beloved mine; "for nothing less than a sea would have drowned our
Aberfoyle. But, once more, what possible interest could any human being
have in the destruction of our works?"

"It is quite incomprehensible," replied James Starr. "This case is
something perfectly unlike that of a band of common criminals, who,
concealing themselves in dens and caves, go forth to rob and pillage the
surrounding country. The evil deeds of such men would certainly, in the
course of three years have betrayed their existence and lurking-places.
Neither can it be, as I sometimes used to think, that smugglers or
coiners carried on their illegal practices in some distant and unknown
corner of these prodigious caverns, and were consequently anxious to
drive us out of them. But no one coins false money or obtains contraband
goods only to conceal them!

"Yet it is clear that an implacable enemy has sworn the ruin of New
Aberfoyle, and that some interest urges him to seek in every possible
way to wreak his hatred upon us. He appears to be too weak to act
openly, and lays his schemes in secret; but displays such intelligence
as to render him a most formidable foe.

"My friends, he must understand better than we do the secrets of our
domain, since he has all this time eluded our vigilance. He must be
a man experienced in mining, skilled beyond the most skillful--that's
certain, Simon! We have proof enough of that.

"Let me see! Have you never had a personal enemy, to whom your
suspicions might point? Think well! There is such a thing as hatred
which time never softens. Go back to recollections of your earliest
days. What befalls us appears the work of a stern and patient will, and
to explain it demands every effort of thought and memory."

Simon did not answer immediately--his mind evidently engaged in a close
and candid survey of his past life. Presently, raising his head, "No,"
said he; "no! Heaven be my witness, neither Madge nor I have ever
injured anybody. We cannot believe that we have a single enemy in the
world."

"Ah! if Nell would only speak!" cried the engineer.

"Mr. Starr--and you, father," said Harry, "I do beg of you to keep
silence on this matter, and not to question my poor Nell. I know she
is very anxious and uneasy; and I feel positive that some great secret
painfully oppresses her heart. Either she knows nothing it would be of
any use for us to hear, or she considers it her duty to be silent. It is
impossible to doubt her