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to New Aberfoyle； he stopped up the opening； and turned it into a prison for you。 I only knew you as shadows dimly seen in the gloom of the pit； but I could not endure the idea that you would die of hunger in these horrid places； and so； at the risk of being detected； I succeeded in obtaining bread and water for you during some days。 I should have liked to help you to escape； but it was so difficult to avoid the vigilance of my grandfather。 You were about to die。 Then arrived Jack Ryan and the others。 By the providence of God I met with them； and instantly guided them to where you were。 When my grandfather discovered what I had done； his rage against me was terrible。 I expected death at his hands。 After that my life became insupportable to me。 My grandfather completely lost his senses。 He proclaimed himself King of Darkness and Flame； and when he heard your tools at work on coal…beds which he considered entirely his own； he became furious and beat me cruelly。 I would have fled from him； but it was impossible； so narrowly did he watch me。 At last； in a fit of ungovernable fury； he threw me down into the abyss where you found me； and disappeared； vainly calling on Harfang； which faithfully stayed by me； to follow him。 I know not how long I remained there； but I felt I was at the point of death when you； my Harry； came and saved me。 But now you all see that the grandchild of old Silfax can
never be the wife of Harry Ford； because it would be certain death to you all！〃
〃Nell！〃 cried Harry。
〃No；〃 continued the maiden； 〃my resolution is taken。 By one means only can your ruin be averted； I must return to my grandfather。 He threatens to destroy the whole of New Aberfoyle。 His is a soul incapable of mercy or forgiveness； and no mortal can say to what horrid deed the spirit of revenge will lead him。 My duty is clear； I should be the most despicable creature on earth did I hesitate to perform it。 Farewell！ I thank you all heartily。 You only have taught me what happiness is。 Whatever may befall； believe that my whole heart remains with you。〃
At these words； Simon； Madge； and Harry started up in an agony of grief； exclaiming in tones of despair； 〃What； Nell！ is it possible you would leave us？〃
James Starr put them all aside with an air of authority； and； going straight up to Nell； he took both her hands in his； saying quietly； 〃Very right； my child； you have said exactly what you ought to say； and now listen to what we have to say in reply。 We shall not let you go away； if necessary； we shall keep you by force。 Do you think we could be so base as to accept of your generous proposal？ These threats of Silfax are formidableno doubt about it！ But； after all； a man is but a man； and we can take precautions。 You will tell us； will you not； even for his own sake； all you can about his habits and his lurking…places？ All we want to do is to put it out of his power to do harm； and perhaps bring him to reason。〃
〃You want to do what is quite impossible；〃 said Nell。 〃My grandfather is everywhere and nowhere。 I have never seen his retreats。 I have never seen him sleep。 If he meant to conceal himself； he used to leave me alone； and vanish。 When I took my resolution； Mr。 Starr； I was aware of everything you could say against it。 Believe me； there is but one way to render Silfax powerless； and that will be by my return to him。 Invisible himself； he sees everything that goes on。 Just think whether it is likely he could discover your very thoughts and intentions； from that time when the letter was written to Mr。 Starr； up to now that my marriage with Harry has been arranged； if he did not possess the extraordinary faculty of knowing everything。 As far as I
am able to judge； my grandfather； in his very insanity； is a man of most powerful mind。 He formerly used to talk to me on very lofty subjects。 He taught me the existence of God； and never deceived me but on one point； which wasthat he made me believe that all men were base and perfidious； because he wished to inspire me with his own hatred of all the human race。 When Harry brought me to the cottage； you thought I was simply ignorant of mankind； but； far beyond that； I was in mortal fear of you all。 Ah； forgive me！ I assure you； for many days I believed myself in the power of wicked wretches； and I longed to escape。 You； Madge； first led me to perceive the truth； not by anything you said； but by the sight of your daily life； for I saw that your husband and son loved and respected you！ Then all these good and happy workmen； who so revere and trust Mr。 Starr； I used to think they were slaves； and when； for the first time； I saw the whole population of Aberfoyle come to church and kneel down to pray to God； and praise Him for His infinite goodness； I said to myself； 'My grandfather has deceived me。' But now； enlightened by all you have taught me； I am inclined to think he himself is deceived。 I mean to return to the secret passages I formerly frequented with him。 He is certain to be on the watch。 I will call to him； he will hear me； and who knows but that； by returning to him； I may be able to bring him to the knowledge of the truth？〃
The maiden spoke without interruption； for all felt that it was good for her to open her whole heart to her friends。
But when； exhausted by emotion； and with eyes full of tears； she ceased speaking； Harry turned to old Madge and said； 〃Mother； what should you think of the man who could forsake the noble girl whose words you have been listening to？〃
〃I should think he was a base coward；〃 said Madge； 〃and； were he my son； I should renounce and curse him。〃
〃Nell； do you hear what our mother says？〃 resumed Harry。 〃Wherever you go I will follow you。 If you persist in leaving us； we will go away together。〃
〃Harry！ Harry！〃 cried Nell。
Overcome by her feelings； the girl's lips blanched； and she sank into the arms of Madge； who begged she might be left alone with her。
CHAPTER XVIII NELL'S WEDDING
IT was agreed that the inhabitants of the cottage must keep more on their guard than ever。 The threats of old Silfax were too serious to be disregarded。 It was only too possible that he possessed some terrible means by which the whole of Aberfoyle might be annihilated。
Armed sentinels were posted at the various entrances to the mine； with orders to keep strict watch day and night。 Any stranger entering the mine was brought before James Starr； that he might give an account of himself。 There being no fear of treason among the inhabitants of Coal Town； the threatened danger to the subterranean colony was made known to them。 Nell was informed of all the precautions taken； and became more tranquil； although she was not free from uneasiness。 Harry's determination to follow her wherever she went compelled her to promise not to escape from her friends。
During the week preceding the wedding； no accident whatever occurred in Aberfoyle。 The system of watching was carefully maintained； but the miners began to recover from the panic； which had seriously interrupted the work of excavation。 James Starr continued to look out for Silfax。 The old man having vindictively declared that Nell should never marry Simon's son； it was natural to suppose that he would not hesitate to commit any violent deed which would hinder their union。
The examination of the mine was carried on minutely。 Every passage and gallery was searched； up to those higher ranges which opened out among the ruins of Dundonald Castle。 It was rightly supposed that through this old building Silfax passed out to obtain what was needful for the support of his miserable existence （which he must have done； either by purchasing or thieving）。
As to the 〃fire…maidens；〃 James Starr began to think that appearance must have been produced by some jet of fire…damp gas which； issuing from that part of the pit； could be lighted by Silfax。 He was not far wrong； but all search for proof of this was fruitless； and the continued strain of anxiety in this perpetual effort to detect a malignant and invisible being rendered the engineer outwardly calman unhappy man。
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As the wedding…day approached； his dread of some catastrophe increased； and he could not but speak of it to the old overman； whose uneasiness soon more than equaled his own。 At length the day came。 Silfax had given no token of existence。
By daybreak the entire population of Coal Town was astir。 Work was suspended； overseers and workmen alike desired to do honor to Simon Ford and his son。 They all felt they owed a large debt of gratitude to these bold and persevering men； by whose means the mine had been restored to its former prosperity。 The ceremony was to take place at eleven o'clock； in St。 Giles's chapel； which stood on the shores of Loch Malcolm。
At the appointed time； Harry left the cottage； supporting his mother on his arm； while Simon led the bride。 Following them came Starr； the engineer； composed in manner； but in reality nerved to expect the worst； and Jack Ryan； stepping superb in full Highland piper's costume。 Then came the other mining engineers； the principal people of Coal Town； the friends and comrades of the old overman every member of this great family of miners forming the population of