第13部分(第3/7 頁)

l　an　inward　conviction　that　he　IS　there　still；　and　probably　prepares　some　terrible　disaster　for　us。　Even　at　the　risk　of　my　life；　Jack；　I　am　resolved　to　discover　him。〃

Harry　spoke　with　an　earnestness　which　strongly　impressed　his　panion。　〃Well；　Harry；〃　said　he；　〃if　I　am　forced　to　agree　with　you　in　certain　points；　won't　you　admit　that　some　kind　fairy　or　brownie；　by　bringing　bread　and　water　to　you；　was　the　means　of……〃

〃Jack；　my　friend；〃　interrupted　Harry；　〃it　is　my　belief　that　the　friendly　person；　whom　you　will　persist　in　calling　a　spirit；　exists　in　the　mine　as　certainly　as　the　criminal　we

speak　of；　and　I　mean　to　seek　them　both　in　the　most　distant　recesses　of　the　mine。〃

〃But；〃　inquired　Jack；　〃have　you　any　possible　clew　to　guide　your　search？〃

〃Perhaps　I　have。 Listen　to　me！ Five　miles　west　of　New　Aberfoyle；　under　the　solid　rock　which　supports　Ben　Lomond；　there　exists　a　natural　shaft　which　descends　perpendicularly　into　the　vein　beneath。　A　week　ago　I　went　to　ascertain　the　depth　of　this　shaft。　While　sounding　it；　and　bending　over　the　opening　as　my　plumb…line　went　down；　it　seemed　to　me　that　the　air　within　was　agitated；　as　though　beaten　by　huge　wings。〃

〃Some　bird　must　have　got　lost　among　the　lower　galleries；〃　replied　Jack。

〃But　that　is　not　all；　Jack。 This　very　morning　I　went　back　to　the　place；　and；　listening　attentively；　I　thought　I　could　detect　a　sound　like　a　sort　of　groaning。〃

〃Groaning！〃　cried　Jack；　〃that　must　be　nonsense；　it　was　a　current　of　air……　unless　indeed　some　ghost……〃

〃I　shall　know　to…morrow　what　it　was；〃　said　Harry。

〃To…morrow？〃　answered　Jack；　looking　at　his　friend。

〃Yes；　to…morrow　I　am　going　down　into　that　abyss。〃

〃Harry！　that　will　be　a　tempting　of　Providence。〃

〃No；　Jack；　Prov