising　to　the　heights　of　the　Dochart　pit；　and　the　fire…damp；　spreading　through　the　atmosphere；　would　not　be　strong　enough　to　make　any　explosion。

〃To　work；　then！〃　repeated　Ford；　and　soon　the　rock　flew　in　splinters　under　his　skillful　blows。　　The　break　was　chiefly　posed　of　pudding…stone；　interspersed　with　sandstone　and　schist；　such　as　is　most　often　met　with　between　the　coal

veins。　　James　Starr　picked　up　some　of　the　pieces；　and　examined　them　carefully；　hoping　to　discover　some　trace　of　coal。

Starr　having　chosen　the　place　where　the　holes　were　to　be　drilled；　they　were　rapidly　bored　by　Harry。　　Some　cartridges　of　dynamite　were　put　into　them。　　As　soon　as　the　long；　tarred　safety　match　was　laid；　it　was　lighted　on　a　level　with　the　ground。　James　Starr　and　his　panions　then　went　off　to　some　distance。

〃Oh！　　Mr。　Starr；〃　said　Simon　Ford；　a　prey　to　agitation；　which　he　did　not　attempt　to　conceal；　〃never；　no；　never　has　my　old　heart　beaten　so　quick　before！　　I　am　longing　to　get　at　the　vein！〃

〃Patience；　Simon！〃　responded　the　engineer。　　〃You　don't　mean　to　say　that　you　think　you　are　going　to　find　a　passage　all　ready　open　behind　that　dyke？〃

〃Excuse　me；　sir；〃　answered　the　old　overman；　〃but　of　course　I　think　so！　If　there　was　good　luck　in　the　way　Harry　and　I　discovered　this　place；　why　shouldn't　the　good　luck　go　on？〃

As　he　spoke；　came　the　explosion。　　A　sound　as　of　thunder　rolled　through　the　labyrinth　of　subterranean　galleries。　Starr；　Madge；　Harry；　and　Simon　Ford　hastened　towards　the　spot。

〃Mr。　Starr！　　Mr。　Starr！〃　shouted　the　overman。　　〃Look！　the　door　is　broken　open！〃

Ford's　parison　was　justified　by　the　appearance　of　an　excavation；　the　depth　of　which　could　not　be　calculated。　Harry　was　about　to　spring　through　the　opening；　but　the　engineer；　though　excessively　surprised　to　find　this　cavity；　held　him　back。　〃Allow　time　for　the　air　in　there　to　get　pure；〃　said　he。

〃Yes！　beware　of　the　foul　air！〃　said　Simon。

A　quarter　of　an　hour　was　passed　in　anxious　waiting。　The　lantern　was　then　fastened　to　the　end　of　a　stick；　and　introduced　into　the　cave；　where　it　continued　to　burn　with　unaltered　brilliancy。　〃Now　then；　Harry；　go；〃　said　Starr；　〃and　we　will　follow　you。〃

The　opening　made　by　the　dynamite　was　sufficiently　large　to　allow　a　man　to　pass　through。　　Harry；　lamp　in　hand；　entered　unhesitatingly；　and　disappeared　in　the　darkness。　His　father；　mother；　and　James　Starr　waited　in　silence。　A　minute……which　seemed　to　them　much　longer……passed。　　Harry　did　not　reappear；　did　not　call。　　Gazing　into　the　opening；

James　Starr　could　not　even　see　the　light　of　his　lamp；　which　ought　to　have　illuminated　the　dark　cavern。

Had　the　ground　suddenly　given　way　under　Harry's　feet？　Had　the　young　miner　fallen　into　some　crevice？　　Could　his　voice　no　longer　reach　his　panions？

The　old　overman；　dead　to　their　remonstrances；　was　about　to　enter　the　opening；　when　a　light　appeared；　dim　at　first；　but　gradually　growing　brighter；　and　Harry's　voice　was　heard　shouting；　〃e；　Mr。　Starr！　e；　father！　　The　road　to　New　Aberfoyle　is　open！〃

If；　by　some　superhuman　power；　engineers　could　have　raised　in　a　block；　a　thousand　feet　thick；　all　that　portion　of　the　terrestrial　crust　which　supports　the　lakes；　rivers；　gulfs；　and　territories　of　the　counties　of　Stirling；　Dumbarton；　and　Renfrew；　they　would　have　found；　under　that　enormous　lid；　an　immense　excavation；　to　which　but　one　other　in　the　world　can　be　pared……　the　celebrated　Mammoth　caves　of　Kentucky。　　This　excavation　was　posed　of　several　hundred　divisions　of　all　sizes　and　shapes。　It　might　be　called　a　hive　with　numberless　ranges　of　cells；　capriciously　arranged；　but　a　hive　on　a　vast　scale；　and　which；　instead　of　bees；　might　have　lodged　all　the　ichthyosauri；　megatheriums；　and　ptero…dactyles　of　the　geological　epoch。

A　labyrinth　of　galleries；　some　higher　than　the　most　lofty　cathedrals；　others　like　cloisters；　narrow　and　winding……these　following　a　horizontal　line；　those　on　an　incline　or　running　obliquely　in　all　directions……　connected　the　caverns　and　allowed　free　munication　between　them。

The　pillars　sustaining　the　vaulted　roofs；　whose　curves　allowed　of　every　style；　the　massive　walls　between　the　passages；　the　naves　themselves　in　this　layer　of　secondary　formation；　were　posed　of　sandstone　and　schistous　rocks。　　But　tightly　packed　between　these　useless　strata　ran　valuable　veins　of　coal；　as　if　the　black　blood　of　this　strange　mine　had　circulated　through　their　tangled　work。　These　fields　extended　forty　miles　north　and　south；　and　stretched　even　under　the　Caledonian　Canal。　　The　importance　of　this　bed　could　not　be　calculated　until　after　soundings；　but　it　would　certainly　surpass　those　of　Cardiff　and　Newcastle。

We　may　add　that　the　working　of　this　mine　would　be　singularly　facilitated　by　the　fantastic　dispositions　of　the　secondary　earths；　for　by　an　unaccountable　retreat　of　the　mineral　matter　at　the　geological　epoch；　when　the　mass　was　solidifying；　nature　had　already　multiplied　the　galleries　and　tunnels　of　New　Aberfoyle。

Yes；　nature　alone！　　It　might　at　first　have　been　supposed　that　some　works　abandoned　for　centuries　had　been　discovered　afresh。　　Nothing　of　the　sort。　No　one　would　have　deserted　such　riches。　　Human　termites　had　never　gnawed　away　this　part　of　the　Scottish　subsoil；　nature　herself　had　done　it　all。　But；　we　repeat；　it　could　be　pared　to　nothing　but　the　celebrated　Mammoth　caves；　which；　in　an　extent　of　more　than　twenty　miles；　contain　two　hundred　and　twenty…six　avenues；　eleven　lakes；　seven　rivers；　eight　cataracts；　thirty…two　unfathomable　wells；　and　fifty…seven　domes；　some　of　which　are　more　than　four　hundred　and　fifty　feet　in　height。　Like　these　caves；　New　Aberfoyle　was　not　the　work　of　men；　but　the　work　of　the　Creator。

Such　was　this　new　domain；　of　matchless　wealth；　the　discovery　of　which　belonged　entirely　to　the　old　overman。　　Ten　years'　sojourn　in　the　deserted　mine；　an　unmon　pertinacity　in　research；　perfect　faith；　sustained　by　a　marvelous　mining　instinct……　all　these　qualities　together　led　him　to　succeed　where　so　many　others　had　failed。　　Why　had　the　soundings　made　under　the　direction　of　James　Starr　during　the　last　years　of　the　working　stopped　just　at　that　limit；　on　the　very　frontier　of　the　new　mine？　That　was　all　chance；　which　takes　great　part　in　researches　of　this　kind。

However　that　might　be；　there　was；　under　the　Scottish　subsoil；　what　might　be　called　a　subterranean　county；　which；　to　be　habitable；　needed　only　the　rays　of　the　sun；　or；　for　want　of　that；　the　light　of　a　special　pla。

Water　had　collected　in　various　hollows；　forming　vast　ponds；　or　rather　lakes　larger　than　Loch　Katrine；　lying　just　above　them。　Of　course　the　waters　of　these　lakes　had　no　movement　of　currents　or　tides；　no　old　castle　was　reflected　there；　no　birch　or　oak　trees　waved　on　their　banks。　　And　yet　these　deep　lakes；　whose　mirror…like　surface　was　never　ruffled　by　a　breeze；　would　not　be　without　charm　by　the　light　of　some　electric　star；　and；　connected　by　a　string　of　canals；　would　well　plete　the　geography　of　this　strange　domain。

Although　unfit　for　any　vegetable　production；　the　place　could　be　inhabited　by　a　whole　population。　　And　who　knows　but　that　in　this　steady　temperature；　in　the　depths　of　the

mines　of　Aberfoyle；　as　well　as　in　those　of　Newcastle；　Alloa；　or　Cardiff……　when　their　contents　shall　have　been　exhausted……who　knows　but　that　the　poorer　classes　of　Great　Britain　will　some　day　find　a　refuge？


CHAPTER　VIII　EXPLORING


AT　Harry's　call；　James　Starr；　Madge；　and　Simon　Ford　entered　through　the　narrow　orifice　which　put　the　Dochart　pit　in　munication　with　the　new　mine。　　They　found　themselves　at　the　beginning　of　a　tolerably　wide　gallery。　　One　might　well　believe　that　it　had　been　pierced　by　the　hand　of　man；　that　the　pick　and　mattock　had　emptied　it　in　the　working　of　a　new　vein。　The　explorers　question　whether；　by　a　strange　chance；　they　had　not　been　transported　into　some　ancient　mine；　of　the　existence　of　which　even　the　oldest　miners　in　the　county　had　ever　known。

No！　　It　was　merely　that　the　geological　layers　had　left　this　passage　when　the　secondary　earths　were　in　course　of　formation。　Perhaps　some　torrent　had　formerly　dashed　through　it；　but　now　it　was　as　dry　as　if　it　had　been　cut　some　thousand　feet　lower；　through　granite　rocks。　　At　the　same　time；　the　air　circulated　freely；　which　showed　that　certain　natural　vents　placed　it　in　munication　with　the　exterior　atmosphere。

This　observation；　made　by　the　engineer；　was　correct；　and　it　was　evident　that　the　ventilation　of　the　new　mine　would　be　easily　managed。　As　to　the　fire…damp　which　had　lately　filtered　through　the　schist；　it　seemed　to　have　been　contained　in　a　pocket　now　empty；　and　it　was　certain　that　the　atmosphere　of　the　gallery　　it。　However；　Harry　prudently　carried　only　the　safety　lamp；　which　would　insure　light　for　twelve　hours。

James　Starr　and　his　panions　now　felt　perfectly　happy。　All　their　wishes　were　satisfied。　　There　was　nothing　but　coal　around　them。　A　sort　of　emotion　kept　them　silent；　even　Simon　Ford　restrained　himself。　His　joy　overflowed；　not　in　long　phrases；　but　in　short　ejaculations。

It　was　perhaps　imprudent　to　venture　so　far　into　the　crypt。　Pooh！　they　never　thought　of　how　they　were　to　get　back。

The　gallery　was　practicable；　not　very　winding。　　They　met　with　no　noxious　exhalations；　nor　did　any　chasm　bar　the　path。　There　was　no　reason　for　stopping　for　a　whole　hour；　James　Starr；　Madge；　Harry；　and　Simon　Ford　walked　on；　though　there　was　nothing　to　show　them　what　was　the　exact　direction　of　this　unknown　tunnel。

And　they　would　no　doubt　have　gone　farther　still；　if　they　had　not　suddenly　e　to　the　end　of　the　wide　road　which　they　had　followed　since　their　entrance　into　the　mine。

The　gallery　ended　in　an　enormous　cavern；　neither　the　height　nor　depth　of　which　could　be　calculated。　　At　what　altitude　arched　the　roof　of　this　excavation……at　what　distance　was　its　opposite　wall……　the　darkness　totally　concealed；　but　by　the　light　of　the　lamp　the　explorers　could　discover　that　its　dome　covered　a　vast　extent　of　still　water……　pond　or　lake……whose　picturesque　rocky　banks　were　lost　in　obscurity。

〃Halt！〃　exclaimed　Ford；　stopping　suddenly。　　〃Another　step；　and　perhaps　we　shall　fall　into　some　fathomless　pit。〃

〃Let　us　rest　awhile；　then；　my　friends；〃　returned　the　engineer。　〃Besides；　we　ought　to　be　thinking　of　returning　to　the　cottage。〃

〃Our　lamp　will　give　light　for　another　ten　hours；　sir；〃　said　Harry。

〃Well；　let　us　make　a　halt；〃　replied　Starr；　〃I　confess　my　legs　have　need　of　a　rest。　　And　you；　Madge；　don't　you　feel　tired　after　so　long　a　walk？〃

〃Not　over　much；　Mr。　Starr；〃　replied　the　sturdy　Scotchwoman；　〃we　have　been　accustomed　to　explore　the　old　Aberfoyle　mine　for　whole　days　together。〃

〃Tired？　nonsense！〃　interrupted　Simon　Ford；　〃Madge　could　go　ten　times　as　far；　if　necessary。　　But　once　more；　Mr。　Starr；　wasn't　my　munication　worth　your　trouble　in　ing　to　hear　it？　Just　dare　to　say　no；　Mr。　Starr；　dare　to　say　no！〃

〃Well；　my　old　friend；　I　haven't　felt　so　happy　for　a　long　while！〃　replied　the　engineer；　〃the　small　part　of　this　marvelous　mine　that　we　have　explored　seems　to　show　that　its　extent　is　very　considerable；　at　least　in　length。〃

〃In　width　and　in　depth；　too；　Mr。　Starr！〃　returned　Simon　Ford。

〃That　we　shall　know　later。〃


〃And　I　can　answer　for　it！　　Trust　to　the　instinct　of　an　old　miner！　It　has　never　deceived　me！〃

〃I　wish　to　believe　you；　Simon；〃　replied　the　engineer；　smiling。　〃As　far　as　I　can　judge　from　this　short　exploration；　we　possess　the　elements　of　a　working　which　will　last　for　centuries！〃

〃Centuries！〃　exclaimed　Simon　Ford；　〃I　believe　you；　sir！　A　thousand　years　and　more　will　pass　before　the　last　bit　of　coal　is　taken　out　of　our　new　mine！〃

〃Heaven　grant　it！〃　returned　Starr。　　〃As　to　the　quality　of　the　coal　which　crops　out　of　these　walls？〃

〃Superb！　　Mr。　Starr；　superb！〃　answered　Ford；　〃just　look　at　it　yourself！〃

And　so　saying；　with　his　pick　he　struck　off　a　fragment　of　the　black　rock。

〃Look！　look！〃　he　repeated；　holding　it　close　to　his　lamp；　〃the　surface　of　this　piece　of　coal　is　shining！　　We　have　here　fat　coal；　rich　in　bituminous　matter；　and　see　how　it　es　in　pieces；　almost　without　dust！　　Ah；　Mr。　Starr！　twenty　years　ago　this　seam　would　have　entered　into　a　strong　petition　with　Swansea　and　Cardiff！　　Well；　stokers　will　quarrel　for　it　still；　and　if　it　costs　little　to　extract　it　from　the　mine；　it　will　not　sell　at　a　less　price　outside。〃

〃Indeed；〃　said　Madge；　who　had　taken　the　fragment　of　coal　and　was　examining　it　with　the　air　of　a　connoisseur；　〃that's　good　quality　of　coal。　　Carry　it　home；　Simon；　carry　it　back　to　the　cottage！　I　want　this　first　piece　of　coal　to　burn　under　our　kettle。〃

〃Well　said；　wife！〃　answered　the　old　overman；　〃and　you　shall　see　that　I　am　not　mistaken。〃

〃Mr。　Starr；〃　asked　Harry；　〃have　you　any　idea　of　the　probable　direction　of　this　long　passage　which　we　have　been　following　since　our　entrance　into　the　new　mine？〃

〃No；　my　lad；〃　replied　the　engineer；　〃with　a　pass　I　could　perhaps　find　out　its　general　bearing；　but　without　a　pass　I　am　here　like　a　sailor　in　open　sea；　in　the　midst　of　fogs；　when　there　is　no　sun　by　which　to　calculate　his　position。〃

〃No　doubt；　Mr。　Starr；〃　replied　Ford；　〃but　pray　don't　pare　our　position　with　that　of　the　sailor；　who　has　everywhere　and　always　an　abyss　under　his　feet！　　We　are　on　firm　ground　here；　and　need　never　be　afraid　of　foundering。〃


〃I　won't　tease　you；　then；　old　Simon；〃　answered　James　Starr。　　〃Far　be　it　from　me　even　in　jest　to　depreciate　the　New　Aberfoyle　mine　by　an　unjust　parison！　　I　only　meant　to　say　one　thing；　and　that　is　that　we　don't　know　where　we　are。〃

〃We　are　in　the　subsoil　of　the　county　of　Stirling；　Mr。　Starr；〃　replied　Simon　Ford；　〃and　that　I　assert　as　if……〃

〃Listen！〃　said　Harry；　interrupting　the　old　man。　All　listened；　as　the　young　miner　was　doing。　　His　ears；　which　were　very　sharp；　had　caught　a　dull　sound；　like　a　distant　murmur。　His　panions　were　not　long　in　hearing　it　themselves。　It　was　above　their　heads；　a　sort　of　rolling　sound；　in　which　though　it　was　so　feeble；　the　successive　CRESCENDO　and　DIMINUENDO　could　be　distinctly　heard。

All　four　stood　for　some　minutes；　their　ears　on　the　stretch；　without　uttering　a　word。　　All　at　once　Simon　Ford　exclaimed；　〃Well；　I　declare！　　Are　trucks　already　running　on　the　rails　of　New　Aberfoyle？〃

〃Father；〃　replied　Harry；　〃it　sounds　to　me　just　like　the　noise　made　by　waves　rolling　on　the　sea　shore。〃

〃We　can't　be　under　the　sea　though！〃　cried　the　old　overman。

〃No；〃　said　the　engineer；　〃but　it　is　not　impossible　that　we　should　be　under　Loch　Katrine。〃

〃The　roof　cannot　have　much　thickness　just　here；　if　the　noise　of　the　water　is　perceptible。〃

〃Very　little　indeed；〃　answered　James　Starr；　〃and　that　is　the　reason　this　cavern　is　so　huge。〃

〃You　must　be　right；　Mr。　Starr；〃　said　Harry。

〃Besides；　the　weather　is　so　bad　outside；〃　resumed　Starr；　〃that　the　waters　of　the　loch　must　be　as　rough　as　those　of　the　Firth　of　Forth。〃

〃Well！　what　does　it　matter　after　all？〃　returned　Simon　Ford；　〃the　seam　won't　be　any　the　worse　because　it　is　under　a　loch。　It　would　not　be　the　first　time　that　coal　has　been　looked　for　under　the　very　bed　of　the　ocean！　　When　we　have　to　work　under　the　bottom　of　the　Caledonian　Canal；　where　will　be　the　harm？〃

〃Well　said；　Simon；〃　cried　the　engineer；　who　could　not　restrain　a　smile　at　the　overman's　enthusiasm；　〃let　us　cut　our　trenches　under　the　waters　of　the　sea！　　Let　us　bore　the　bed　of　the　Atlantic　like　a　strainer；　let　us　with　our　picks　join

our　brethren　of　the　United　States　through　the　subsoil　of　the　ocean！　let　us　dig　into　the　center　of　the　globe　if　necessary；　to　tear　out　the　last　scrap　of　coal。〃

〃Are　you　joking；　Mr。　Starr？〃　asked　Ford；　with　a　pleased　but　slightly　suspicious　look。

〃I　joking；　old　man？　no！　but　you　are　so　enthusiastic　that　you　carry　me　away　into　the　regions　of　impossibility！　　e；　let　us　return　to　the　reality；　which　is　sufficiently　beautiful；　leave　our　picks　here；　where　we　may　find　them　another　day；　and　let's　take　the　road　back　to　the　cottage。〃

Nothing　more　could　be　done　for　the　time。　　Later；　the　engineer；　acpanied　by　a　brigade　of　miners；　supplied　with　lamps　and　all　necessary　tools；　would　r閟um？the　exploration　of　New　Aberfoyle。　　It　was　now　time　to　return　to　the　Dochart　pit。　The　road　was　easy；　the　gallery　running　nearly　straight　through　the　rock　up　to　the　orifice　opened　by　the　dynamite；　so　there　was　no　fear　of　their　losing　themselves。

But　as　James　Starr　was　proceeding　towards　the　gallery　Simon　Ford　stopped　him。

〃Mr。　Starr；〃　said　he；　〃you　see　this　immense　cavern；　this　subterranean　lake；　whose　waters　bathe　this　strand　at　our　feet？　Well！　it　is　to　this　place　I　mean　to　change　my　dwelling；　here　I　will　build　a　new　cottage；　and　if　some　brave　fellows　will　follow　my　example；　before　a　year　is　over　there　will　be　one　town　more　inside　old　England。〃

James　Starr；　smiling　approval　of　Ford's　plans；　pressed　his　hand；　and　all　three；　preceding　Madge；　re…entered　the　gallery；　on　their　way　back　to　the　Dochart　pit。　　For　the　first　mile　no　incident　occurred。　Harry　walked　first；　holding　his　lamp　above　his　head。　He　carefully　followed　the　principal　gallery；　without　ever　turning　aside　into　the　narrow　tunnels　which　radiated　to　the　right　and　left。　It　seemed　as　if　the　returning　was　to　be　acplished　as　easily　as　the　going；　when　an　unexpected　accident　occurred　which　rendered　the　situation　of　the　explorers　very　serious。

Just　at　a　moment　when　Harry　was　raising　his　lamp　there　came　a　rush　of　air；　as　if　caused　by　the　flapping　of　invisible　wings。　The　lamp　escaped　from　his　hands；　fell　on　the　rocky　ground；　and　was　broken　to　pieces。

James　Starr　and　his　panions　were　suddenly　plunged　in　absolute　darkness。　　All　the　oil　of　the　lamp　was　spilt；　and　it　was　of　no　further　use。　　〃Well；　Harry；〃　cried　his　father；

〃do　you　want　us　all　to　break　our　necks　on　the　way　back　to　the　cottage？〃

Harry　did　not　answer。　　He　wondered　if　he　ought　to　suspect　the　hand　of　a　mysterious　being　in　this　last　accident？　Could　there　possibly　exist　in　these　depths　an　enemy　whose　unaccountable　antagonism　would　one　day　create　serious　difficulties？　Had　someone　an　interest　in　defending　the　new　coal　field　against　any　attempt　at　working　it？　　In　truth　that　seemed　absurd；　yet　the　facts　spoke　for　themselves；　and　they　accumulated　in　such　a　way　as　to　change　simple　presumptions　into　certainties。

In　the　meantime　the　explorers'　situation　was　bad　enough。　They　had　now；　in　the　midst　of　black　darkness；　to　follow　the　passage　leading　to　the　Dochart　pit　for　nearly　five　miles。　There　they　would　still　have　an　hour's　walk　before　reaching　the　cottage。

〃e　along；〃　said　Simon　Ford。　　〃We　have　no　time　to　lose。　We　must　grope　our　way　along；　like　blind　men。　　There's　no　fear　of　losing　our　way。　　The　tunnels　which　open　off　our　road　are　only　just　like　those　in　a　molehill；　and　by　following　the　chief　gallery　we　shall　of　course　reach　the　opening　we　got　in　at。　After　that；　it　is　the　old　mine。　　We　know　that；　and　it　won't　be　the　first　time　that　Harry　and　I　have　found　ourselves　there　in　the　dark。　　Besides；　there　we　sha