第15部分(第1/7 頁)

he　magistrates　had　been　able　to　discover　nothing。

A　few　days　afterwards；　James　Starr；　guided　by　Harry；　came　himself　to　inspect　this　curious　natural　opening　into　the　coal　mine。 〃Well；〃　said　he；　〃here　is　enough　to　convince　the　most　superstitious　among　us。　Farewell　to　all　their　brownies；　goblins；　and　fire…maidens　now！〃

〃I　hardly　think；　Mr。　Starr；　we　ought　to　congratulate　ourselves；〃　replied　Harry。 〃Whatever　it　is　we　have　instead　of　these　things；　it　can't　be　better；　and　may　be　worse　than　they　are。〃

〃That's　true；　Harry；〃　said　the　engineer；　〃but　what's　to　be　done？　It　is　plain　that；　whatever　the　beings　are　who　hide　in　the　mine；　they　reach　the　surface　of　the　earth　by　this　passage。　No　doubt　it　was　the　light　of　torches　waved　by　them　during　that　dark　and　stormy　night　which　attracted　the　MOTALA　towards　the　rocky　coast；　and　like　the　wreckers

of　former　days；　they　would　have　plundered　the　unfortunate　vessel；　had　it　not　been　for　Jack　Ryan　and　his　friends。 Anyhow；　so　far　it　is　evident；　and　here　is　the　mouth　of　the　den。 As　to　its　occupants；　the　question　is……　Are　they　here　still？〃

〃I　say　yes；　because　Nell　trembles　when　we　mention　them……　yes；　because　Nell　will　not；　or　dare　not；　speak　about　them；〃　answered　Harry　in　a　tone　of　decision。

Harry　was　surely　in　the　right。 Had　these　mysterious　denizens　of　the　pit　abandoned　it；　or　ceased　to　visit　the　spot；　what　reason　could　the　girl　have　had　for　keeping　silence？

James　Starr　could　not　rest　till　he　had　perated　this　mystery。　He　foresaw　that　the　whole　future　of　the　new　excavations　must　depend　upon　it。 Renewed　and　strict　precautions　were　therefore　taken。　The　authorities　were　informed　of　the　discovery　of　the　entrance。　Watchers　were　placed　among　the　ruins　of　the　castle。　Harry　himself　lay　hid　for　se