anges of cells； capriciously arranged； but a hive on a vast scale； and which； instead of bees； might have lodged all the ichthyosauri； megatheriums； and ptero…dactyles of the geological epoch。
A labyrinth of galleries； some higher than the most lofty cathedrals； others like cloisters； narrow and windingthese following a horizontal line； those on an incline or running obliquely in all directions connected the caverns and allowed free communication between them。
The pillars sustaining the vaulted roofs； whose curves allowed of every style； the massive walls between the passages； the naves themselves in this layer of secondary formation； were composed of sandstone and schistous rocks。 But tightly packed between these useless strata ran valuable veins of coal； as if the black blood of this strange mine had circulated through their tangled network。 These fields extended forty miles north and south； and stretched even under the Caledonian Canal。 The importance of this bed could not be calculated until after soundings； but it would certainly surpass those of Cardiff and Newcastle。
We may add that the working of this mine would be singularly facilitated by the fantastic dispositions of the secondary earths； for by an unaccountable retreat of the mineral matter at the geological epoch； when the mass was solidifying； nature had already multiplied the galleries and tunnels of New Aberfoyle。
Yes； nature alone！ It might at first have been supposed that some works abandoned for centuries had been discovered afresh。 Nothing of the sort。 No one would have deserted such riches。 Human termites had never gnawed away this part of the Scottish subsoil； nature herself had done it all。 But； we repeat； it could be compared to nothing but the celebrated Mammoth caves； which； in an extent of more than twenty miles； contain two hundred and twenty…six avenues； eleven lakes； seven rivers； eight cataracts； thirty…two unfathomable wells； and fifty…seven domes； some of which are more than four hundred and fifty feet in height。 Like these caves； New Aberfoyle was not the work of men； but the work of the Creator。
Such was this new domain； of matchless wealth； the discovery of which belonged entirely to the old overman。 Ten years' sojourn in the deserted mine； an uncommon pertinacity in research； perfect faith； sustained by a marvelous mining instinct all these qualities together led him to succeed where so many others had failed。 Why had the soundings made under the direction of James Starr during the last years of the working stopped just at that limit； on the very frontier of the new mine？ That was all chance； which takes great part in researches of this kind。
However that might be； there was； under the Scottish subsoil； what might be called a subterranean county； which； to be habitable； needed only the rays of the sun； or； for want of that； the light of a special planet。
Water had collected in various hollows； forming vast ponds； or rather lakes larger than Loch Katrine； lying just above them。 Of course the waters of these lakes had no movement of currents or tides； no old castle was reflected there； no birch or oak trees waved on their banks。 And yet these deep lakes； whose mirror…like surface was never ruffled by a breeze； would not be without charm by the light of some electric star； and； connected by a string of canals； would well complete the geography of this strange domain。
Although unfit for any vegetable production； the place could be inhabited by a whole population。 And who knows but that in this steady temperature； in the depths of the
mines of Aberfoyle； as well as in those of Newcastle； Alloa； or Cardiff when their contents shall have been exhaustedwho knows but that the poorer classes of Great Britain will some day find a refuge？
CHAPTER VIII EXPLORING
AT Harry's call； James Starr； Madge； and Simon Ford entered through the narrow orifice which put the Dochart pit in communication with the new mine。 They found themselves at the beginning of a tolerably wide gallery。 One might well believe that it had been pierced by the hand of man； that the pick and mattock had emptied it in the working of a new vein。 The explorers question whether； by a strange chance； they had not been transported into some ancient mine； of the existence of which even the oldest miners in the county had ever known。
No！ It was merely that the geological layers had left this passage when the secondary earths were in course of formation。 Perhaps some torrent had formerly dashed through it； but now it was as dry as if it had been cut some thousand feet lower； through granite rocks。 At the same time； the air circulated freely； which showed that certain natural vents placed it in communication with the exterior atmosphere。
This observation； made by the engineer； was correct； and it was evident that the ventilation of the new mine would be easily managed。 As to the fire…damp which had lately filtered through the schist； it seemed to have been contained in a pocket now empty； and it was certain that the atmosphere of the gallery was quite free from it。 However； Harry prudently carried only the safety lamp； which would insure light for twelve hours。
James Starr and his companions now felt perfectly happy。 All their wishes were satisfied。 There was nothing but coal around them。 A sort of emotion kept them silent； even Simon Ford restrained himself。 His joy overflowed； not in long phrases； but in short ejaculations。
It was perhaps imprudent to venture so far into the crypt。 Pooh！ they never thought of how they were to get back。
The gallery was practicable； not very winding。 They met with no noxious exhalations； nor did any chasm bar the path。 There was no reason for stopping for a whole hour； James Starr； Madge； Harry； and Simon Ford walked 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 come 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 excavationat 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 lakewhose 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 communication worth your trouble in coming 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； too； Mr。 Starr！〃 returned Simon Ford。
〃That we shall know later。〃
〃And I can answer for it！ Trust to the instinct of an old miner！ It has never deceived me！〃
〃I wish to believe you； Simon；〃 replied the engineer； smiling。 〃As far as I can judge from this short exploration； we possess the elements of a working which will last for centuries！〃
〃Centuries！〃 exclaimed Simon Ford； 〃I believe you； sir！ A thousand years and more will pass before the last bit of coal is taken out of our new mine！〃
〃Heaven grant it！〃 returned Starr。 〃As to the quality of the coal which crops out of these walls？〃
〃Superb！ Mr。 Starr； superb！〃 answered Ford； 〃just look at it yourself！〃
And so saying； with his pick he struck off a fragment of the black rock。
〃Look！ look！〃 he repeated； holding it close to his lamp； 〃the surface of this piece of coal is shining！ We have here fat coal； rich in bituminous matter； and see how it comes in pieces； almost without dust！ Ah； Mr。 Starr！ twenty years ago this seam would have entered into a strong competition with Swansea and Cardiff！ Well； stokers will quarrel for it still； and if it costs little to extract it from the mine； it will not sell at a less price outside。〃
〃Indeed；〃 said Madge； who had taken the fragment of coal and was examining it with the air of a connoisseur； 〃that's good quality of coal。 Carry it home； Simon； carry it back to the cottage！ I want this first piece of coal to burn under our kettle。〃
〃Well said； wife！〃 answered the old overman； 〃and you shall see that I am not mistaken。〃
〃Mr。 Starr；〃 asked Harry； 〃have you any idea of the probable direction of this long passage which we have been following since our entrance into the new mine？〃
〃No； my lad；〃 replied the engineer； 〃with a compass I could perhaps find out its general bearing； but without a compass I am here like a sailor in open sea； in the midst of fogs； when there is no sun by which to calculate his position。〃
〃No doubt； Mr。 Starr；〃 replied Ford； 〃but pray don't compare our position with that of the sailor； who has everywhere and always an abyss under his feet！ We are on firm ground here； and need never be afraid of foundering。〃
〃I won't tease you； then； old Simon；〃 answered James Starr。 〃Far be it from me even in jest to depreciate the New Aberfoyle mine by an unjust comparison！ I only meant to say one thing； and that is that we don't know where we are。〃
〃We are in the subsoil of the county of Stirling； Mr。 Starr；〃 replied Simon Ford； 〃and that I assert as if〃
〃Listen！〃 said Harry； interrupting the old man。 All listened； as the young miner was doing。 His ears； which were very sharp； had caught a dull sound； like a distant m