by Jules Verne
CHAPTER XVI. A FINAL THREAT
ON that day, in the colliery of New Aberfoyle, work was going on in theusual regular way. In the distance could be heard the crash of greatcharges of dynamite, by which the carboniferous rocks were blasted.Here masses of coal were loosened by pick-ax and crowbar; there theperforating machines, with their harsh grating, bored through the massesof sandstone and schist.
Hollow, cavernous noises resounded on all sides. Draughts of air rushedalong the ventilating galleries, and the wooden swing-doors slammedbeneath their violent gusts. In the lower tunnels, trains of truckskept passing along at the rate of fifteen miles an hour, while at theirapproach electric bells warned the workmen to cower down in the refugeplaces. Lifts went incessantly up and down, worked by powerful engineson the surface of the soil. Coal Town was throughout brilliantly lightedby the electric lamps at full power.
Mining operations were being carried on with the greatest activity; coalwas being piled incessantly into the trucks, which went in hundredsto empty themselves into the corves at the bottom of the shaft. Whileparties of miners who had labored during the night were taking needfulrest, the others worked without wasting an hour.
Old Simon Ford and Madge, having finished their dinner, were resting atthe door of their cottage. Simon smoked a good pipe of tobacco, and fromtime to time the old couple spoke 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 stayso long away from the mine without feeling homesick?
Just then a terrific roaring noise was heard. It was like the sound of amighty cataract rushing down into the mine. The old people rose hastily.They perceived at once that the waters of Loch Malcolm were rising. Agreat wave, unfurling like a billow, swept up the bank and broke againstthe walls of the cottage. Simon caught his wife in his arms, and carriedher to the upper part of their dwelling.
At the same moment, cries arose from all parts of Coal Town, which wasthreatened by a sudden inundation. The inhabitants fled for safety tothe top of the schist rocks bordering the lake; terror spread in alldirections; whole families in frantic haste rushed towards the tunnel inorder to reach the upper regions of the pit.
It was feared that the sea had burst into the colliery, for itsgalleries and passages penetrated as far as the Caledonian Canal. Inthat case the entire excavation, vast as it was, would be completelyflooded. Not a single inhabitant of New Aberfoyle would escape death.
But when the foremost fugitives reached the entrance to the tunnel, theyencountered Simon Ford, who had quitted his cottage. "Stop, my friends,stop!" shouted the old man; "if our town is to be overwhelmed, thefloods will rush faster than you can; no one can possibly escape. Butsee! the waters are rising no further! it appears to me the danger isover."
"And our comrades at the far end of the works--what about them?" criedsome of the miners.
"There is nothing to fear for them," replied Simon; "they are working ona higher level than the bed of the loch."
It was soon evident that the old man was in the right. The sudden influxof water had rushed to the very lowest bed of the vast mine, and itsonly 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 hadperished in the flood of water which had descended to the depths of themine never yet penetrated by the workmen.
Simon and his men could not decide whether this inundation was owing tothe overflow of a subterranean sheet of water penetrating fissures inthe solid rock, or to some underground torrent breaking through its wornbed, and precipitating itself to the lowest level of the mine. But thatvery same evening they knew what to think about it, for the local paperspublished an account of the marvelous phenomenon which Loch Katrine hadexhibited.
The surprising news was soon after confirmed by the four travelers, who,returning with all possible speed to the cottage, learned with extremesatisfaction that no serious damage was done in New Aberfoyle.
The bed of Loch Katrine had fairly given way. The waters had suddenlybroken through by an enormous fissure into the mine beneath. Of SirWalter Scott's favorite loch there was not left enough to wet the prettyfoot of the Lady of the Lake; all that remained was a pond of a fewacres at the further extremity.
This singular event made a profound sensation in the country. It was athing unheard of that a lake should in the space of a few minutes emptyitself, and disappear into the bowels of the earth. There was nothingfor it but to erase Loch Katrine from the map of Scotland until (bypublic subscription) it could be refilled, care being of course taken,in the first place, to stop the rent up tight. This catastrophe wouldhave been the death of Sir Walter Scott, had he still been in the world.
The accident was explicable when it was ascertained that, between thebed of the lake and the vast cavity beneath, the geological stratahad become reduced to a thin layer, incapable of longer sustaining theweight of water.
Now, although to most people this event seemed plainly due to naturalcauses, yet to James Starr and his friends, Simon and Harry Ford, thequestion constantly recurred, was it not rather to be attributed tomalevolence? Uneasy suspicions continually harassed their minds. Wastheir evil genius about to renew his persecution of those who venturedto work this rich mine?
At the cottage, some days later, James Starr thus discussed the matterwith the old man and his son: "Well, Simon," said he, "to my thinkingwe must class this circumstance with the others for which we still seekelucidation, although it is no doubt possible to explain it by naturalcauses."
"I am quite of your mind, Mr. James," replied Simon, "but take myadvice, 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 possibleto conceive that the most depraved human being could, single-handed,carry out an idea so infernal as that of bursting through the bed of alake? I believe I shall end by thinking, like Jack Ryan, that the evildemon 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 veryevident that she shared in the anxieties of her adopted parents. Themelancholy in her countenance bore witness to much mental agitation.
It was at length resolved that James Starr, together with Simon andHarry, should return to the scene of the disaster, and endeavor tosatisfy themselves as to the cause of it. They mentioned their projectto no one. To those unacquainted with the group of facts on which itwas based, the opinion of Starr and his friends could not fail to appearwholly inadmissible.
A few days later, the three friends proceeded in a small boat to examinethe natural pillars on which had rested the solid earth forming thebasin of Loch Katrine. They discovered that they had been right insuspecting that the massive columns had been undermined by blasting.The blackened traces of explosion were to be seen, the waters havingsubsided below the level of these mysterious operations Thus the fall ofa portion of the vast vaulted dome was proved to have been premeditatedby man, and by man's hand had it been effected.
"It is impossible to doubt it," said James Starr; "and who can say whatmight not have happened had the sea, instead of a little loch, been letin upon us?"
"You may well say that," cried the old overman, with a feeling of pridein his beloved mine; "for nothing less than a sea would have drowned ourAberfoyle. But, once more, what possible interest could any human beinghave in the destruction of our works?"
"It is quite incomprehensible," replied James Starr. "This case issomething perfectly unlike that of a band of common criminals, who,concealing themselves in dens and caves, go forth to rob and pillage thesurrounding country. The evil deeds of such men would certainly, in thecourse o
f three years have betrayed their existence and lurking-places.Neither can it be, as I sometimes used to think, that smugglers orcoiners carried on their illegal practices in some distant and unknowncorner of these prodigious caverns, and were consequently anxious todrive us out of them. But no one coins false money or obtains contrabandgoods only to conceal them!
"Yet it is clear that an implacable enemy has sworn the ruin of NewAberfoyle, and that some interest urges him to seek in every possibleway to wreak his hatred upon us. He appears to be too weak to actopenly, and lays his schemes in secret; but displays such intelligenceas to render him a most formidable foe.
"My friends, he must understand better than we do the secrets of ourdomain, since he has all this time eluded our vigilance. He must bea man experienced in mining, skilled beyond the most skillful--that'scertain, Simon! We have proof enough of that.
"Let me see! Have you never had a personal enemy, to whom yoursuspicions might point? Think well! There is such a thing as hatredwhich time never softens. Go back to recollections of your earliestdays. What befalls us appears the work of a stern and patient will, andto explain it demands every effort of thought and memory."
Simon did not answer immediately--his mind evidently engaged in a closeand candid survey of his past life. Presently, raising his head, "No,"said he; "no! Heaven be my witness, neither Madge nor I have everinjured anybody. We cannot believe that we have a single enemy in theworld."
"Ah! if Nell would only speak!" cried the engineer.
"Mr. Starr--and you, father," said Harry, "I do beg of you to keepsilence on this matter, and not to question my poor Nell. I know sheis very anxious and uneasy; and I feel positive that some great secretpainfully oppresses her heart. Either she knows nothing it would be ofany use for us to hear, or she considers it her duty to be silent. It isimpossible to doubt her affection for us--for all of us. If at a futuretime she informs me of what she has hitherto concealed from us, youshall know about it immediately."
"So be it, then, Harry," answered the engineer; "and yet I must sayNell'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 yourfuture 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 daymonth. 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 oftheir examinations in the mine, so that to the rest of its inhabitants,the bursting in of the vaulted roof of the caverns continued to beregarded as a mere accident. There was but a loch the less in Scotland.
Nell gradually resumed her customary duties, and Harry made good use ofher little visit to the upper air, in the instructions he gave her. Sheenjoyed the recollections of life above ground, yet without regrettingit. The somber region she had loved as a child, and in which her weddedlife would be spent, was as dear to her as ever.
The approaching marriage created great excitement in New Aberfoyle. Goodwishes poured in on all sides, and foremost among them were Jack Ryan's.He was detected busily practicing his best songs in preparation for thegreat day, which was to be celebrated by the whole population of CoalTown.
During the month preceding the wedding-day, there were more accidentsoccurring in New Aberfoyle than had ever been known in the place. Onewould have thought the approaching union of Harry and Nell actuallyprovoked one catastrophe after another. These misfortunes happenedchiefly at the further and lowest extremity of the works, and the causeof them was always in some way mysterious.
Thus, for instance, the wood-work of a distant gallery was discovered tobe in flames, which were extinguished by Harry and his companions at therisk of their lives, by employing engines filled with water and carbonicacid, always kept ready in case of necessity. The lamp used by theincendiary was found; but no clew whatever as to who he could be.
Another time an inundation took place in consequence of the stanchionsof a water-tank giving way; and Mr. Starr ascertained beyond a doubtthat these supports had first of all been partially sawn through. Harry,who had been overseeing the works near the place at the time, was buriedin the falling rubbish, and narrowly escaped death.
A few days afterwards, on the steam tramway, a train of trucks, whichHarry was passing along, met with an obstacle on the rails, and wasoverturned. It was then discovered that a beam had been laid across theline. In short, events of this description became so numerous thatthe miners were seized with a kind of panic, and it required all theinfluence of their chiefs to keep them on the works.
"You would think that there was a whole band of these ruffians," Simonkept 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 alertnight and day, yet discovered nothing. The evil intentions seemingspecially designed to injure Harry. Starr forbade him to venture alonebeyond the ordinary limits of the works.
They were equally careful of Nell, although, at Harry's entreaty, thesemalicious attempts to do harm were concealed from her, because theymight remind her painfully of former times. Simon and Madge watched overher by day and by night with a sort of stern solicitude. The poorchild yielded to their wishes, without a remark or a complaint. Did sheperceive 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 easyunless all whom she loved were together in the cottage.
When Harry came home in the evening, she could not restrain expressionsof child-like joy, very unlike her usual manner, which was ratherreserved than demonstrative. As soon as day broke, she was astir beforeanyone else, and her constant uneasiness lasted all day until the hourof return home from work.
Harry became very anxious that their marriage should take place. Hethought that, when the irrevocable step was taken, malevolence would bedisarmed, and that Nell would never feel safe until she was his wife.James Starr, Simon, and Madge, were all of the same opinion, andeveryone counted the intervening days, for everyone suffered from themost uncomfortable forebodings.
It was perfectly evident that nothing relating to Nell was indifferentto this hidden foe, whom it was impossible to meet or to avoid.Therefore it seemed quite possible that the solemn act of her marriagewith Harry might be the occasion of some new and dreadful outbreak ofhis 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 hadshe crossed the threshold than a cry of indescribable anguish escapedher 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 countenanceagitated, her features expressing the utmost horror. Unable to speak,her eyes were riveted on the door of the cottage, which she had justopened.
With rigid fingers she pointed to the following words traced upon itduring the night: "Simon Ford, you have robbed me of the last vein inour old pit. Harry, your son, has robbed me of Nell. Woe betide you! Woebetide you all! Woe betide New Aberfoyle!--SILFAX."
"Silfax!" exclaimed Simon and Madge together.
"Who is this man?" demanded Harry, looking alternately at his father andat the maiden.
"Silfax!" repeated Nell in tones of despair, "Silfax!"--and, murmuringthis name, her whole frame shuddering with fear and agitation, she wasborne away to her chamber by old Madge.
James Starr, hastening to the spot, read the threatening sentences againand again.
"The hand which traced these lines," said he at length, "is the samewhich wrote me the letter contradicting yours, Simon. The man callshimself Silfax. I see by your troubled manner that you know him. Who isthis Silfax?"