Part 13 (1/2)
”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 soet in for a time”
”A madman! No madman would have formed such connected plans, or done such continuedof 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 nant being, whoever he is, has by no iven up his evil intentions I can hardly say on what I found my convictions But at any rate, for the sake of the neorks, I must and will knoho he is and whence he comes”
”For the sake of the neorks 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 thisopposition to ours Many a time have I considered the matter; I feel almost sure of it Just consider the whole series of inexplicable circuin with, the anonymous letter, contradictory to that of my father, at once proves that some man had become aware of our projects, and wished to prevent their accomplishment Mr Starr comes to see us at the Dochart pit No sooner does he enter it with me than an immense stone is cast upon us, and co of the ladders in the Yarrow shaft We co An experiment, by which the existence of a new vein would be proved, is rendered i this, the examination is carried out, the vein discovered We return as we caust of air meets us, our lamp is broken, utter darkness surrounds us Nevertheless, wethe entrance, we find it blocked up There ere--is ahitherto 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 hily impressed his coree with you in certain points, won't you ad bread and water to you, was the means of--”
”Jack, my friend,” interrupted Harry, ”it is my belief that the friendly person, who 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 pluitated, as though beaten by huge wings”
”Soalleries,” replied Jack
”But that is not all, Jack This veryattentively, 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 sohost--”
”I shall know to-morrohat it was,” said Harry
”To- at his friend
”Yes; to- down into that abyss”
”Harry! that will be a te of Providence”
”No, Jack, Providence will aid me in the atteo withrope, by which you can let nal I may depend upon you, Jack?”
”Well, Harry,” said Jack, shaking his head, ”I will do as you wish ”