第9部分(第3/7 頁)

e　at　the　overman's　enthusiasm；　〃let　us　cut　our　trenches　under　the　waters　of　the　sea！ Let　us　bore　the　bed　of　the　Atlantic　like　a　strainer；　let　us　with　our　picks　join

our　brethren　of　the　United　States　through　the　subsoil　of　the　ocean！　let　us　dig　into　the　center　of　the　globe　if　necessary；　to　tear　out　the　last　scrap　of　coal。〃

〃Are　you　joking；　Mr。　Starr？〃　asked　Ford；　with　a　pleased　but　slightly　suspicious　look。

〃I　joking；　old　man？　no！　but　you　are　so　enthusiastic　that　you　carry　me　away　into　the　regions　of　impossibility！ e；　let　us　return　to　the　reality；　which　is　sufficiently　beautiful；　leave　our　picks　here；　where　we　may　find　them　another　day；　and　let's　take　the　road　back　to　the　cottage。〃

Nothing　more　could　be　done　for　the　time。 Later；　the　engineer；　acpanied　by　a　brigade　of　miners；　supplied　with　lamps　and　all　necessary　tools；　would　r閟um？the　exploration　of　New　Aberfoyle。 It　was　now　time　to　return　to　the　Dochart　pit。　The　road　was　easy；　the　gallery　running　nearly　straight　through　the　rock　up　to　the　orifice　opened　by　the　dynamite；　so　there　was　no　fear　of　their　losing　themselves。

But　as　James　Starr　was　proceeding　towards　the　gallery　Simon　Ford　stopped　him。

〃Mr。　Starr；〃　said　he；　〃you　see　this　immense　cavern；　this　subterranean　lake；　whose　waters　bathe　this　strand　at　our　feet？　Well！　it　is　to　this　place　I　mean　to　change　my　dwelling；　here　I　will　build　a　new　cottage；　and　if　some　brave　fellows　will　follow　my　example；　before　a　year　is　over　there　will　be　one　town　more　inside　old　England。〃

James　Starr；　smiling　approval　of　Ford's　plans；　pressed　his　hand；　and　all　three；　preceding　Madge；　re…entered　the　gallery；　on　their　way　back　to　the　Dochart　pit。 For　the　first　mile　no　incident　occurred。　Harry　walked　first；　holding　his　lamp　above　his　head。　H