第21部分(第3/7 頁)

e　to　let　him　see　us　much　together；　we　both　knew　it　would　be　dangerous。 But　I　am　talking　too　much　about　myself：　the　great　thing　is　about　you。〃

〃No；　my　child；〃　said　James　Starr；　〃tell　us　everything　that　es　to　your　mind。〃

〃My　grandfather；〃　continued　Nell；　〃always　regarded　your　abode　in　the　mine　with　a　very　evil　eye……not　that　there　was　any　lack　of　space。 His　chosen　refuge　was　far……very　far　from　you。　But　he　could　not　bear　to　feel　that　you　were　there。 If　I　asked　any　questions　about　the　people　up　above　us；　his　face　grew　dark；　he　gave　no　answer；　and　continued　quite　silent　for　a　long　time　afterwards。　But　when　he　perceived　that；　not　content　with　the　old　domain；　you　seemed　to　think　of　encroaching　upon　his；　then　indeed　his　anger　burst　forth。 He　swore　that；　were　you　to　succeed　in　reaching　the　new　mine；　you　should　assuredly　perish。　Notwithstanding　his　great　age；　his　strength　is　astonishing；　and　his　threats　used　to　make　me　tremble。〃

〃Go　on；　Nell；　my　child；〃　said　Simon　to　the　girl；　who　paused　as　though　to　collect　her　thoughts。

〃On　the　occasion　of　your　first　attempt；〃　resumed　Nell；　〃as　soon　as　my　grandfather　saw　that　you　were　fairly　inside　the　gallery　leading　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　gra