ON that day, in the colliery of New Aberfoyle, work was going on in the usual regular way. In the distance could be heard the crash of great charges of dynamite1, by which the carboniferous rocks were blasted. Here masses of coal were loosened by pick-ax and crowbar; there the perforating machines, with their harsh grating, bored through the masses of sandstone and schist.
Hollow, cavernous noises resounded2 on all sides. Draughts3 of air rushed along the ventilating galleries, and the wooden swing-doors slammed beneath their violent gusts4. In the lower tunnels, trains of trucks kept passing along at the rate of fifteen miles an hour, while at their approach electric bells warned the workmen to cower5 down in the refuge places. Lifts went incessantly6 up and down, worked by powerful engines on the surface of the soil. Coal Town was throughout brilliantly lighted by the electric lamps at full power.
Mining operations were being carried on with the greatest activity; coal was being piled incessantly into the trucks, which went in hundreds to empty themselves into the corves at the bottom of the shaft7. While parties of miners who had labored8 during the night were taking needful rest, the others worked without wasting an hour.
Old Simon Ford9 and Madge, having finished their dinner, were resting at the door of their cottage. Simon smoked a good pipe of tobacco, and from time to time the old couple spoke10 of Nell, of their boy, of Mr. Starr, and wondered how they liked their trip to the surface of the earth. Where would they be now? What would they be doing? How could they stay so long away from the mine without feeling homesick?
Just then a terrific roaring noise was heard. It was like the sound of a mighty11 cataract12 rushing down into the mine. The old people rose hastily. They perceived at once that the waters of Loch Malcolm were rising. A great wave, unfurling like a billow, swept up the bank and broke against the walls of the cottage. Simon caught his wife in his arms, and carried her to the upper part of their dwelling13.
At the same moment, cries arose from all parts of Coal Town, which was threatened by a sudden inundation14. The inhabitants fled for safety to the top of the schist rocks bordering the lake; terror spread in all directions; whole families in frantic15 haste rushed towards the tunnel in order to reach the upper regions of the pit.
It was feared that the sea had burst into the colliery, for its galleries and passages penetrated16 as far as the Caledonian Canal. In that case the entire excavation17, vast as it was, would be completely flooded. Not a single inhabitant of New Aberfoyle would escape death.
But when the foremost fugitives18 reached the entrance to the tunnel, they encountered Simon Ford, who had quitted his cottage. "Stop, my friends, stop!" shouted the old man; "if our town is to be overwhelmed, the floods will rush faster than you can; no one can possibly escape. But see! the waters are rising no further! it appears to me the danger is over."
"And our comrades at the far end of the works--what about them?" cried some of the miners.
"There is nothing to fear for them," replied Simon; "they are working on a higher level than the bed of the loch."
It was soon evident that the old man was in the right. The sudden influx19 of water had rushed to the very lowest bed of the vast mine, and its only ultimate effect was to raise the level of Loch Malcolm a few feet. Coal Town was uninjured, and it was reasonable to hope that no one had perished in the flood of water which had descended20 to the depths of the mine never yet penetrated by the workmen.
Simon and his men could not decide whether this inundation was owing to the overflow21 of a subterranean22 sheet of water penetrating23 fissures24 in the solid rock, or to some underground torrent26 breaking through its worn bed, and precipitating27 itself to the lowest level of the mine. But that very same evening they knew what to think about it, for the local papers published an account of the marvelous phenomenon which Loch Katrine had exhibited.
The surprising news was soon after confirmed by the four travelers, who, returning with all possible speed to the cottage, learned with extreme satisfaction that no serious damage was done in New Aberfoyle.
The bed of Loch Katrine had fairly given way. The waters had suddenly broken through by an enormous fissure25 into the mine beneath. Of Sir Walter Scott's favorite loch there was not left enough to wet the pretty foot of the Lady of the Lake; all that remained was a pond of a few acres at the further extremity28.
This singular event made a profound sensation in the country. It was a thing unheard of that a lake should in the space of a few minutes empty itself, and disappear into the bowels29 of the earth. There was nothing for it but to erase30 Loch Katrine from the map of Scotland until (by public subscription) it could be refilled, care being of course taken, in the first place, to stop the rent up tight. This catastrophe31 would have been the death of Sir Walter Scott, had he still been in the world.
The accident was explicable when it was ascertained32 that, between the bed of the lake and the vast cavity beneath, the geological strata33 had become reduced to a thin layer, incapable34 of longer sustaining the weight of water.
Now, although to most people this event seemed plainly due to natural causes, yet to James Starr and his friends, Simon and Harry35 Ford, the question constantly recurred36, was it not rather to be attributed to malevolence37? Uneasy suspicions continually harassed38 their minds. Was their evil genius about to renew his persecution39 of those who ventured to work this rich mine?
At the cottage, some days later, James Starr thus discussed the matter with the old man and his son: "Well, Simon," said he, "to my thinking we must class this circumstance with the others for which we still seek elucidation40, although it is no doubt possible to explain it by natural causes."
"I am quite of your mind, Mr. James," replied Simon, "but take my advice, and say nothing about it; let us make all researches ourselves."
"Oh, I know the result of such research beforehand!" cried the engineer.
"And what will it be, then?"
"We shall find proofs of malevolence, but not the malefactor41."
"But he exists! he is there! Where can he lie concealed42? Is it possible to conceive that the most depraved human being could, single-handed, carry out an idea so infernal as that of bursting through the bed of a lake? I believe I shall end by thinking, like Jack44 Ryan, that the evil demon45 of the mine revenges himself on us for having invaded his domain46."
Nell was allowed to hear as little as possible of these discussions. Indeed, she showed no desire to enter into them, although it was very evident that she shared in the anxieties of her adopted parents. The melancholy47 in her countenance48 bore witness to much mental agitation49.
It was at length resolved that James Starr, together with Simon and Harry, should return to the scene of the disaster, and endeavor to satisfy themselves as to the cause of it. They mentioned their project to no one. To those unacquainted with the group of facts on which it was based, the opinion of Starr and his friends could not fail to appear wholly inadmissible.
A few days later, the three friends proceeded in a small boat to examine the natural pillars on which had rested the solid earth forming the basin of Loch Katrine. They discovered that they had been right in suspecting that the massive columns had been undermined by blasting. The blackened traces of explosion were to be seen, the waters having subsided50 below the level of these mysterious operations Thus the fall of a portion of the vast vaulted51 dome52 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 perfectly53 unlike that of a band of common criminals, who, concealing54 themselves in dens55 and caves, go forth56 to rob and pillage57 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 prodigious58 caverns59, and were consequently anxious to drive us out of them. But no one coins false money or obtains contraband60 goods only to conceal43 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 wreak61 his hatred62 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 foe63.
"My friends, he must understand better than we do the secrets of our domain, since he has all this time eluded64 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 softens65. 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 immediately--his mind evidently engaged in a close and candid66 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. Starr--and 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 us--for 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 inexplicable67."
Harry would have continued her defense68; 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 mere69 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 somber70 region she had loved as a child, and in which her wedded71 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 celebrated72 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 partially73 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 specially74 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 entreaty75, these malicious76 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 solicitude77. 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 disarmed78, 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 anguish80 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 agitated81, her features expressing the utmost horror. Unable to speak, her eyes were riveted82 on the door of the cottage, which she had just opened.
With rigid83 fingers she pointed79 to the following words traced upon it during the night: "Simon Ford, you have robbed me of the last vein84 in our old pit. Harry, your son, has robbed me of Nell. Woe85 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 maiden86.
"Silfax!" repeated Nell in tones of despair, "Silfax!"--and, murmuring this name, her whole frame shuddering87 with fear and agitation, she was borne away to her chamber88 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 himself Silfax. I see by your troubled manner that you know him. Who is this Silfax?"
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1
dynamite
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| n./vt.(用)炸药(爆破) | |
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resounded
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| v.（指声音等）回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 )；产生回响；（指某处）回荡着声音 | |
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draughts
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| n. <英>国际跳棋 | |
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gusts
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| 一阵强风( gust的名词复数 )； （怒、笑等的）爆发； （感情的）迸发； 发作 | |
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cower
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| v.畏缩，退缩，抖缩 | |
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incessantly
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| ad.不停地 | |
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shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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labored
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| adj.吃力的，谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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Ford
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| n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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cataract
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| n.大瀑布，奔流，洪水，白内障 | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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inundation
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| n.the act or fact of overflowing | |
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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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excavation
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| n.挖掘，发掘；被挖掘之地 | |
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fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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influx
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| n.流入，注入 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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overflow
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| v.(使)外溢，(使)溢出；溢出，流出，漫出 | |
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subterranean
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| adj.地下的，地表下的 | |
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penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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fissures
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| n.狭长裂缝或裂隙( fissure的名词复数 )；裂伤；分歧；分裂v.裂开( fissure的第三人称单数 ) | |
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fissure
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| n.裂缝；裂伤 | |
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torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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precipitating
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| adj.急落的，猛冲的v.（突如其来地）使发生( precipitate的现在分词 )；促成；猛然摔下；使沉淀 | |
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extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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bowels
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| n.肠，内脏，内部；肠( bowel的名词复数 )；内部，最深处 | |
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erase
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| v.擦掉；消除某事物的痕迹 | |
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catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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strata
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| n.地层（复数）；社会阶层 | |
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incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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recurred
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| 再发生，复发( recur的过去式和过去分词 )； 治愈 | |
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malevolence
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| n.恶意，狠毒 | |
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harassed
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| adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词 | |
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persecution
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| n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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elucidation
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| n.说明，阐明 | |
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malefactor
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| n.罪犯 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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domain
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| n.(活动等)领域，范围；领地，势力范围 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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51
vaulted
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| adj.拱状的 | |
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dome
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| n.圆屋顶，拱顶 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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54
concealing
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
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dens
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| n.牙齿，齿状部分；兽窝( den的名词复数 )；窝点；休息室；书斋 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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pillage
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| v.抢劫；掠夺；n.抢劫，掠夺；掠夺物 | |
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prodigious
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| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
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caverns
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| 大山洞，大洞穴( cavern的名词复数 ) | |
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contraband
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| n.违禁品，走私品 | |
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wreak
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| v.发泄；报复 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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eluded
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| v.（尤指机敏地）避开( elude的过去式和过去分词 )；逃避；躲避；使达不到 | |
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65
softens
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| （使）变软( soften的第三人称单数 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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candid
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| adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的 | |
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inexplicable
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| adj.无法解释的，难理解的 | |
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68
defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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69
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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70
somber
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| adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的 | |
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71
wedded
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| adj.正式结婚的；渴望…的，执著于…的v.嫁，娶，（与…）结婚( wed的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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72
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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73
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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74
specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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75
entreaty
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| n.恳求，哀求 | |
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76
malicious
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| adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的 | |
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77
solicitude
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| n.焦虑 | |
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78
disarmed
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| v.裁军( disarm的过去式和过去分词 )；使息怒 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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80
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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81
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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82
riveted
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| 铆接( rivet的过去式和过去分词 )； 把…固定住； 吸引； 引起某人的注意 | |
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83
rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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84
vein
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| n.血管，静脉；叶脉，纹理；情绪；vt.使成脉络 | |
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85
woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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86
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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87
shuddering
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| v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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88
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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