第7部分(第5/7 頁)

rmined　later。

〃Yes；〃　thought　James　Starr；　〃behind　that　wall　lies　a　carboniferous　bed；　undiscovered　by　our　soundings。 It　is　vexatious　that　all　the　apparatus　of　the　mine；　deserted　for　ten　years；　must　be　set　up　anew。 Never　mind。　We　have　found　the　vein　which　was　thought　to　be　exhausted；　and　this　time　it　shall　be　worked　to　the　end！〃

〃Well；　Mr。　Starr；〃　asked　Ford；　〃what　do　you　think　of　our　discovery？　Was　I　wrong　to　trouble　you？ Are　you　sorry　to　have　paid　this　visit　to　the　Dochart　pit？〃

〃No；　no；　my　old　friend！〃　answered　Starr。 〃We　have　not　lost　our　time；　but　we　shall　be　losing　it　now；　if　we　do　not　return　immediately　to　the　cottage。 To…morrow　we　will　e　back　here。　We　will　blast　this　wall　with　dynamite。 We　will　lay　open　the　new　vein；　and　after　a　series　of　soundings；　if　the　seam　appears　to　be　large；　I　will　form　a　new　Aberfoyle　pany；　to　the　great　satisfaction　of　the　old　shareholders。　Before　three　months　have　passed；　the　first　corves　full　of　coal　will　have　been　taken　from　the　new　vein。〃

〃Well　said；　sir！〃　cried　Simon　Ford。 〃The　old　mine　will　grow　young　again；　like　a　widow　who　remarries！ The　bustle　of　the　old　days　will　soon　begin　with　the　blows　of　the　pick；　and　mattock；　blasts　of　powder；　rumbling　of　wagons；　neighing　of　horses；　creaking　of　machines！　I　shall　see　it　all　again！ I　hope；　Mr。　Starr；　that　you　will　not　think　me　too　old　to　r閟um？my　duties　of　overman？〃

〃No；　Simon；　no　indeed！ You　wear　better　than　I　do；　my　old　friend！〃

〃And；　sir；　you　shall　be　our　viewer　again。 May　the　new　working　last　for　many　years；　and　pray　Heaven　I　shall　have　the　consolation　of　dying　without　seeing　the　end　of　it！〃

The　old　miner　was　overflowing　with　joy。 James　Starr　fully　entered　into　it；　but　he　let　Ford　rave　for　them　both。　Harry　alone　remained　thoughtf