第8部分(第6/7 頁)

　on；　though　there　was　nothing　to　show　them　what　was　the　exact　direction　of　this　unknown　tunnel。

And　they　would　no　doubt　have　gone　farther　still；　if　they　had　not　suddenly　e　to　the　end　of　the　wide　road　which　they　had　followed　since　their　entrance　into　the　mine。

The　gallery　ended　in　an　enormous　cavern；　neither　the　height　nor　depth　of　which　could　be　calculated。 At　what　altitude　arched　the　roof　of　this　excavation……at　what　distance　was　its　opposite　wall……　the　darkness　totally　concealed；　but　by　the　light　of　the　lamp　the　explorers　could　discover　that　its　dome　covered　a　vast　extent　of　still　water……　pond　or　lake……whose　picturesque　rocky　banks　were　lost　in　obscurity。

〃Halt！〃　exclaimed　Ford；　stopping　suddenly。 〃Another　step；　and　perhaps　we　shall　fall　into　some　fathomless　pit。〃

〃Let　us　rest　awhile；　then；　my　friends；〃　returned　the　engineer。　〃Besides；　we　ought　to　be　thinking　of　returning　to　the　cottage。〃

〃Our　lamp　will　give　light　for　another　ten　hours；　sir；〃　said　Harry。

〃Well；　let　us　make　a　halt；〃　replied　Starr；　〃I　confess　my　legs　have　need　of　a　rest。 And　you；　Madge；　don't　you　feel　tired　after　so　long　a　walk？〃

〃Not　over　much；　Mr。　Starr；〃　replied　the　sturdy　Scotchwoman；　〃we　have　been　accustomed　to　explore　the　old　Aberfoyle　mine　for　whole　days　together。〃

〃Tired？　nonsense！〃　interrupted　Simon　Ford；　〃Madge　could　go　ten　times　as　far；　if　necessary。 But　once　more；　Mr。　Starr；　wasn't　my　munication　worth　your　trouble　in　ing　to　hear　it？　Just　dare　to　say　no；　Mr。　Starr；　dare　to　say　no！〃

〃Well；　my　old　friend；　I　haven't　felt　so　happy　for　a　long　while！〃　replied　the　engineer；　〃the　small　part　of　this　marvelous　mine　that　we　have　explored　seems　to　show　that　its　extent　is　very　considerable；　at　least　in　length。〃

〃In　width　and　in　depth