Chapter

  1 I    |        Callander station, by Harry Ford, son of the old overman
  2 I    |           of the old overman Simon Ford.”~“He is requested to keep
  3 I    |           years he had known Simon Ford, one of the former foremen
  4 I    |       machines of the shaft. Simon Ford, the foreman of the Dochart
  5 I    |        This was the overman, Simon Ford. Near him stood a boy, about
  6 I    |       below.~James Starr and Simon Ford knew and esteemed each other
  7 I    |           Yes, till we meet again. Ford!” answered James Starr. “
  8 I    |         got this letter from Simon Ford, requesting him to take
  9 I    |         more had not been added by Ford. He wished he had not been
 10 I    |         revealed to those of Simon Ford. However, the old overman
 11 I    |            hand, the engineer knew Ford to be a clever miner, peculiarly
 12 I    |       shaft, and that Harry, Simon Ford’s son, was to wait for him
 13 I    |          to trouble himself, Simon Ford’s letter being now without
 14 II   |     malevolent intention to thwart Ford’s plans?~This was the conclusion
 15 II   |     request of such a man as Simon Ford, rather than to the warning
 16 II   |          my resolution, shows that Ford’s communication must be
 17 II   |        reach Callander where Harry Ford was supposedly awaiting
 18 II   |       important event. Could Simon Ford’s communication relate to
 19 II   |        towards him.~“Are you Harry Ford?” asked the engineer quickly.~“
 20 II   |            Mr. Starr?” asked young Ford.~“No, Harry. The weather
 21 II   |            was I.”~“Then did Simon Ford send me a second letter
 22 II   |           I’m anxious to see Simon Ford. By-the-bye, where does
 23 III  |          III THE DOCHART PIT~HARRY FORD was a fine, strapping fellow
 24 III  |        engineer stood still, Harry Ford stopped also. The young
 25 III  |             Mr. Starr,” said Harry Ford, “it seems to me that stone
 26 IV   |                     CHAPTER IV THE FORD FAMILY~TEN minutes afterwards,
 27 IV   |         into the glade.~Here Simon Ford had lived with his family
 28 IV   |        during a long life of toil, Ford could have afforded to live
 29 IV   | inhabitants.~At this period, Simon Ford, the former overman of the
 30 IV   |          Highland regiments.~Simon Ford was descended from an old
 31 IV   |         about this time that Simon Ford’s ancestors penetrated into
 32 IV   |        that might have been, Simon Ford was proud of belonging to
 33 IV   |            to express before Simon Ford any doubt that old Aberfoyle
 34 IV   |            eagerly expected. Simon Ford was standing at his door,
 35 IV   |          that’s possible,” replied Ford, “and it will be a pleasure
 36 IV   |            there,” responded Simon Ford.~“Yes, Simon, and the waters
 37 IV   |           are welcome, sir.”~Simon Ford, followed by Harry, ushered
 38 IV   |         soup is ready, wife,” said Ford, “and it mustn’t be kept
 39 IV   |          and a merry fellow,” said Ford; “but he seems to be quite
 40 IV   |        honor, Mr. Starr,” answered Ford.~“Well, in order to eat
 41 IV   |          him the anonymous letter.~Ford took the letter and read
 42 IV   |          postmark?” inquired Simon Ford.~“Yes, like yours,” replied
 43 IV   |        hour. James Starr and Simon Ford had not only eaten much,
 44 IV   |           the engineer observed to Ford and his wife, “That’s a
 45 IV   |         wife for Harry,” exclaimed Ford. “And who would it be? A
 46 IV   |          at that moment, and Simon Ford was silent.~When Madge rose
 47 IV   |              Mr. Starr,” responded Ford, “I do not need your ears,
 48 IV   |         like.”~“Harry,” said Simon Ford, turning to his son, “light
 49 IV   |       stick.~“Forward!” said Simon Ford, taking up a strong pick,
 50 IV   |            do you hear?” exclaimed Ford. “We shall be hungry when
 51 V    |      goblins. These two were Simon Ford and his son. And they proved
 52 V    |           Even had Simon and Harry Ford been as credulous as their
 53 V    |      before the day on which Harry Ford guided the engineer through
 54 VI   |                   CHAPTER VI SIMON FORD’S EXPERIMENT~THE old clock
 55 VI   |            pulled down. He pressed Ford’s hand; but now the latter
 56 VI   |        heart beats still.”~“Speak, Ford! Have you discovered a new
 57 VI   |             Mr. Starr,” said Simon Ford, “I did not wish to tell
 58 VI   |           And you did quite right, Ford. But tell me how, by what
 59 VI   |         not be deceived,” answered Ford. “I have met with our old
 60 VI   |             Mr. Starr,” said Simon Ford, “will you let me tell you
 61 VI   |       partial explosions,” replied Ford, “such as I used to cause
 62 VI   |           As they walked on, Simon Ford told the engineer all that
 63 VI   |           that. According to Simon Ford, the fire-damp escaped incessantly,
 64 VI   |        must attack the dyke,” said Ford, raising his pick; “for
 65 VI   |         Just there, sir,” returned Ford, “and I was able to light
 66 VI   |          some anxiety, until Simon Ford’s phenomenon should have
 67 VI   |        your lamp, Harry,” he said.~Ford took the lamp with a trembling
 68 VI   |         engineer.~“Yes,” responded Ford, carrying the lamp to that
 69 VI   |         the rock.~“Nothing!” cried Ford, clenching his fist with
 70 VI   |           your pick, Harry,” cried Ford; “mount on my shoulders,
 71 VII  |            Well, Mr. Starr,” asked Ford, “what do you think of our
 72 VII  |            said, sir!” cried Simon Ford. “The old mine will grow
 73 VII  |        entered into it; but he let Ford rave for them both. Harry
 74 VII  |      breakfast, James Starr, Simon Ford, Harry, and even Madge herself,
 75 VII  |            work! to work!” shouted Ford, when the party reached
 76 VII  |           To work, then!” repeated Ford; and soon the rock flew
 77 VII  |             Mr. Starr,” said Simon Ford, a prey to agitation, which
 78 VII  |            Madge, Harry, and Simon Ford hastened towards the spot.~“
 79 VII  |          the door is broken open!”~Ford’s comparison was justified
 80 VIII |            Starr, Madge, and Simon Ford entered through the narrow
 81 VIII |            them silent; even Simon Ford restrained himself. His
 82 VIII |            Madge, Harry, and Simon Ford walked on, though there
 83 VIII |       obscurity.~“Halt!” exclaimed Ford, stopping suddenly. “Another
 84 VIII |       nonsense!” interrupted Simon Ford; “Madge could go ten times
 85 VIII |             Starr!” returned Simon Ford.~“That we shall know later.”~“
 86 VIII |        Centuries!” exclaimed Simon Ford; “I believe you, sir! A
 87 VIII |           Starr, superb!” answered Ford; “just look at it yourself!”~
 88 VIII |         doubt, Mr. Starr,” replied Ford; “but pray don’t compare
 89 VIII |          Mr. Starr,” replied Simon Ford; “and that I assert as if—”~“
 90 VIII |            word. All at once Simon Ford exclaimed, “Well, I declare!
 91 VIII |         after all?” returned Simon Ford; “the seam won’t be any
 92 VIII |          joking, Mr. Starr?” asked Ford, with a pleased but slightly
 93 VIII |          towards the gallery Simon Ford stopped him.~“Mr. Starr,”
 94 VIII |         Starr, smiling approval of Ford’s plans, pressed his hand,
 95 VIII |            Come along,” said Simon Ford. “We have no time to lose.
 96 VIII |     instinct, which had with Simon Ford and his son become a second
 97 VIII |          the gallery?” asked Simon Ford.~“Yes,” answered the young
 98 IX   |       traces of James Starr. Simon Ford’s letter had requested secrecy,
 99 IX   |           about James Starr, Harry Ford was the subject of no less
100 IX   |         any sort—nothing but Harry Ford.~The notice relative to
101 IX   |           what had become of Simon Ford, his wife, his son, and
102 IX   |    excavation in which stood Simon Ford’s cottage. There was no
103 IX   |     provisions, enough to last the Ford family for several days.~
104 IX   |      December, ten days ago, Simon Ford, his wife, son, and guest,
105 IX   |            Madge, Simon, and Harry Ford who were lying there motionless.
106 IX   |            Madge, Simon, and Harry Ford were saved. They were assisted
107 X    |          natural excavation, Simon Ford built his new cottage, which
108 X    |          the neighborhood of Simon Ford’s cottage: this was for
109 X    |            in that imitating Simon Ford, who never wished to go
110 X    |         took up his abode in Simon Ford’s new cottage. They offered
111 X    |          was a good work done, Mr. Ford,” said he, a few days after
112 X    |           Ah, there we are!” cried Ford. “A goblin!”~“A goblin,
113 X    |            Well, Jack,” said Simon Ford, “Will-o’-the-Wisp or not,
114 X    |           you don’t take care, Mr. Ford!” responded Jack Ryan.~“
115 X    |          to all the members of the Ford family, but more particularly
116 XI   |           ALTHOUGH in this way the Ford family led a happy and contented
117 XII  |            well as Simon and Harry Ford, could not help feeling
118 XIII |            Starr, as well as Simon Ford, the discoverers of this
119 XIII |          their lives forget. Simon Ford little knew what he was
120 XIV  |          the 20th of August, Simon Ford and Madge took leave, with
121 XVI  |         wasting an hour.~Old Simon Ford and Madge, having finished
122 XVI  |             they encountered Simon Ford, who had quitted his cottage. “
123 XVI  |           friends, Simon and Harry Ford, the question constantly
124 XVI  |           during the night: “Simon Ford, you have robbed me of the
125 XVII |            father till I saw Simon Ford,” continued Nell; “nor friend
126 XVII |         never be the wife of Harry Ford, because it would be certain
127 XVIII|       desired to do honor to Simon Ford and his son. They all felt
128 XIX  |     cottage. James Starr and Simon Ford, henceforth free from the
129 XIX  |         they deserved.~As to Simon Ford, the ex-overman of New Aberfoyle,