Chapter
1 I | by Harry Ford, son of the old overman Simon Ford.”~“He
2 I | forty. He belonged to an old Edinburgh family, and was
3 I | held a high rank in the old capital of Scotland, which
4 I | laborers, women, children, and old men, all were collected
5 I | generations in the mine of old Aberfoyle; they were now
6 I | to help each other. Your old masters will not forget
7 I | to see you, and talk over old times.”~“I know that, Mr.
8 I | leave the mine, our good old nurse, just because her
9 I | without delay the road to the old Aberfoyle colliery.~A communication
10 I | Was it possible that the old foreman had discovered some
11 I | Simon Ford. However, the old overman must well know that
12 I | apparently torn out of an old copy book.~On this paper
13 II | county of Stirling. The old miner had evidently not
14 II | Besides, the son of the old overman was there, waiting
15 II | your family never left the old mine since the cessation
16 III | roads took the place of the old mining tramways. James Starr
17 III | asked James Starr.~“An old mining comrade,” replied
18 III | or hoe. And then, in the old pit, there were vaulted
19 III | But you are going to see old Simon, Mr. Starr?”~“Yes,
20 III | have the whole plan of the old pit still in my head.”~Harry,
21 III | stone, Harry! Ah! these old vaultings are no longer
22 IV | it, in which resided the old overman. As he had some
23 IV | Ford was descended from an old mining family, and his ancestors
24 IV | equable temperature; the old overman endured neither
25 IV | Simon Ford any doubt that old Aberfoyle would one day
26 IV | cheered the heart of the old overman. “Aberfoyle is only
27 IV | schist. “Welcome to the old overman’s cottage! Though
28 IV | the damp streets of the old capital.”~“I’m not the man
29 IV | Starr, glad to find the old man just as he used to be. “
30 IV | Starr? I know one of your old miners who would be truly
31 IV | By-the-bye, Harry,” added the old overman, turning to his
32 IV | had read the reply in the old overman’s eyes.~“And the
33 IV | But who,” exclaimed the old miner, “who could have possibly
34 IV | letter just now.”~On the old woman’s invitation, each
35 IV | swimming in capital broth. As old Simon said, his wife knew
36 IV | whisky, five and twenty years old—just Harry’s age. The repast
37 IV | of their past life in the old Aberfoyle mine.~Harry had
38 IV | affectionate son,” replied the old overman earnestly.~“Is he
39 IV | forbid nothing,” returned the old miner, “but there’s no hurry
40 IV | just yet!” returned the old overman, his deep-set eyes
41 V | conscientiously, so as not to let the old traditions be lost.~Even
42 V | father, neither could the old overman nor he himself answer
43 V | physical cause, “My lad,” the old man would say, “we must
44 VI | SIMON FORD’S EXPERIMENT~THE old clock in the cottage struck
45 VI | soon be of use, for the old overman was about to conduct
46 VI | The gravity with which the old man uttered these words
47 VI | he exclaimed. “No! The old mine was not dead. It was
48 VI | carburetted hydrogen?”~“An old miner could not be deceived,”
49 VI | Ford. “I have met with our old enemy, the fire-damp!”~“
50 VI | Dochart pit.”~All that the old overman had related of the
51 VI | pondered over all that the old miner had told him, and
52 VI | Here we are!” exclaimed the old miner. “At last, thank Heaven!
53 VI | we shall soon know.” The old overman’s voice trembled
54 VI | experiment, just as the old miner had done before.~What
55 VI | No longer!” cried the old miner—and, pressing his
56 VI | proved the escape of gas.~The old miner’s arm trembled whilst
57 VI | that true?” exclaimed the old miner.~“Look, father!” Harry
58 VI | engineer’s mind. As to the old overman, he was already
59 VI | leaped to the ground, and the old overman, unable to contain
60 VII | CHAPTER VII NEW ABERFOYLE~THE old overman’s experiment had
61 VII | Dochart pit?”~“No, no, my old friend!” answered Starr. “
62 VII | great satisfaction of the old shareholders. Before three
63 VII | cried Simon Ford. “The old mine will grow young again,
64 VII | remarries! The bustle of the old days will soon begin with
65 VII | you will not think me too old to résumé my duties of overman?”~“
66 VII | wear better than I do, my old friend!”~“And, sir, you
67 VII | seeing the end of it!”~The old miner was overflowing with
68 VII | the plans unfolded by the old overman; and had it not
69 VII | never, no, never has my old heart beaten so quick before!
70 VII | Excuse me, sir,” answered the old overman; “but of course
71 VII | reach his companions?~The old overman, dead to their remonstrances,
72 VII | belonged entirely to the old overman. Ten years’ sojourn
73 VII | of currents or tides; no old castle was reflected there;
74 VIII | accustomed to explore the old Aberfoyle mine for whole
75 VIII | dare to say no!”~“Well, my old friend, I haven’t felt so
76 VIII | Trust to the instinct of an old miner! It has never deceived
77 VIII | said, wife!” answered the old overman, “and you shall
78 VIII | I won’t tease you, then, old Simon,” answered James Starr. “
79 VIII | Harry, interrupting the old man. All listened, as the
80 VIII | the sea though!” cried the old overman.~“No,” said the
81 VIII | suspicious look.~“I joking, old man? no! but you are so
82 VIII | be one town more inside old England.”~James Starr, smiling
83 VIII | at. After that, it is the old mine. We know that, and
84 VIII | All complied with the old overman’s instructions.
85 VIII | nothing but a solid wall.~The old overman stepped forward,
86 IX | attention, the son of the old overman was the cause of
87 IX | their heads to explore these old historical remains, but
88 IX | fire-maidens,” who haunted the old castle.~The most superstitious
89 IX | frequenting the ruins of the old castle and there performing
90 IX | music of his bagpipes.~“Old Nick is enough for them!”
91 IX | gale, on the summit of the old tower.~“The Fire-Maiden!”
92 IX | the least trace, whether old or new. Moreover, the earth,
93 IX | too, that the son of the old overman had not heard of
94 IX | the farm and see how his old chum was going on.~As Harry
95 IX | Ryan had not forgotten his old mining habits, and he was
96 IX | ladder. It was in vain.~“Old Nick himself must have been
97 IX | All was in order, as if old Madge had been still there.
98 X | any country, either in the Old or New World, could present
99 X | of the new field, all the old colliers had hastened to
100 X | wished to go out again. The old overman maintained that
101 X | his duty to return to his old trade. But though Melrose
102 X | his frank and hearty way. Old Madge loved him for his
103 X | that time!” answered the old overman. “But neither Mr.
104 X | against the family of the old overman, before the discovery
105 XI | come to visit us! Cheer up, old fellow! Do the honors of
106 XI | enough, Jack.”~“What? the old story?”~“Yes, the same thoughts
107 XI | to James Starr or to the old overman. Jack had been discreet
108 XII | and his companions. The old overman listened to the
109 XII | as from a long sleep, the old Scotchwoman began to question
110 XII | stroked it caressingly. “How old are you, my lassie?” she
111 XII | continued Madge, “how many years old?”~“Years?” replied Nell.
112 XII | and zealous assistant to old Madge. It was clear that
113 XII | her as a mother would; the old woman doted upon her; in
114 XII | have been as far as the old mine of Aberfoyle.”~“So
115 XII | Aberfoyle.”~“So you knew our old cottage?”~“The cottage!
116 XII | never would give up the old dwelling.”~“Perhaps it would
117 XIII | heartily as she deserves. Old Simon, your father, and
118 XIII | Simon, your father, and old Madge, your mother, both
119 XIII | Jack!”~“Why, you yourself, old fellow! still you! always
120 XIII | on his first visit to the old cottage, “How can our son
121 XIII | direct from Heaven? So the old man made up his mind that,
122 XIII | communicated his ideas to old Simon, who decidedly appreciated
123 XIV | life in the coal mine, like old ~Simon, and Madge, and Harry.
124 XIV | among the houses of the old town. Westward rose many
125 XV | moment catch sight of the old tower of its ancient castle.
126 XV | one may see two-thirds of old Caledonia. This eastern
127 XV | the pale moon, called in old ballads ‘Macfarlane’s lantern.’
128 XV | back with you to our dear old home.”~“Nell!” said Harry,
129 XVI | without wasting an hour.~Old Simon Ford and Madge, having
130 XVI | and from time to time the old couple spoke of Nell, of
131 XVI | down into the mine. The old people rose hastily. They
132 XVI | friends, stop!” shouted the old man; “if our town is to
133 XVI | was soon evident that the old man was in the right. The
134 XVI | discussed the matter with the old man and his son: “Well,
135 XVI | well say that,” cried the old overman, with a feeling
136 XVI | further delay.”~“My boy,” said old Simon, “your marriage shall
137 XVI | of the last vein in our old pit. Harry, your son, has
138 XVI | borne away to her chamber by old Madge.~James Starr, hastening
139 XVII | revealed everything to the old overman. It was that of
140 XVII | unable to reach.~One day this old man disappeared, and at
141 XVII | secret abyss of the mine.~The old overman, full of mingled
142 XVII | to call him. Why, he was old then! He must be fifteen
143 XVII | of the last vein of our old mine’?”~“Ah! there it is,”
144 XVII | sought for could be the old fireman of the Dochart pit.”~“
145 XVII | happened, Mr. Starr,” returned old Simon. “The old ‘Monk’ is
146 XVII | returned old Simon. “The old ‘Monk’ is mad enough now,
147 XVII | have had of it with the old man!”~“Miserable with a
148 XVII | am the granddaughter of old Silfax,” resumed Nell. “
149 XVII | my daughter!” said the old woman.~“I knew no father
150 XVII | When he disappeared from Old Aberfoyle, he concealed
151 XVII | that, not content with the old domain, you seemed to think
152 XVII | see that the grandchild of old Silfax can never be the
153 XVII | speaking, Harry turned to old Madge and said, “Mother,
154 XVIII| than ever. The threats of old Silfax were too serious
155 XVIII| look out for Silfax. The old man having vindictively
156 XVIII| supposed that through this old building Silfax passed out
157 XVIII| not but speak of it to the old overman, whose uneasiness
158 XVIII| friends and comrades of the old overman— every member of
159 XVIII| matrons of the olden time, old Simon wore a coat of which
160 XVIII| was seen the figure of an old man standing upright. He
161 XVIII| apparatus.~In a loud voice this old man shouted, “The fire-damp
162 XVIII| and well did that fierce old man know that the consequence
163 XVIII| the fire-damp!” yelled the old man, urging his canoe further
164 XVIII| it was too late to fly! Old Silfax stood there, prepared
165 XVIII| the last sound uttered by old Silfax.~Just as Jack Ryan
166 XVIII| the edge of the canoe, the old man, foiled in his purpose
167 XIX | CHAPTER XIX THE LEGEND OF OLD SILFAX~Six months after
168 XIX | years of marriage with good old Madge, who liked the idea
169 XIX | Certainly the strange bird of old Silfax seemed destined to
170 XIX | recesses of the cave. After the old man’s death, Nell had attempted
171 XIX | Thanks to him, the story of old Silfax and his bird will
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