第11部分(第3/7 頁)

d　the　upper　ladders　and　returned　to　the　light　of　day。　Without　losing　a　moment　he　reached　the　Callander　station；　just　caught　the　express　to　Edinburgh；　and　by　three　o'clock　was　before　the　Lord　Provost。

There　his　declaration　was　received。 His　account　was　given　so　clearly　that　it　could　not　be　doubted。 Sir　William　Elphiston；　President　of　the　Royal　Institution；　and　not　only　colleague；　but　a　personal　friend　of　Starr's；　was　also　informed；　and　asked　to　direct　the　search　which　was　to　be　made　without　delay　in　the　mine。　Several　men　were　placed　at　his　disposal；　supplied　with　lamps；　picks；　long　rope　ladders；　not　forgetting　provisions　and　cordials。　Then　guided　by　Jack　Ryan；　the　party　set　out　for　the　Aberfoyle　mines。

The　same　evening　the　expedition　arrived　at　the　opening　of　the　Yarrow　shaft；　and　descended　to　the　twenty…seventh　landing；　at　which　Jack　Ryan　had　been　stopped　a　few　hours　previously。　The　lamps；　fastened　to　long　ropes；　were　lowered　down　the　shaft；　and　it　was　thus　ascertained　that　the　four　last　ladders　were　wanting。

As　soon　as　the　lamps　had　been　brought　up；　the　men　fixed　to　the　landing　a　rope　ladder；　which　unrolled　itself　down　the　shaft；　and　all　descended　one　after　the　other。 Jack　Ryan's　descent　was　the　most　difficult；　for　he　went　first　down　the　swinging　ladders；　and　fastened　them　for　the　others。

The　space　at　the　bottom　of　the　shaft　was　pletely　deserted；　but　Sir　William　was　much　surprised　at　hearing　Jack　Ryan　exclaim；　〃Here　are　bits　of　the　ladders；　and　some　of　them　half　burnt！〃

〃Burnt？〃　repeated　Sir　William。 〃Indeed；　here　sure　enough　are　cinders　which　have　evidently　been　cold　a　long　time！〃

〃Do　you　think；　sir；〃　asked　Ryan；　〃that　Mr。　Starr　could　have　had　any　reason　for　burning　the　ladders；　and　thus　breaking　of　munication　with　the　wor