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the underground city-地下城(英文版)-第14部分

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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 notion in your head; Jack?〃 asked Harry。

〃Well; I don't know。  Creatures that live in these holes; Harry; don't you see? they can't be made like us; eh?〃

〃But they ARE just like us; Jack。〃

〃Oh; no! don't say that; Harry!  Perhaps some madman managed to get in for a time。〃

〃A madman!  No madman would have formed such connected plans; or done such continued mischief as befell us after the breaking of the ladders。〃

〃Well; but anyhow he has done no harm for the last three years; either to you; Harry; or any of your people。〃

〃No matter; Jack;〃 replied Harry; 〃I am persuaded that this malignant being; whoever he is; has by no means given up his evil intentions。 I can hardly say on what I

found my convictions。  But at any rate; for the sake of the new works; I must and will know who he is and whence he es。〃

〃For the sake of the new works did you say?〃 asked Jack; considerably surprised。

〃I said so; Jack;〃 returned Harry。  〃I may be mistaken; but; to me; all that has happened proves the existence of an interest in this mine in strong opposition to ours。 Many a time have I considered the matter; I feel almost sure of it。 Just consider the whole series of inexplicable circumstances; so singularly linked together。  To begin with; the anonymous letter; contradictory to that of my father; at once proves that some man had bee aware of our projects; and wished to prevent their acplishment。  Mr。 Starr es to see us at the Dochart pit。 No sooner does he enter it with me than an immense stone is cast upon us; and munication is interrupted by the breaking of the ladders in the Yarrow shaft。  We mence exploring。 An experiment; by which the existence of a new vein would be proved; is rendered impossible by stoppage of fissures。 Notwithstanding this; the examination is carried out; the vein discovered。  We return as we came; a prodigious gust of air meets us; our lamp is broken; utter darkness surrounds us。  Nevertheless; we make our way along the gloomy passage until; on reaching the entrance; we find it blocked up。 There we were……imprisoned。  Now; Jack; don't you see in all these things a malicious intention?  Ah; yes; believe me; some being hitherto invisible; but not supernatural; as you will persist in thinking; was concealed in the mine。  For some reason; known only to himself; he strove to keep us out of it。 WAS there; did I say?  I feel an inward conviction that he IS there still; and probably prepares some terrible disaster for us。 Even at the risk of my life; Jack; I am resolved to discover him。〃

Harry spoke with an earnestness which strongly impressed his panion。 〃Well; Harry;〃 said he; 〃if I am forced to agree with you in certain points; won't you admit that some kind fairy or brownie; by bringing bread and water to you; was the means of……〃

〃Jack; my friend;〃 interrupted Harry; 〃it is my belief that the friendly person; whom you will persist in calling a spirit; exists in the mine as certainly as the criminal we

speak of; and I mean to seek them both in the most distant recesses of the mine。〃

〃But;〃 inquired Jack; 〃have you any possible clew to guide your search?〃

〃Perhaps I have。  Listen to me!  Five miles west of New Aberfoyle; under the solid rock which supports Ben Lomond; there exists a natural shaft which descends perpendicularly into the vein beneath。 A week ago I went to ascertain the depth of this shaft。 While sounding it; and bending over the opening as my plumb…line went down; it seemed to me that the air within was agitated; as though beaten by huge wings。〃

〃Some bird must have got lost among the lower galleries;〃 replied Jack。

〃But that is not all; Jack。  This very morning I went back to the place; and; listening attentively; I thought I could detect a sound like a sort of groaning。〃

〃Groaning!〃 cried Jack; 〃that must be nonsense; it was a current of air…… unless indeed some ghost……〃

〃I shall know to…morrow what it was;〃 said Harry。

〃To…morrow?〃 answered Jack; looking at his friend。

〃Yes; to…morrow I am going down into that abyss。〃

〃Harry! that will be a tempting of Providence。〃

〃No; Jack; Providence will aid me in the attempt。  Tomorrow; you and some of our rades will go with me to that shaft。 I will fasten myself to a long rope; by which you can let me down; and draw me up at a given signal。  I may depend upon you; Jack?〃

〃Well; Harry;〃 said Jack; shaking his head; 〃I will do as you wish me; but I tell you all the same; you are very wrong。〃

〃Nothing venture nothing win;〃 said Harry; in a tone of decision。 〃To…morrow morning; then; at six o'clock。 Be silent; and farewell!〃

It must be admitted that Jack Ryan's fears were far from groundless。 Harry would expose himself to very great danger; supposing the enemy he sought for lay concealed at the bottom of the pit into which he was going to descend。  It did not seem likely that such was the case; however。

〃Why in the world;〃 repeated Jack Ryan; 〃should he take all this trouble to account for a set of facts so very

easily and simply explained by the supernatural intervention of the spirits of the mine?〃

But; notwithstanding his objections to the scheme; Jack Ryan and three miners of his gang arrived next morning with Harry at the mouth of the opening of the suspicious shaft。  Harry had not mentioned his intentions either to James Starr or to the old overman。 Jack had been discreet enough to say nothing。

Harry had provided himself with a rope about 200 feet long。 It was not particularly thick; but very strong……sufficiently so to sustain his weight。  His friends were to let him down into the gulf; and his pulling the cord was to be the signal to withdraw him。

The opening into this shaft or well was twelve feet wide。 A beam was thrown across like a bridge; so that the cord passing over it should hang down the center of the opening; and save Harry from striking against the sides in his descent。

He was ready。

〃Are you still determined to explore this abyss?〃 whispered Jack Ryan。

〃Yes; I am; Jack。〃

The cord was fastened round Harry's thighs and under his arms; to keep him from rocking。  Thus supported; he was free to use both his hands。  A safety…lamp hung at his belt; also a large; strong knife in a leather sheath。

Harry advanced to the middle of the beam; around which the cord was passed。  Then his friends began to let him down; and he slowly sank into the pit。  As the rope caused him to swing gently round and round; the light of his lamp fell in turns on all points of the side walls; so that he was able to examine them carefully。 These walls consisted of pit coal; and so smooth that it would be impossible to ascend them。

Harry calculated that he was going down at the rate of about a foot per second; so that he had time to look about him; and be ready for any event。

During two minutes……that is to say; to the depth of about 120 feet; the descent continued without any incident。

No lateral gallery opened from the side walls of the pit; which was gradually narrowing into the shape of a funnel。 But Harry began to feel a fresher air ris

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