the underground city-地下城(英文版)-第7部分

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ometimes　found　amongst　the　rock；　it　would　soon　have　been　empty；　and　the　phenomenon　have　ceased。　　But　far　from　that。　According　to　Simon　Ford；　the　fire…damp　escaped　incessantly；　and　from　that　fact　the　existence　of　an　important　vein　might　be　considered　certain。　Consequently；　the　riches　of　the　Dochart　pit　were　not　entirely　exhausted。　The　chief　question　now　was；　whether　this　was　merely　a　vein　which　would　yield　paratively　little；　or　a　bed　occupying　a　large　extent。

Harry；　who　preceded　his　father　and　the　engineer；　stopped。


〃Here　we　are！〃　exclaimed　the　old　miner。　　〃At　last；　thank　Heaven！　you　are　here；　Mr。　Starr；　and　we　shall　soon　know。〃　The　old　overman's　voice　trembled　slightly。

〃Be　calm；　my　man！〃　said　the　engineer。　　〃I　am　as　excited　as　you　are；　but　we　must　not　lose　time。〃

The　gallery　at　this　end　of　the　pit　widened　into　a　sort　of　dark　cave。　No　shaft　had　been　pierced　in　this　part；　and　the　gallery；　bored　into　the　bowels　of　the　earth；　had　no　direct　munication　with　the　surface　of　the　earth。

James　Starr；　with　intense　interest；　examined　the　place　in　which　they　were　standing。　　On　the　walls　of　the　cavern　the　marks　of　the　pick　could　still　be　seen；　and　even　holes　in　which　the　rock　had　been　blasted；　near　the　termination　of　the　working。　The　schist　was　excessively　hard；　and　it　had　not　been　necessary　to　bank　up　the　end　of　the　tunnel　where　the　works　had　e　to　an　end。　There　the　vein　had　failed；　between　the　schist　and　the　tertiary　sandstone。　From　this　very　place　had　been　extracted　the　last　piece　of　coal　from　the　Dochart　pit。

〃We　must　attack　the　dyke；〃　said　Ford；　raising　his　pick；　〃for　at　the　other　side　of　the　break；　at　more　or　less　depth；　we　shall　assuredly　find　the　vein；　the　existence　of　which　I　assert。〃

〃And　was　it　on　the　surface　of　these　rocks　that　you　found　out　the　fire…damp？〃　asked　James　Starr。

〃Just　there；　sir；〃　returned　Ford；　〃and　I　was　able　to　light　it　only　by　bringing　my　lamp　near　to　the　cracks　in　the　rock。　Harry　has　done　it　as　well　as　I。〃

〃At　what　height？〃　asked　Starr。

〃Ten　feet　from　the　ground；〃　replied　Harry。

James　Starr　had　seated　himself　on　a　rock。　　After　critically　inhaling　the　air　of　the　cavern；　he　gazed　at　the　two　miners；　almost　as　if　doubting　their　words；　decided　as　they　were。　In　fact；　carburetted　hydrogen　is　not　pletely　scentless；　and　the　engineer；　whose　sense　of　smell　was　very　keen；　was　astonished　that　it　had　not　revealed　the　presence　of　the　explosive　gas。　At　any　rate；　if　the　gas　had　mingled　at　all　with　the　surrounding　air；　it　could　only　be　in　a　very　small　stream。　　There　was　no　danger　of　an　explosion；　and　they　might　without　fear　open　the　safety　lamp　to　try　the　experiment；　just　as　the　old　miner　had　done　before。

What　troubled　James　Starr　was；　not　lest　too　much　gas

mingled　with　the　air；　but　lest　there　should　be　little　or　none。

〃Could　they　have　been　mistaken？〃　he　murmured。　　〃No：　　these　men　know　what　they　are　about。　　And　yet……〃

He　waited；　not　without　some　anxiety；　until　Simon　Ford's　phenomenon　should　have　taken　place。　　But　just　then　it　seemed　that　Harry；　like　himself；　had　remarked　the　absence　of　the　characteristic　odor　of　fire…damp；　for　he　exclaimed　in　an　altered　voice；　〃Father；　I　should　say　the　gas　was　no　longer　escaping　through　the　cracks！〃

〃No　longer！〃　cried　the　old　miner……and；　pressing　his　lips　tight　together；　he　snuffed　the　air　several　times。

Then；　all　at　once；　with　a　sudden　movement；　〃Hand　me　your　lamp；　Harry；〃　he　said。

Ford　took　the　lamp　with　a　trembling　hand。　　He　drew　off　the　wire　gauze　case　which　surrounded　the　wick；　and　the　flame　burned　in　the　open　air。

As　they　had　expected；　there　was　no　explosion；　but；　what　was　more　serious；　there　was　not　even　the　slight　crackling　which　indicates　the　presence　of　a　small　quantity　of　firedamp。　Simon　took　the　stick　which　Harry　was　holding；　fixed　his　lamp　to　the　end　of　it；　and　raised　it　high　above　his　head；　up　to　where　the　gas；　by　reason　of　its　buoyancy；　would　naturally　accumulate。　The　flame　of　the　lamp；　burning　straight　and　clear；　revealed　no　trace　of　the　carburetted　hydrogen。

〃Close　to　the　wall；〃　said　the　engineer。

〃Yes；〃　responded　Ford；　carrying　the　lamp　to　that　part　of　the　wall　at　which　he　and　his　son　had；　the　evening　before；　proved　the　escape　of　gas。

The　old　miner's　arm　trembled　whilst　he　tried　to　hoist　the　lamp　up。　〃Take　my　place；　Harry；〃　said　he。

Harry　took　the　stick；　and　successively　presented　the　lamp　to　the　different　fissures　in　the　rock；　but　he　shook　his　head；　for　of　that　slight　crackling　peculiar　to　escaping　fire…damp　he　heard　nothing。　　There　was　no　flame。　Evidently　not　a　particle　of　gas　was　escaping　through　the　rock。

〃Nothing！〃　cried　Ford；　clenching　his　fist　with　a　gesture　rather　of　anger　than　disappointment。

A　cry　escaped　Harry。

〃What's　the　matter？〃　asked　Starr　quickly。

〃Someone　has　stopped　up　the　cracks　in　the　schist！〃

〃Is　that　true？〃　exclaimed　the　old　miner。


〃Look；　father！〃　　Harry　was　not　mistaken。　　The　obstruction　of　the　fissures　was　clearly　visible　by　the　light　of　the　lamp。　It　had　been　recently　done　with　lime；　leaving　on　the　rock　a　long　whitish　mark；　badly　concealed　with　coal　dust。

〃It's　he！〃　exclaimed　Harry。　　〃It　can　only　be　he！〃

〃He？〃　repeated　James　Starr　in　amazement。

〃Yes！〃　returned　the　young　man；　〃that　mysterious　being　who　haunts　our　domain；　for　whom　I　have　watched　a　hundred　times　without　being　able　to　get　at　him……the　author；　we　may　now　be　certain；　of　that　letter　which　was　intended　to　hinder　you　from　ing　to　see　my　father；　Mr。　Starr；　and　who　finally　threw　that　stone　at　us　in　the　gallery　of　the　Yarrow　shaft！　　Ah！　there's　no　doubt　about　it；　there　is　a　man's　hand　in　all　that！〃

Harry　spoke　with　such　energy　that　conviction　came　instantly　and　fully　to　the　engineer's　mind。　　As　to　the　old　overman；　he　was　already　convinced。　Besides；　there　they　were　in　the　presence　of　an　undeniable　fact……　the　stopping…up　of　cracks　through　which　gas　had　escaped　freely　the　night　before。

〃Take　your　pick；　Harry；〃　cried　Ford；　〃mount　on　my　shoulders；　my　lad！　I　am　still　strong　enough　to　bear　you！〃　　The　young　man　understood　in　an　instant。　　His　father　propped　himself　up　against　the　rock。　Harry　got　upon　his　shoulders；　so　that　with　his　pick　he　could　reach　the　line　of　the　fissure。　　Then　with　quick　sharp　blows　he　attacked　it。　Almost　directly　afterwards　a　slight　sound　was　heard；　like　champagne　escaping　from　a　bottle……a　sound　monly　expressed　by　the　word　〃puff。〃

Harry　again　seized　his　lamp；　and　held　it　to　the　opening。　There　was　a　slight　report；　and　a　little　red　flame；　rather　blue　at　its　outline；　flickered　over　the　rock　like　a　Will…o'…the…Wisp。

Harry　leaped　to　the　ground；　and　the　old　overman；　unable　to　contain　his　joy；　grasped　the　engineer's　hands；　exclaiming；　〃Hurrah！　hurrah！　hurrah！　Mr。　Starr。　　The　fire…damp　burns！　the　vein　is　there！〃


CHAPTER　VII　NEW　ABERFOYLE


THE　old　overman's　experiment　had　succeeded。　　Firedamp；　it　is　well　known；　is　only　generated　in　coal　seams；　therefore　the　existence　of　a　vein　of　precious　bustible　could　no　longer　be　doubted。　As　to　its　size　and　quality；　that　must　be　determined　later。

〃Yes；〃　thought　James　Starr；　〃behind　that　wall　lies　a　carboniferous　bed；　undiscovered　by　our　soundings。　　It　is　vexatious　that　all　the　apparatus　of　the　mine；　deserted　for　ten　years；　must　be　set　up　anew。　　Never　mind。　We　have　found　the　vein　which　was　thought　to　be　exhausted；　and　this　time　it　shall　be　worked　to　the　end！〃

〃Well；　Mr。　Starr；〃　asked　Ford；　〃what　do　you　think　of　our　discovery？　Was　I　wrong　to　trouble　you？　　Are　you　sorry　to　have　paid　this　visit　to　the　Dochart　pit？〃

〃No；　no；　my　old　friend！〃　answered　Starr。　　〃We　have　not　lost　our　time；　but　we　shall　be　losing　it　now；　if　we　do　not　return　immediately　to　the　cottage。　　To…morrow　we　will　e　back　here。　We　will　blast　this　wall　with　dynamite。　　We　will　lay　open　the　new　vein；　and　after　a　series　of　soundings；　if　the　seam　appears　to　be　large；　I　will　form　a　new　Aberfoyle　pany；　to　the　great　satisfaction　of　the　old　shareholders。　Before　three　months　have　passed；　the　first　corves　full　of　coal　will　have　been　taken　from　the　new　vein。〃

〃Well　said；　sir！〃　cried　Simon　Ford。　　〃The　old　mine　will　grow　young　again；　like　a　widow　who　remarries！　　The　bustle　of　the　old　days　will　soon　begin　with　the　blows　of　the　pick；　and　mattock；　blasts　of　powder；　rumbling　of　wagons；　neighing　of　horses；　creaking　of　machines！　I　shall　see　it　all　again！　　I　hope；　Mr。　Starr；　that　you　will　not　think　me　too　old　to　r閟um？my　duties　of　overman？〃

〃No；　Simon；　no　indeed！　　You　wear　better　than　I　do；　my　old　friend！〃

〃And；　sir；　you　shall　be　our　viewer　again。　　May　the　new　working　last　for　many　years；　and　pray　Heaven　I　shall　have　the　consolation　of　dying　without　seeing　the　end　of　it！〃

The　old　miner　was　overflowing　with　joy。　　James　Starr　fully　entered　into　it；　but　he　let　Ford　rave　for　them　both。　Harry　alone　remained　thoughtful。　　To　his　memory　recurred　the　succession　of　singular；　inexplicable　circumstances

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attending　the　discovery　of　the　new　bed。　　It　made　him　uneasy　about　the　future。

An　hour　afterwards；　James　Starr　and　his　two　panions　were　back　in　the　cottage。　　The　engineer　supped　with　good　appetite；　listening　with　satisfaction　to　all　the　plans　unfolded　by　the　old　overman；　and　had　it　not　been　for　his　excitement　about　the　next　day's　work；　he　would　never　have　slept　better　than　in　the　perfect　stillness　of　the　cottage。

The　following　day；　after　a　substantial　breakfast；　James　Starr；　Simon　Ford；　Harry；　and　even　Madge　herself；　took　the　road　already　traversed　the　day　before。　　All　looked　like　regular　miners。　They　carried　different　tools；　and　some　dynamite　with　which　to　blast　the　rock。　　Harry；　besides　a　large　lantern；　took　a　safety　lamp；　which　would　burn　for　twelve　hours。　　It　was　more　than　was　necessary　for　the　journey　there　and　back；　including　the　time　for　the　working……　supposing　a　working　was　possible。

〃To　work！　to　work！〃　shouted　Ford；　when　the　party　reached　the　further　end　of　the　passage；　and　he　grasped　a　heavy　crowbar　and　brandished　it。

〃Stop　one　instant；〃　said　Starr。　　〃Let　us　see　if　any　change　has　taken　place；　and　if　the　fire…damp　still　escapes　through　the　crevices。〃

〃You　are　right；　Mr。　Starr；〃　said　Harry。　　〃Whoever　stopped　it　up　yesterday　may　have　done　it　again　to…day！〃

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。