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 malefactor."
"But he exists! he is there! Where can he lie concealed?

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 Jack Ryan, that the evil demon of the mine revenges himself

on us for having invaded his domain."
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 melancholy in her countenance bore witness to much mentalagitation.
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

subsided below the level of these mysterious operations
Thus the fall of a portion of the vast vaulted dome 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 perfectlyunlike that of a band of common criminals, who,
concealing themselves in dens and caves, go forth to rob and pillage

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 prodigious caverns,
and were consequentlyanxious to drive us out of them.

But no one coins false money or obtains contraband goods only
to conceal 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 wreak his hatred 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 foe.

"My friends, he must understand better than we do the secrets
of our domain, since he has all this time eluded 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 softens.
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 candid 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 hithertoconcealed
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 inexplicable."

Harry would have continued her defense; 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 mere 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 somber region she had loved as a child, and in
which her wedded 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 celebrated 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 partially" target="_blank" title="ad.部分地；局部地">partially 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
specially 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 entreaty,

these malicious attempts to do harm were concealed from her,