the underground city-µÚ14ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
All¡¡was¡¡then¡¡explained¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡ship£»¡¡having¡¡lost¡¡her¡¡reckoning¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fog£»¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡this¡¡flame¡¡on¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡Dundonald¡¡Castle¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Irvine¡¡light¡£¡¡She¡¡thought¡¡herself¡¡at¡¡the¡¡entrance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Firth£»¡¡ten¡¡miles¡¡to¡¡the¡¡north£»¡¡when¡¡she¡¡was¡¡really¡¡running¡¡on¡¡a¡¡shore¡¡which¡¡offered¡¡no¡¡refuge¡£
What¡¡could¡¡be¡¡done¡¡to¡¡save¡¡her£»¡¡if¡¡there¡¡was¡¡still¡¡time£¿¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡too¡¡late¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡frightful¡¡crash¡¡was¡¡heard¡¡above¡¡the¡¡tumult¡¡of¡¡the¡¡elements¡£¡¡The¡¡vessel¡¡had¡¡struck¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡white¡¡line¡¡of¡¡surf¡¡was¡¡broken¡¡for¡¡an¡¡instant£»¡¡she¡¡heeled¡¡over¡¡on¡¡her¡¡side¡¡and¡¡lay¡¡among¡¡the¡¡rocks¡£
At¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time£»¡¡by¡¡a¡¡strange¡¡coincidence£»¡¡the¡¡long¡¡flame¡¡disappeared£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡swept¡¡away¡¡by¡¡a¡¡violent¡¡gust¡£¡¡¡¡Earth£»¡¡sea£»¡¡and¡¡sky¡¡were¡¡plunged¡¡in¡¡complete¡¡darkness¡£
¡¨The¡¡Fire¡Maiden£¡¡¨¡¡shouted¡¡Ryan£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡last¡¡time£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡apparition£»¡¡which¡¡he¡¡and¡¡his¡¡companions¡¡believed¡¡supernatural£»¡¡disappeared¡£¡¡But¡¡then¡¡the¡¡courage¡¡of¡¡these¡¡superstitious¡¡Scotchmen£»¡¡which¡¡had¡¡failed¡¡before¡¡a¡¡fancied¡¡danger£»¡¡returned¡¡in¡¡face¡¡of¡¡a¡¡real¡¡one£»¡¡which¡¡they¡¡were¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡brave¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡save¡¡their¡¡fellow¡creatures¡£¡¡The¡¡tempest¡¡did¡¡not¡¡deter¡¡them¡£¡¡As¡¡heroic¡¡as¡¡they¡¡had¡¡before¡¡been¡¡credulous£»¡¡fastening¡¡ropes¡¡round¡¡their¡¡waists£»¡¡they¡¡rushed¡¡into¡¡the¡¡waves¡¡to¡¡the¡¡aid¡¡of¡¡those¡¡on¡¡the¡¡wreck¡£
Happily£»¡¡they¡¡succeeded¡¡in¡¡their¡¡endeavors£»¡¡although¡¡someand¡¡bold¡¡Jack¡¡Ryan¡¡was¡¡among¡¡the¡¡numberwere¡¡severely¡¡wounded¡¡on¡¡the¡¡rocks¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡captain¡¡of¡¡the¡¡vessel¡¡and¡¡the¡¡eight¡¡sailors¡¡who¡¡composed¡¡his¡¡crew¡¡were¡¡hauled¡¡up£»¡¡safe¡¡and¡¡sound£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡beach¡£
The¡¡ship¡¡was¡¡the¡¡Norwegian¡¡brig¡¡MOTALA£»¡¡laden¡¡with¡¡timber£»¡¡and¡¡bound¡¡for¡¡Glasgow¡£¡¡¡¡Of¡¡the¡¡MOTALA¡¡herself¡¡nothing¡¡remained¡¡but¡¡a¡¡few¡¡spars£»¡¡washed¡¡up¡¡by¡¡the¡¡waves£»¡¡and¡¡dashed¡¡among¡¡the¡¡rocks¡¡on¡¡the¡¡beach¡£
Jack¡¡Ryan¡¡and¡¡three¡¡of¡¡his¡¡companions£»¡¡wounded¡¡like¡¡himself£»¡¡were¡¡carried¡¡into¡¡a¡¡room¡¡of¡¡Melrose¡¡Farm£»¡¡where¡¡every¡¡care¡¡was¡¡lavished¡¡on¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡Ryan¡¡was¡¡the¡¡most¡¡hurt£»¡¡for¡¡when¡¡with¡¡the¡¡rope¡¡round¡¡his¡¡waist¡¡he¡¡had¡¡rushed¡¡into¡¡the¡¡sea£»¡¡the¡¡waves¡¡had¡¡almost¡¡immediately¡¡dashed¡¡him¡¡back¡¡against¡¡the¡¡rocks¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡brought£»¡¡indeed£»¡¡very¡¡nearly¡¡lifeless¡¡on¡¡to¡¡the¡¡beach¡£
The¡¡brave¡¡fellow¡¡was¡¡therefore¡¡confined¡¡to¡¡bed¡¡for¡¡several¡¡days£»¡¡to¡¡his¡¡great¡¡disgust¡£¡¡¡¡However£»¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡he¡¡was¡¡given¡¡permission¡¡to¡¡sing¡¡as¡¡much¡¡as¡¡he¡¡liked£»¡¡he¡¡bore¡¡his¡¡trouble¡¡patiently£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡farm¡¡echoed¡¡all¡¡day¡¡with¡¡his¡¡jovial¡¡voice¡£¡¡But¡¡from¡¡this¡¡adventure¡¡he¡¡imbibed¡¡a¡¡more¡¡lively¡¡sentiment¡¡of¡¡fear¡¡with¡¡regard¡¡to¡¡brownies¡¡and¡¡other¡¡goblins¡¡who¡¡amuse¡¡themselves¡¡by¡¡plaguing¡¡mankind£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡made¡¡them¡¡responsible¡¡for¡¡the¡¡catastrophe¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Motala¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡vain¡¡to¡¡try¡¡and¡¡convince¡¡him¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Fire¡Maidens¡¡did¡¡not¡¡exist£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡the¡¡flame£»¡¡so¡¡suddenly¡¡appearing¡¡among¡¡the¡¡ruins£»¡¡was¡¡but¡¡a¡¡natural¡¡phenomenon¡£¡¡¡¡No¡¡reasoning¡¡could¡¡make¡¡him¡¡believe¡¡it¡£¡¡His¡¡companions¡¡were£»¡¡if¡¡possible£»¡¡more¡¡obstinate¡¡than¡¡he¡¡in
their¡¡credulity¡£¡¡¡¡According¡¡to¡¡them£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Fire¡Maidens¡¡had¡¡maliciously¡¡attracted¡¡the¡¡MOTALA¡¡to¡¡the¡¡coast¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡to¡¡wishing¡¡to¡¡punish¡¡her£»¡¡as¡¡well¡¡try¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡the¡¡tempest¡¡to¡¡justice£¡¡¡The¡¡magistrates¡¡might¡¡order¡¡what¡¡arrests¡¡they¡¡pleased£»¡¡but¡¡a¡¡flame¡¡cannot¡¡be¡¡imprisoned£»¡¡an¡¡impalpable¡¡being¡¡can't¡¡be¡¡handcuffed¡£¡¡It¡¡must¡¡be¡¡acknowledged¡¡that¡¡the¡¡researches¡¡which¡¡were¡¡ultimately¡¡made¡¡gave¡¡ground£»¡¡at¡¡least¡¡in¡¡appearance£»¡¡to¡¡this¡¡superstitious¡¡way¡¡of¡¡explaining¡¡the¡¡facts¡£
The¡¡inquiry¡¡was¡¡made¡¡with¡¡great¡¡care¡£¡¡¡¡Officials¡¡came¡¡to¡¡Dundonald¡¡Castle£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡proceeded¡¡to¡¡conduct¡¡a¡¡most¡¡vigorous¡¡search¡£¡¡The¡¡magistrate¡¡wished¡¡first¡¡to¡¡ascertain¡¡if¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡bore¡¡any¡¡footprints£»¡¡which¡¡could¡¡be¡¡attributed¡¡to¡¡other¡¡than¡¡goblins'¡¡feet¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡impossible¡¡to¡¡find¡¡the¡¡least¡¡trace£»¡¡whether¡¡old¡¡or¡¡new¡£¡¡Moreover£»¡¡the¡¡earth£»¡¡still¡¡damp¡¡from¡¡the¡¡rain¡¡of¡¡the¡¡day¡¡before£»¡¡would¡¡have¡¡preserved¡¡the¡¡least¡¡vestige¡£
The¡¡result¡¡of¡¡all¡¡this¡¡was£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡magistrates¡¡only¡¡got¡¡for¡¡their¡¡trouble¡¡a¡¡new¡¡legend¡¡added¡¡to¡¡so¡¡many¡¡othersa¡¡legend¡¡which¡¡would¡¡be¡¡perpetuated¡¡by¡¡the¡¡remembrance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡catastrophe¡¡of¡¡the¡¡MOTALA£»¡¡and¡¡indisputably¡¡confirm¡¡the¡¡truth¡¡of¡¡the¡¡apparition¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Fire¡Maidens¡£
A¡¡hearty¡¡fellow¡¡like¡¡Jack¡¡Ryan£»¡¡with¡¡so¡¡strong¡¡a¡¡constitution£»¡¡could¡¡not¡¡be¡¡long¡¡confined¡¡to¡¡his¡¡bed¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡few¡¡sprains¡¡and¡¡bruises¡¡were¡¡not¡¡quite¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡him¡¡on¡¡his¡¡back¡¡longer¡¡than¡¡he¡¡liked¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡not¡¡time¡¡to¡¡be¡¡ill¡£
Jack£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡soon¡¡got¡¡well¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡he¡¡was¡¡on¡¡his¡¡legs¡¡again£»¡¡before¡¡resuming¡¡his¡¡work¡¡on¡¡the¡¡farm£»¡¡he¡¡wished¡¡to¡¡go¡¡and¡¡visit¡¡his¡¡friend¡¡Harry£»¡¡and¡¡learn¡¡why¡¡he¡¡had¡¡not¡¡come¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Irvine¡¡merry¡making¡£¡¡He¡¡could¡¡not¡¡understand¡¡his¡¡absence£»¡¡for¡¡Harry¡¡was¡¡not¡¡a¡¡man¡¡who¡¡would¡¡willingly¡¡promise¡¡and¡¡not¡¡perform¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡unlikely£»¡¡too£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡son¡¡of¡¡the¡¡old¡¡overman¡¡had¡¡not¡¡heard¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wreck¡¡of¡¡the¡¡MOTALA£»¡¡as¡¡it¡¡was¡¡in¡¡all¡¡the¡¡papers¡£¡¡He¡¡must¡¡know¡¡the¡¡part¡¡Jack¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡in¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡what¡¡had¡¡happened¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡unlike¡¡Harry¡¡not¡¡to¡¡hasten¡¡to¡¡the¡¡farm¡¡and¡¡see¡¡how¡¡his¡¡old¡¡chum¡¡was¡¡going¡¡on¡£
As¡¡Harry¡¡had¡¡not¡¡come£»¡¡there¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡something¡¡to¡¡prevent¡¡him¡£¡¡Jack¡¡Ryan¡¡would¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡deny¡¡the¡¡existence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Fire¡Maidens¡¡as¡¡believe¡¡in¡¡Harry's¡¡indifference¡£
Two¡¡days¡¡after¡¡the¡¡catastrophe¡¡Jack¡¡left¡¡the¡¡farm¡¡merily£»¡¡feeling¡¡nothing¡¡of¡¡his¡¡wounds¡£¡¡¡¡Singing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fullness¡¡of¡¡his¡¡heart£»¡¡he¡¡awoke¡¡the¡¡echoes¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cliff£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡walked¡¡to¡¡the¡¡station¡¡of¡¡the¡¡railway£»¡¡which¡¡VIA¡¡Glasgow¡¡would¡¡take¡¡him¡¡to¡¡Stirling¡¡and¡¡Callander¡£
As¡¡he¡¡was¡¡waiting¡¡for¡¡his¡¡train£»¡¡his¡¡attention¡¡was¡¡attracted¡¡by¡¡a¡¡bill¡¡posted¡¡up¡¡on¡¡the¡¡walls£»¡¡containing¡¡the¡¡following¡¡notice£º
¡¨On¡¡the¡¡4th¡¡of¡¡December£»¡¡the¡¡engineer£»¡¡James¡¡Starr£»¡¡of¡¡Edinburgh£»¡¡embarked¡¡from¡¡Granton¡¡Pier£»¡¡on¡¡board¡¡the¡¡Prince¡¡of¡¡Wales¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡disembarked¡¡the¡¡same¡¡day¡¡at¡¡Stirling¡£¡¡¡¡From¡¡that¡¡time¡¡nothing¡¡further¡¡has¡¡been¡¡heard¡¡of¡¡him¡£
¡¨Any¡¡information¡¡concerning¡¡him¡¡is¡¡requested¡¡to¡¡be¡¡sent¡¡to¡¡the¡¡President¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Royal¡¡Institution£»¡¡Edinburgh¡£¡¨
Jack¡¡Ryan£»¡¡stopping¡¡before¡¡one¡¡of¡¡these¡¡advertisements£»¡¡read¡¡it¡¡twice¡¡over£»¡¡with¡¡extreme¡¡surprise¡£
¡¨Mr¡£¡¡Starr£¡¡¨¡¡he¡¡exclaimed¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Why£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡4th¡¡of¡¡December¡¡I¡¡met¡¡him¡¡with¡¡Harry¡¡on¡¡the¡¡ladder¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Dochart¡¡pit£¡¡¡That¡¡was¡¡ten¡¡days¡¡ago£¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡he¡¡has¡¡not¡¡been¡¡seen¡¡from¡¡that¡¡time£¡¡¡That¡¡explains¡¡why¡¡my¡¡chum¡¡didn't¡¡come¡¡to¡¡Irvine¡£¡¨
And¡¡without¡¡taking¡¡time¡¡to¡¡inform¡¡the¡¡President¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Royal¡¡Institution¡¡by¡¡letter£»¡¡what¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡relative¡¡to¡¡James¡¡Starr£»¡¡Jack¡¡jumped¡¡into¡¡the¡¡train£»¡¡determining¡¡to¡¡go¡¡first¡¡of¡¡all¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Yarrow¡¡shaft¡£¡¡There¡¡he¡¡would¡¡descend¡¡to¡¡the¡¡depths¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pit£»¡¡if¡¡necessary£»¡¡to¡¡find¡¡Harry£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡him¡¡was¡¡sure¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡engineer¡¡James¡¡Starr¡£
¡¨They¡¡haven't¡¡turned¡¡up¡¡again£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡he¡¡to¡¡himself¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Why£¿¡¡¡¡Has¡¡anything¡¡prevented¡¡them£¿¡¡¡¡Could¡¡any¡¡work¡¡of¡¡importance¡¡keep¡¡them¡¡still¡¡at¡¡the¡¡bottom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mine£¿¡¡¡¡I¡¡must¡¡find¡¡out£¡¡¨¡¡and¡¡Ryan£»¡¡hastening¡¡his¡¡steps£»¡¡arrived¡¡in¡¡less¡¡than¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Yarrow¡¡shaft¡£
Externally¡¡nothing¡¡was¡¡changed¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡same¡¡silence¡¡around¡£¡¡Not¡¡a¡¡living¡¡creature¡¡was¡¡moving¡¡in¡¡that¡¡desert¡¡region¡£¡¡Jack¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡ruined¡¡shed¡¡which¡¡covered¡¡the¡¡opening¡¡of¡¡the¡¡shaft¡£¡¡He¡¡gazed¡¡down¡¡into¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡abyssnothing¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡seen¡£¡¡He¡¡listenednothing¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡heard¡£
¡¨And¡¡my¡¡lamp£¡¡¨¡¡he¡¡exclaimed£»¡¡¡¨suppose¡¡it¡¡isn't¡¡in¡¡its¡¡place£¡¡¨¡¡The¡¡lamp¡¡which¡¡Ryan¡¡used¡¡when¡¡he¡¡visited¡¡the¡¡pit¡¡was¡¡usually¡¡deposited¡¡in¡¡a¡¡corner£»¡¡near¡¡the¡¡landing¡¡of¡¡the¡¡topmost¡¡ladder¡£¡¡It¡¡had¡¡disappeared¡£
¡¨Here¡¡is¡¡a¡¡nuisance£¡¡¨¡¡said¡¡Jack£»¡¡beginning¡¡to¡¡feel¡¡rather
uneasy¡£¡¡¡¡Then£»¡¡without¡¡hesitating£»¡¡superstitious¡¡though¡¡he¡¡was£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡will¡¡go£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡he£»¡¡¡¨though¡¡it's¡¡as¡¡dark¡¡down¡¡there¡¡as¡¡in¡¡the¡¡lowest¡¡depths¡¡of¡¡the¡¡infernal¡¡regions£¡¡¨
And¡¡he¡¡began¡¡to¡¡descend¡¡the¡¡long¡¡flight¡¡of¡¡ladders£»¡¡which¡¡led¡¡down¡¡the¡¡gloomy¡¡shaft¡£¡¡¡¡Jack¡¡Ryan¡¡had¡¡not¡¡forgotten¡¡his¡¡old¡¡mining¡¡habits£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was¡¡well¡¡acquainted¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Dochart¡¡pit£»¡¡or¡¡he¡¡would¡¡scarcely¡¡have¡¡dared¡¡to¡¡venture¡¡thus¡£¡¡He¡¡went¡¡very¡¡carefully£»¡¡however¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡foot¡¡tried¡¡each¡¡round£»¡¡as¡¡some¡¡of¡¡them¡¡were¡¡worm¡eaten¡£¡¡A¡¡false¡¡step¡¡would¡¡entail¡¡a¡¡deadly¡¡fall£»¡¡through¡¡this¡¡space¡¡of¡¡fifteen¡¡hundred¡¡feet¡£¡¡He¡¡counted¡¡each¡¡landing¡¡as¡¡he¡¡passed¡¡it£»¡¡knowing¡¡that¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡reach¡¡the¡¡bottom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡shaft¡¡until¡¡he¡¡had¡¡left¡¡the¡¡thirtieth¡£¡¡Once¡¡there£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡have¡¡no¡¡trouble£»¡¡so¡¡he¡¡thought£»¡¡in¡¡finding¡¡the¡¡cottage£»¡¡built£»¡¡as¡¡we¡¡have¡¡said£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡extremity¡¡of¡¡the¡¡principal¡¡passage¡£
Jack¡¡Ryan¡¡went¡¡on¡¡thus¡¡until¡¡he¡¡got¡¡to¡¡the¡¡twenty¡sixth¡¡landing£»¡¡and¡¡consequently¡¡had¡¡two¡¡hundred¡¡feet¡¡between¡¡him¡¡and¡¡the¡¡bottom¡£
Here¡¡he¡¡put¡¡down¡¡his¡¡leg¡¡to¡¡feel¡¡for¡¡the¡¡first¡¡rung¡¡of¡¡the¡¡twen