the underground city-地下城(英文版)-第7部分

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d　with　lamps；　picks；　long　rope　ladders；　not　forgetting　provisions　and　cordials。　Then　guided　by　Jack　Ryan；　the　party　set　out　for　the　Aberfoyle　mines。

The　same　evening　the　expedition　arrived　at　the　opening　of　the　Yarrow　shaft；　and　descended　to　the　twenty…seventh　landing；　at　which　Jack　Ryan　had　been　stopped　a　few　hours　previously。　The　lamps；　fastened　to　long　ropes；　were　lowered　down　the　shaft；　and　it　was　thus　ascertained　that　the　four　last　ladders　were　wanting。

As　soon　as　the　lamps　had　been　brought　up；　the　men　fixed　to　the　landing　a　rope　ladder；　which　unrolled　itself　down　the　shaft；　and　all　descended　one　after　the　other。　　Jack　Ryan's　descent　was　the　most　difficult；　for　he　went　first　down　the　swinging　ladders；　and　fastened　them　for　the　others。

The　space　at　the　bottom　of　the　shaft　was　pletely　deserted；　but　Sir　William　was　much　surprised　at　hearing　Jack　Ryan　exclaim；　〃Here　are　bits　of　the　ladders；　and　some　of　them　half　burnt！〃

〃Burnt？〃　repeated　Sir　William。　　〃Indeed；　here　sure　enough　are　cinders　which　have　evidently　been　cold　a　long　time！〃

〃Do　you　think；　sir；〃　asked　Ryan；　〃that　Mr。　Starr　could　have　had　any　reason　for　burning　the　ladders；　and　thus　breaking　of　munication　with　the　world？〃

〃Certainly　not；〃　answered　Sir　William　Elphiston；　who

had　bee　very　thoughtful。　　〃e；　my　lad；　lead　us　to　the　cottage。　There　we　shall　ascertain　the　truth。〃

Jack　Ryan　shook　his　head；　as　if　not　at　all　convinced。　Then；　taking　a　lamp　from　the　hands　of　one　of　the　men；　he　proceeded　with　a　rapid　step　along　the　principal　passage　of　the　Dochart　pit。　The　others　all　followed　him。

In　a　quarter　of　an　hour　the　party　arrived　at　the　excavation　in　which　stood　Simon　Ford's　cottage。　　There　was　no　light　in　the　window。　　Ryan　darted　to　the　door；　and　threw　it　open。　The　house　was　empty。

They　examined　all　the　rooms　in　the　somber　habitation。　No　trace　of　violence　was　to　be　found。　　All　was　in　order；　as　if　old　Madge　had　been　still　there。　　There　was　even　an　ample　supply　of　provisions；　enough　to　last　the　Ford　family　for　several　days。

The　absence　of　the　tenants　of　the　cottage　was　quite　unaccountable。　But　was　it　not　possible　to　find　out　the　exact　time　they　had　quitted　it？　Yes；　for　in　this　region；　where　there　was　no　difference　of　day　or　night；　Madge　was　accustomed　to　mark　with　a　cross　each　day　in　her　almanac。

The　almanac　was　pinned　up　on　the　wall；　and　there　the　last　cross　had　been　made　at　the　6th　of　December；　that　is　to　say；　a　day　after　the　arrival　of　James　Starr；　to　which　Ryan　could　positively　swear。　It　was　clear　that　on　the　6th　of　December；　ten　days　ago；　Simon　Ford；　his　wife；　son；　and　guest；　had　quitted　the　cottage。　Could　a　fresh　exploration　of　the　mine；　undertaken　by　the　engineer；　account　for　such　a　long　absence？　　Certainly　not。

It　was　intensely　dark　all　round。　　The　lamps　held　by　the　men　gave　light　only　just　where　they　were　standing。　　Suddenly　Jack　Ryan　uttered　a　cry。　〃Look　there；　there！〃

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　pletely　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　panions　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　being　less。　　Could　it　be　fatigued；　or　did　this　invisible　being　wish　to　entice　Sir　William　and　his　panions　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；　rades！〃　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　bee　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　panions　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　panions　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　panions　had　made　for　themselves　with　dynamite　had　been　pletely　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　remended　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　pillars……all；　whether　suns　or　stars　in　size；　were　fed　by　continuous　currents　produced　from　electro…magic　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　pared　to　the　Dead　Sea　of　the　Mammoth　caves……a　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：　this　was　for　James　Starr。　　The　engineer　had　given

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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　r閟um？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　pany　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　gree　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　…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　Ryan　sung　no　more。　　On　the　contrary；　the　sonorous　echoes　of　New　Aberfoyle　exerted　their　strong　lungs　to　answer　him。

Jack　Ryan　took　up　his　abode　in　Simon　Ford's　new　cottage。　　They　offered　him　a　room；　which　he　accepted　without　ceremony；　in　his　frank　and　hearty　way。　Old　Madge　loved　him　for　his　fine　character　and　good　nature。　She　in　some　degree　shared　his　ideas　on　the　subject　of　the　fantastic　beings　who　were　supposed　to　haunt　the　mine；　and　the　two；　when　alone；　told　each　other　stories　wild　enough　to　make　one　shudder……stories　well　worthy　of　enriching　the　hyperborean　mythology。

Jack　thus　became　the　life　of　the　cottage。　　He　was；　besides　being　a　jovial　panion；　a　good　workman。　　Six　months　after　the　works　had　begun；　he　was　made　head　of　a　gang　of　hewers。

〃That　was　a　good　work　done；　Mr。　Ford；〃　said　he；　a　few　days　after　his　appointment。　　〃You　discovered　a　new　field；　and　though　you　narrowly　escaped　paying　for　the　discovery　with　your　life……　well；　it　was　not　too　dearly　bought。〃

〃No；　Jack；　it　was　a　good　bargain　we　made　that　time！〃　answered　the　old　overman。　　〃But　neither　Mr。　Starr　nor　I　have　forgotten　that　to　you　we　owe　our　lives。〃

〃Not　at　all；〃　returned　Jack。　　〃You　owe　them　to　your　son　Harry；　when　he　had　the　good　sense　to　accept　my　invitation　to　Irvine。〃

〃And　not　to　go；　isn't　that　it？〃　interrupted　Harry；　grasping　his　rade's　hand。　　〃No；　Jack；　it　is　to　you；　scarcely　healed　of　your　wounds……　to　you；　who　did　not　delay　a　day；　no；　nor　an　hour；　that　we　owe　our　being　found　still　alive　in　the　mine！〃

〃Rubbish；　no！〃　broke　in　the　obstinate　fellow。　〃I　won't　have　that　said；　when　it's　no　such　thing。　I　hurried　to　find　out　what　had　bee　of　you；　Harry；　that's　all。　But　to　give　everyone　his　due；　I　will　add　that　without　that　unapproachable　goblin……〃

〃Ah；　there　we　are！〃　cried　Ford。　　〃A　goblin！〃

〃A　goblin；　a　brownie；　a　fairy's　child；〃　repeated　Jack　Ryan；　〃a　cousin　of　the　Fire…Maidens；　an　Urisk；　whatever　you　like！　It's　not　the　less　certain　that　without　it　we　should

never　have　found　our　way　into　the　gallery；　from　which　you　could　not　get　out。〃

〃No　doubt；　Jack；〃　answered　Harry。　　〃It　remains　to　be　seen　whether　this　being　was　as　supernatural　as　you　choose　to　believe。〃

〃Supernatural！〃　exclaimed　Ryan。　　〃But　it　was　as　supernatural　as　a　Will…o'…the…Wisp；　who　may　be　seen　skipping　along　with　his　lantern　in　his　hand；　you　may　try　to　catch　him；　but　he　escapes　like　a　fairy；　and　vanishes　like　a　shadow！　Don't　be　uneasy；　Harry；　we　shall　see　it　again　some　day　or　other！〃

〃Well；　Jack；〃　said　Simon　Ford；　〃Will…o'…the…Wisp　or　not；　we　shall　try　to　find　it；　and　you　must　help　us。〃

〃You'll　get　into　a　scrap　if　you　don't　take　care；　Mr。　Ford！〃　responded　Jack　Ryan。

〃We'll　see　about　that；　Jack！〃

We　may　easily　imagine　how　soon　this　domain　of　New　Aberfoyle　became　familiar　to　all　the　members　of　the　Ford　family；　but　more　particularly　to　Harry。　　He　learnt　to　know　all　its　most　secret　ins　and　outs。　He　could　even　say　what　point　of　the　surface　corresponded　with　what　point　of　the　mine。　　He　knew　that　above　this　seam　lay　the　Firth　of　Clyde；　that　there　extended　Loch　Lomond　and　Loch　Katrine。　　Those　columns　supported　a　spur　of　the　Grampian　mountains。　　This　vault　served　as　a　basement　to　Dumbarton。　　Above　this　large　pond　passed　the　Balloch　railway。　Here　ended　the　Scottish　coast。　　There　began　the　sea；　the　tumult　of　which　could　be　distinctly　heard　during　the　equinoctial　gales。　Harry　would　have　been　a　first…rate　guide　to　these　natural　catabs；　and　all　that　Alpine　guides　do　on　their　snowy　peaks　in　daylight　he　could　have　done　in　the　dark　mine　by　the　wonderful　power　of　instinct。

He　loved　New　Aberfoyle。　　Many　times；　with　his　lamp　stuck　in　his　hat；　did　he　perate　its　furthest　depths。　He　explored　its　ponds　in　a　skillfully…managed　canoe。　He　even　went　shooting；　for　numerous　birds　had　been　introduced　into　the　crypt……pintails；　snipes；　ducks；　who　fed　on　the　fish　which　swarmed　in　the　deep　waters。　　Harry's　eyes　seemed　made　for　the　dark；　just　as　a　sailor's　are　made　for　distances。　But　all　this　while　Harry　felt　irresistibly　animated　by　the　hope　of　finding　the　mysterious　being　whose　intervention；　strictly　speaking；　had　saved　himself　and　his　friends。　　Would

he　succeed？　　He　certainly　would；　if　presentiments　were　to　be　trusted；　but　certainly　not；　if　he　judged　by　the　success　which　had　as　yet　attended　his　researches。

The　attacks　directed　against　the　family　of　the　old　overman；　before　the　discovery　of　New　Aberfoyle；　had　not　been　renewed。


CHAPTER　XI　HANGING　BY　A　THREAD


ALTHOUGH　in　this　way　the　Ford　family　led　a　happy　and　contented　life；　yet　it　was　easy　to　see　that　Harry；　naturally　of　a　grave　disposition；　became　more　and　more　quiet　and　reserved。　　Even　Jack　Ryan；　with　all　his　good　humor　and　usually　infectious　merriment；　failed　to　rouse　him　to　gayety　of　manner。

One　Sunday……it　was　in　the　month　of　June……the　two　friends　were　walking　together　on　the　shores　of　Loch　Malcolm。　　Coal　Town　rested　from　labor。　　In　the　world　above；　stormy　weather　prevailed。　Violent　rains　fell；　and　dull　sultry　vapors　brooded　over　the　earth；　the　atmosphere　was　most　oppressive。

Down　in　Coal　Town　there　was　perfect　calm；　no　wind；　no　rain。　A　soft　and　pleasant　temperature　existed　instead　of　the　strife　of　the　elements　which　raged　without。　　What　wonder　then；　that　excursionists　from　Stirling　came　in　considerable　numbers　to　enjoy　the　calm　fresh　air　in　the　recesses　of　the　mine？

The　electric　discs　shed　a　brilliancy　of　light　which　the　British　sun；　oftener　obscured　by　fogs　than　it　ought　to　be；　might　well　envy。　Jack　Ryan　kept　talking　of　these　visitors；　who　passed　them　in　noisy　crowds；　but　Harry　paid　very　little　attention　to　what　he　said。

〃I　say；　do　look；　Harry！〃　cried　Jack。　　〃See　what　numbers　of　people　e　to　visit　us！　　Cheer　up；　old　fellow！　　Do　the　honors　of　the　place　a　little　better。　　If　you　look　so　glum；　you'll　make　all　these　outside　folks　think　you　envy　their　life　above…ground。〃

〃Never　mind　me；　Jack；〃　answered　Harry。　　〃You　are　jolly　enough　for　two；　I'm　sure；　that's　enough。〃

〃I'll　be　hanged　if　I　don't　feel　your　melancholy　creeping　over　me　though！〃　exclaimed　Jack。　　〃I　declare　my　eyes

are　getting　quite　dull；　my　lips　are　drawn　together；　my　laugh　sticks　in　my　throat；　I'm　forgetting　all　my　songs。　e；　man；　what's　the　matter　with　you？〃

〃You　know　well　enough；　Jack。〃

〃What？　the　old　story？〃

〃Yes；　the　same　thoughts　haunt　me。〃

〃Ah；　poor　fellow！〃　said　Jack；　shrugging　his　shoulders。　〃If　you　would　only　do　like　me；　and　set　all　the　queer　things　down　to　the　account　of　the　goblins　of　the　mine；　you　would　be　easier　in　your　mind。〃

〃But；　Jack；　you　know　very　well　that　these　goblins　exist　only　in　your　imagination；　and　that；　since　the　works　here　have　been　reopened；　not　a　single　one　has　been　seen。〃

〃That's　true；　Harry；　but　if　no　spirits　have　been　seen；　neither　has　anyone　else　to　whom　you　could　attribute　the　extraordinary　doings　we　want　to　account　for。〃

〃I　shall　discover　them。〃

〃Ah；　Harry！　　Harry！　it's　not　so　easy　to　catch　the　spirits　of　New　Aberfoyle！〃

〃I　shall　find　out　the　spirits　as　you　call　them；〃　said　Harry；　in　a　tone　of　firm　conviction。

〃Do　you　expect　to　be　able　to　punish　them？〃

〃Both　punish　and　reward。　　Remember；　if　one　hand　shut　us　up　in　that　passage；　another　hand　delivered　us！　　I　shall　not　soon　forget　that。〃

〃But；　Harry；　how　can　we　be　sure　that　these　two　hands　do　not　belong　to　the　same　body？〃

〃What　can　put　such　a　not