Chapter

  1 I    |          son of the old overman Simon Ford.”~“He is requested
  2 I    |         many years he had known Simon Ford, one of the former
  3 I    | powerful machines of the shaft. Simon Ford, the foreman of the
  4 I    |    Starr. This was the overman, Simon Ford. Near him stood a boy,
  5 I    |     down below.~James Starr and Simon Ford knew and esteemed each
  6 I    |      each other well. “Good-by, Simon,” said the engineer.~“Good-by,
  7 I    |      Dochart pit.”~“A long way, Simon? Where do you mean to live?”~“
  8 I    |         to her!”~“Good-by then, Simon,” replied the engineer,
  9 I    |         he got this letter from Simon Ford, requesting him to
 10 I    |         be revealed to those of Simon Ford. However, the old overman
 11 I    |   Yarrow shaft, and that Harry, Simon Ford’s son, was to wait
 12 I    |       Starr to trouble himself, Simon Ford’s letter being now
 13 II   |        request of such a man as Simon Ford, rather than to the
 14 II   |       an important event. Could Simon Ford’s communication relate
 15 II   |        No, it was I.”~“Then did Simon Ford send me a second letter
 16 II   |          for I’m anxious to see Simon Ford. By-the-bye, where
 17 III  |        you are going to see old Simon, Mr. Starr?”~“Yes, Jack,”
 18 IV   |    measure into the glade.~Here Simon Ford had lived with his
 19 IV   |    inhabitants.~At this period, Simon Ford, the former overman
 20 IV   |         the Highland regiments.~Simon Ford was descended from
 21 IV   |        was about this time that Simon Ford’s ancestors penetrated
 22 IV   |   However that might have been, Simon Ford was proud of belonging
 23 IV   |      ventured to express before Simon Ford any doubt that old
 24 IV   |          to the cottage.~Madge, Simon’s faithful companion, his “
 25 IV   |       You are right about that, Simon. This is but a rest, it
 26 IV   |  engineer was eagerly expected. Simon Ford was standing at his
 27 IV   |           And how are you, good Simon?” asked James Starr, grasping
 28 IV   |      the man to contradict you, Simon,” answered James Starr,
 29 IV   |     honor.”~“We shall see that, Simon, we shall see that!” said
 30 IV   |    raining up there,” responded Simon Ford.~“Yes, Simon, and the
 31 IV   |     responded Simon Ford.~“Yes, Simon, and the waters of the Forth
 32 IV   |      say you are welcome, sir.”~Simon Ford, followed by Harry,
 33 IV   |      their places:~“One moment, Simon,” said James Starr. “Do
 34 IV   |         would not believe me.”~“Simon,” resumed the engineer, “
 35 IV   |       the latter.~“Do you know, Simon, who the person is who can
 36 IV   |   Aberfoyle postmark?” inquired Simon Ford.~“Yes, like yours,”
 37 IV   |       enough of my secret?” And Simon fell into a reverie, from
 38 IV   |        in capital broth. As old Simon said, his wife knew no rival
 39 IV   |      good hour. James Starr and Simon Ford had not only eaten
 40 IV   |         Harry wouldn’t do it!”~“Simon,” said Madge, “you would
 41 IV   |  re-entered at that moment, and Simon Ford was silent.~When Madge
 42 IV   |     door of the cottage. “Well, Simon,” said the engineer, “I
 43 IV   |     rested and quite refreshed, Simon. I am ready to go with you
 44 IV   |        you like.”~“Harry,” said Simon Ford, turning to his son, “
 45 IV   |      will be prudent.”~“My good Simon, won’t you propose next
 46 IV   |     long stick.~“Forward!” said Simon Ford, taking up a strong
 47 V    |         goblins. These two were Simon Ford and his son. And they
 48 V    |    traditions be lost.~Even had Simon and Harry Ford been as credulous
 49 VI   |                      CHAPTER VI SIMON FORD’S EXPERIMENT~THE old
 50 VI   |        mine well still.”~“Well, Simon,” returned the engineer, “
 51 VI   |        else.”~“Mr. Starr,” said Simon Ford, “I did not wish to
 52 VI   |           Listen, sir!” resumed Simon. “It is not a seam that
 53 VI   |   explosion.”~“Mr. Starr,” said Simon Ford, “will you let me tell
 54 VI   | catastrophe.~As they walked on, Simon Ford told the engineer all
 55 VI   |         from that. According to Simon Ford, the fire-damp escaped
 56 VI   |     without some anxiety, until Simon Ford’s phenomenon should
 57 VI   |     small quantity of firedamp. Simon took the stick which Harry
 58 VII  |          Well said, sir!” cried Simon Ford. “The old mine will
 59 VII  |        duties of overman?”~“No, Simon, no indeed! You wear better
 60 VII  |         breakfast, James Starr, Simon Ford, Harry, and even Madge
 61 VII  | distance.~“Oh! Mr. Starr,” said Simon Ford, a prey to agitation,
 62 VII  |        at the vein!”~“Patience, Simon!” responded the engineer. “
 63 VII  |        Starr, Madge, Harry, and Simon Ford hastened towards the
 64 VII  |   beware of the foul air!” said Simon.~A quarter of an hour was
 65 VIII |         James Starr, Madge, and Simon Ford entered through the
 66 VIII |  emotion kept them silent; even Simon Ford restrained himself.
 67 VIII |        Starr, Madge, Harry, and Simon Ford walked on, though there
 68 VIII |          nonsense!” interrupted Simon Ford; “Madge could go ten
 69 VIII |       too, Mr. Starr!” returned Simon Ford.~“That we shall know
 70 VIII |          I wish to believe you, Simon,” replied the engineer,
 71 VIII |           Centuries!” exclaimed Simon Ford; “I believe you, sir!
 72 VIII |         of coal. Carry it home, Simon, carry it back to the cottage!
 73 VIII |      won’t tease you, then, old Simon,” answered James Starr. “
 74 VIII |   Stirling, Mr. Starr,” replied Simon Ford; “and that I assert
 75 VIII |    uttering a word. All at once Simon Ford exclaimed, “Well, I
 76 VIII |     matter after all?” returned Simon Ford; “the seam won’t be
 77 VIII |       be the harm?”~“Well said, Simon,” cried the engineer, who
 78 VIII |  proceeding towards the gallery Simon Ford stopped him.~“Mr. Starr,”
 79 VIII |     cottage.~“Come along,” said Simon Ford. “We have no time to
 80 VIII |        instinct, which had with Simon Ford and his son become
 81 VIII |      end of the gallery?” asked Simon Ford.~“Yes,” answered the
 82 IX   |       no traces of James Starr. Simon Ford’s letter had requested
 83 IX   |     cottage, what had become of Simon Ford, his wife, his son,
 84 IX   |       excavation in which stood Simon Ford’s cottage. There was
 85 IX   |         December, ten days ago, Simon Ford, his wife, son, and
 86 IX   |     indeed the engineer, Madge, Simon, and Harry Ford who were
 87 IX   |        be, the engineer, Madge, Simon, and Harry Ford were saved.
 88 X    |     immense natural excavation, Simon Ford built his new cottage,
 89 X    |  erected in the neighborhood of Simon Ford’s cottage: this was
 90 X    |      village— in that imitating Simon Ford, who never wished to
 91 X    |       Ryan took up his abode in Simon Ford’s new cottage. They
 92 X    |      other!”~“Well, Jack,” said Simon Ford, “Will-o’-the-Wisp
 93 XII  |       which was often spoken by Simon and his family. Madge immediately
 94 XII  |       word no better than days! Simon, Harry, Jack, and the rest,
 95 XII  |         be stronger. Come away, Simon and Harry, and all the rest
 96 XII  |         James Starr, as well as Simon and Harry Ford, could not
 97 XII  |         a time did James Starr, Simon, and Harry talk over these
 98 XIII |         James Starr, as well as Simon Ford, the discoverers of
 99 XIII |   heartily as she deserves. Old Simon, your father, and old Madge,
100 XIII |        wonder of all beholders.~Simon and Madge became every day
101 XIII |  thereat. They recollected that Simon had said to the engineer
102 XIII |      during their lives forget. Simon Ford little knew what he
103 XIII |       Harry and Nell as much as Simon did—and that was James Starr,
104 XIII |   communicated his ideas to old Simon, who decidedly appreciated
105 XIII |   directly make his way towards Simon’s cottage, yet so carefully
106 XIV  |  evening of the 20th of August, Simon Ford and Madge took leave,
107 XIV  |       view of all these things.~Simon and Madge would have been
108 XIV  |        the coal mine, like old ~Simon, and Madge, and Harry. But
109 XVI  |    without wasting an hour.~Old Simon Ford and Madge, having finished
110 XVI  |      the door of their cottage. Simon smoked a good pipe of tobacco,
111 XVI  |       the walls of the cottage. Simon caught his wife in his arms,
112 XVI  |        tunnel, they encountered Simon Ford, who had quitted his
113 XVI  |         fear for them,” replied Simon; “they are working on a
114 XVI  |      penetrated by the workmen.~Simon and his men could not decide
115 XVI  |    James Starr and his friends, Simon and Harry Ford, the question
116 XVI  |         man and his son: “Well, Simon,” said he, “to my thinking
117 XVI  |       mind, Mr. James,” replied Simon, “but take my advice, and
118 XVI  |      James Starr, together with Simon and Harry, should return
119 XVI  |       skillful— that’s certain, Simon! We have proof enough of
120 XVI  |         of thought and memory.”~Simon did not answer immediately—
121 XVI  |      delay.”~“My boy,” said old Simon, “your marriage shall take
122 XVI  |        reckon upon me for that, Simon,” answered the engineer.~
123 XVI  |        band of these ruffians,” Simon kept saying, “and we can’
124 XVI  |      painfully of former times. Simon and Madge watched over her
125 XVI  |      was his wife. James Starr, Simon, and Madge, were all of
126 XVI  |       moment, Madge, Harry, and Simon were at her side. Nell was
127 XVI  |      upon it during the night: “Simon Ford, you have robbed me
128 XVI  |    SILFAX.”~“Silfax!” exclaimed Simon and Madge together.~“Who
129 XVI  |     letter contradicting yours, Simon. The man calls himself Silfax.
130 XVII |   invention of the safety-lamp, Simon had known this fierce man,
131 XVII |    Aberfoyle.~“So you knew him, Simon?” demanded Mr. Starr.~“Yes,
132 XVII |       Ah! there it is,” replied Simon; “for a long time it had
133 XVII |         Madge?”~“Ay, that I do, Simon,” replied she.~“I can recollect
134 XVII |    recollect all this,” resumed Simon, “since I have seen the
135 XVII |        Mr. Starr,” returned old Simon. “The old ‘Monk’ is mad
136 XVII |      with a vengeance,” replied Simon, “between that savage and
137 XVII |   ill-will.”~“To be sure,” said Simon. “To think that his Nell
138 XVII |       knew no father till I saw Simon Ford,” continued Nell; “
139 XVII |       on, Nell, my child,” said Simon to the girl, who paused
140 XVII |      with you.”~At these words, Simon, Madge, and Harry started
141 XVIII|         Nell should never marry Simon’s son, it was natural to
142 XVIII|    alike desired to do honor to Simon Ford and his son. They all
143 XVIII|        mother on his arm, while Simon led the bride. Following
144 XVIII|  matrons of the olden time, old Simon wore a coat of which Bailie
145 XIX  |        cottage. James Starr and Simon Ford, henceforth free from
146 XIX  |  happiness they deserved.~As to Simon Ford, the ex-overman of
147 XIX  |         fifties, would you, Mr. Simon?” said Jack Ryan.~“All right,