wings. The lamp escaped
from his hands, fell on the rocky ground, and was broken to pieces.

James Starr and his companions were suddenly plunged in absolute
darkness. All the oil of the lamp was spilt, and it was of no further
use. "Well, Harry," cried his father, "do you want us all to break our
necks on the way back to the cottage?"

Harry did not answer. He wondered if he ought to suspect the hand of a
mysterious being in this last accident? Could there possibly exist
in these depths an enemy whose unaccountable antagonism would one day
create serious difficulties? Had someone an interest in defending the
new coal field against any attempt at working it? In truth that seemed
absurd, yet the facts spoke for themselves, and they accumulated in such
a way as to change simple presumptions into certainties.

In the meantime the explorers' situation was bad enough. They had now,
in the midst of black darkness, to follow the passage leading to the
Dochart pit for nearly five miles. There they would still have an hour's
walk before reaching the cottage.

"Come along," said Simon Ford. "We have no time to lose. We must grope
our way along, like blind men. There's no fear of losing our way. The
tunnels which open off our road are only just like those in a molehill,
and by following the chief gallery we shall of course reach the opening
we got in at. After that, it is the old mine. We know that, and it won't
be the first time that Harry and I have found ourselves there in the
dark. Besides, there we shall find the lamps that we left. Forward then!
Harry, go first. Mr. Starr, follow him. Madge, you go next, and I will
bring up the rear. Above everything, don't let us get separated."

All complied with the old overman's instructions. As he said, by groping
carefully, they could not mistake the way. It was only necessary to make
the hands take the place of the eyes, and to trust to their instinct,
which had with Simon Ford and his son become a second nature.

James Starr and his companions walked on in the order agreed. They did
not speak, but it was not for want of thinking. It became evident that
they had an adversary. But what was he, and how were they to defend
themselves against these mysteriously-prepared attacks? These
disquieting ideas crowded into their brains. However, this was not the
moment to get discouraged.

Harry, his arms extended, advanced with a firm step, touching first one
and then the other side of t