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Jack Ryan took up his abode in Simon Ford's new cottage。 They offered him a room； which he accepted without ceremony； in his frank and hearty way。 Old Madge loved him for his fine character and good nature。 She in some degree shared his ideas on the subject of the fantastic beings who were supposed to haunt the mine； and the two； when alone； told each other stories wild enough to make one shudder……stories well worthy of enriching the hyperborean mythology。
Jack thus became the life of the cottage。 He was； besides being a jovial panion； a good workman。 Six months after the works had begun； he was made head of a gang of hewers。
〃That was a good work done； Mr。 Ford；〃 said he； a few days after his appointment。 〃You discovered a new field； and though you narrowly escaped paying for the discovery with your life…… well； it was not too dearly bought。〃
〃No； Jack； it was a good bargain we made that time！〃 answered the old overman。 〃But neither Mr。 Starr nor I have forgotten that to you we owe our lives。〃
〃Not at all；〃 returned Jack。 〃You owe them to your son Harry； when he had the good sense to accept my invitation to Irvine。〃
〃And not to go； isn't that it？〃 interrupted Harry； grasping his rade's hand。 〃No； Jack； it is to you； scarcely healed of your wounds…… to you； who did not delay a day； no； nor an hour； that we owe our being found still alive in the mine！〃
〃Rubbish； no！〃 broke in the obstinate fellow。 〃I won't have that said； when it's no such thing。 I hurried to find out what had bee of you； Harry； that's all。 But to give everyone his due； I will add that without that unapproachable goblin……〃
〃Ah； there we are！〃 cried Ford。 〃A goblin！〃
〃A goblin； a brownie； a fairy's child；〃 repeated Jack Ryan； 〃a cousin of the Fire…Maidens； an Urisk； whatever you like！ It's not the less certain that without it we should
never have found our way into the gallery； from which you could not get out。〃
〃No doubt； Jack；〃 answered Harry。 〃It remains to be seen whether this being was as supernatural as you choose to believe。〃
〃Supernatural！〃 exclaimed Ryan。 〃But it was as supernatural as a Will…o'…the…Wisp； who may be seen skipping along with his lantern in his hand； you may try to catch him； but he escapes like a fairy； and vanishes like a shadow！ Don't be uneasy； Harry； we shall see it again some day or other！〃
〃Well； Jack；〃 said Simon Ford； 〃Will…o'…the…Wisp or not； we shall try to find it； and you must help us。〃
〃You'll get into a scrap if you don't take care； Mr。 Ford！〃 responded Jack Ryan。
〃We'll see about that； Jack！〃
We may easily imagine how soon this domain of New Aberfoyle became familiar to all the members of the Ford family； but more particularly to Harry。 He learnt to know all its most secret ins and outs。 He could even say what point of the surface corresponded with what point of the mine。 He knew that above this seam lay the Firth of Clyde； that there extended Loch Lomond and Loch Katrine。 Those columns supported a spur of the Grampian mountains。 This vault served as a basement to Dumbarton。 Above this large pond passed the Balloch railway。 Here ended the Scottish coast。 There began the sea； the tumult of which could be distinctly heard during the equinoctial gales。 Harry would have been a first…rate guide to these natural catabs； and all that Alpine guides do on their snowy peaks in daylight he could have done in the dark mine by the wonderful power of instinct。
He loved New Aberfoyle。 Many times； with his lamp stuck in his hat； did he perate its furthest depths。 He explored its ponds in a skillfully…managed canoe。 He even went shooting； for numerous birds had been introduced into the crypt……pintails； snipes； ducks； who fed on the fish which swarmed in the deep waters。 Harry's eyes seemed made for the dark； just as a sailor's are made for distances。 But all this while Harry felt irresistibly animated by the hope of finding the mysterious being whose intervention； strictly speaking； had saved himself and his friends。 Would
he succeed？ He certainly would； if presentiments were to be trusted； but certainly not； if he judged by the success which had as yet attended his researches。
The attacks directed against the family of the old overman； before the discovery of New Aberfoyle； had not been renewed。
CHAPTER XI HANGING BY A THREAD
ALTHOUGH in this way the Ford family led a happy and contented life； yet it was easy to see that Harry； naturally of a grave disposition； became more and more quiet and reserved。 Even Jack Ryan； with all his good humor and usually infectious merriment； failed to rouse him to gayety of manner。
One Sunday……it was in the month of June……the two friends were walking together on the shores of Loch Malcolm。 Coal Town rested from labor。 In the world above； stormy weather prevailed。 Violent rains fell； and dull sultry vapors brooded over the earth； the atmosphere was most oppressive。
Down in Coal Town there was perfect calm； no wind； no rain。 A soft and pleasant temperature existed instead of the strife of the elements which raged without。 What wonder then； that excursionists from Stirling came in considerable numbers to enjoy the calm fresh air in the recesses of the mine？
The electric discs shed a brilliancy of light which the British sun； oftener obscured by fogs than it ought to be； might well envy。 Jack Ryan kept talking of these visitors； who passed them in noisy crowds； but Harry paid very little attention to what he said。
〃I say； do look； Harry！〃 cried Jack。 〃See what numbers of people e to visit us！ Cheer up； old fellow！ Do the honors of the place a little better。 If you look so glum； you'll make all these outside folks think you envy their life above…ground。〃
〃Never mind me； Jack；〃 answered Harry。 〃You are jolly enough for two； I'm sure； that's enough。〃
〃I'll be hanged if I don't feel your melancholy creeping over me though！〃 exclaimed Jack。 〃I declare my eyes
are getting quite dull； my lips are drawn together； my laugh sticks in my throat； I'm forgetting all my songs。 e； man； what's the matter with you？〃
〃You know well enough； Jack。〃
〃What？ the old story？〃
〃Yes； the same thoughts haunt me。〃
〃Ah； poor fellow！〃 said Jack； shrugging his shoulders。 〃If you would only do like me； and set all the queer things down to the account of the goblins of the mine； you would be easier in your mind。〃
〃But； Jack； you know very well that these goblins exist only in your imagination； and that； since the works here have been reopened； not a single one has been seen。〃
〃That's true； Harry； but if no spirits have been seen； neither has anyone else to whom you could attribute the extraordinary doings we want to account for。〃
〃I shall discover them。〃
〃Ah； Harry！ Harry！ it's not so easy to catch the spirits of New Aberfoyle！〃
〃I shall find out the spirits as you call them；〃 said Harry； in a tone of firm conviction。
〃Do you expect to be able to punish them？〃
〃Both punish and reward。 Remember； if one hand shut us up in that passage； another hand delivered us！ I shall not soon forget that。〃
〃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 some madman managed to get in for a time。〃
〃A madman！ No madman would have formed such connected plans； or done such continued mischief as befell us after the breaking of 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 matter； Jack；〃 replied Harry； 〃I am persuaded that this malignant being； whoever he is； has by no means given up his evil intentions。 I can hardly say on what I
found my convictions。 But at any rate； for the sake of the new works； I must and will know who he is and whence he es。〃
〃For the sake of the new works 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 this mine in strong opposition to ours。 Many a time have I considered the matter； I feel almost sure of it。 Just consider the whole series of inexplicable circumstances； so singularly linked together。 To begin with； the anonymous letter； contradictory to that of my father； at once proves that some man had bee aware of our projects； and wished to prevent their acplishment。 Mr。 Starr es to see us at the Dochart pit。 No sooner does he enter it with me than an immense stone is cast upon us； and munication is interrupted by the breaking of the ladders in the Yarrow shaft。 We mence exploring。 An experiment； by which the existence of a new vein would be proved； is rendered impossible by stoppage of fissures。 Notwithstanding this； the examination is carried out； the vein discovered。 We return as we came； a prodigious gust of air meets us； our lamp is broken； utter darkness surrounds us。 Nevertheless； we make our way along the gloomy passage until； on reaching the entrance； we find i