the underground city-第3章
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the earth's crust; below the unfixed strata; either until they found a resting…place; such as the primitive bed of granitic rock; or; settling together in a heap; they formed a solid mass。
As the waters were contained in no bed; and were spread over every part of the globe; they rushed where they liked; tearing from the scarcely…formed rocks material with which to compose schists; sandstones; and limestones。 This the roving waves bore over the submerged and now peaty forests; and deposited above them the elements of rocks which were to superpose the coal strata。 In course of time; periods of which include millions of years; these earths hardened in layers; and enclosed under a thick carapace of pudding…stone; schist; compact or friable sandstone; gravel and stones; the whole of the massive forests。
And what went on in this gigantic crucible; where all this vegetable matter had accumulated; sunk to various depths? A regular chemical operation; a sort of distillation。 All the carbon contained in these vegetables had agglomerated; and little by little coal was forming under the double influence of enormous pressure and the high temperature maintained by the internal fires; at this time so close to it。
Thus there was one kingdom substituted for another in this slow but irresistible reaction。 The vegetable was transformed into a mineral。 Plants which had lived the vegeta…tive life in all the vigor of first creation became petrified。 Some of the substances enclosed in this vast herbal left their impression on the other more rapidly mineralized products; which pressed them as an hydraulic press of incalculable power would have done。
Thus also shells; zoophytes; star…fish; polypi; spirifores; even fish and lizards brought by the water; left on the yet soft coal their exact likeness; 〃admirably taken off。〃
Pressure seems to have played a considerable part in the formation of carboniferous strata。 In fact; it is to its degree of power that are due the different sorts of coal; of which industry makes use。 Thus in the lowest layers of the coal ground appears the anthracite; which; being almost destitute of volatile matter; contains the greatest quantity of carbon。 In the higher beds are found; on the contrary; lignite and fossil wood; substances in which the quantity of carbon is infinitely less。 Between these two beds; according to the degree of pressure to which they have been subjected; are found veins of graphite and rich or poor coal。 It may be asserted that it is for want of sufficient pressure that beds of peaty bog have not been completely changed into coal。 So then; the origin of coal mines; in whatever part of the globe they have been discovered; is this: the absorption through the terrestrial crust of the great forests of the geological period; then; the mineralization of the vegetables obtained in the course of time; under the influence of pressure and heat; and under the action of carbonic acid。
Now; at the time when the events related in this story took place; some of the most important mines of the Scottish coal beds had been exhausted by too rapid working。 In the region which extends between Edinburgh and Glasgow; for a distance of ten or twelve miles; lay the Aberfoyle colliery; of which the engineer; James Starr; had so long
directed the works。 For ten years these mines had been abandoned。 No new seams had been discovered; although the soundings had been carried to a depth of fifteen hundred or even of two thousand feet; and when James Starr had retired; it was with the full conviction that even the smallest vein had been completely exhausted。
Under these circumstances; it was plain that the discovery of a new seam of coal would be an important event。 Could Simon Ford's communication relate to a fact of this nature? This question James Starr could not cease asking himself。 Was he called to make conquest of another corner of these rich treasure fields? Fain would he hope it was so。
The second letter had for an instant checked his speculations on this subject; but now he thought of that letter no longer。 Besides; the son of the old overman was there; waiting at the appointed rendezvous。 The anonymous letter was therefore worth nothing。
The moment the engineer set foot on the platform at the end of his journey; the young man advanced towards him。
〃Are you Harry Ford?〃 asked the engineer quickly。
〃Yes; Mr。 Starr。〃
〃I should not have known you; my lad。 Of course in ten years you have become a man!〃
〃I knew you directly; sir;〃 replied the young miner; cap in hand。 〃You have not changed。 You look just as you did when you bade us good…by in the Dochart pit。 I haven't forgotten that day。〃
〃Put on your cap; Harry;〃 said the engineer。 〃It's pouring; and politeness needn't make you catch cold。〃
〃Shall we take shelter anywhere; Mr。 Starr?〃 asked young Ford。
〃No; Harry。 The weather is settled。 It will rain all day; and I am in a hurry。 Let us go on。〃
〃I am at your orders;〃 replied Harry。
〃Tell me; Harry; is your father well?〃
〃Very well; Mr。 Starr。〃
〃And your mother?〃
〃She is well; too。〃
〃Was it your father who wrote telling me to come to the Yarrow shaft?〃
〃No; it was I。〃
〃Then did Simon Ford send me a second letter to contradict the first?〃 asked the engineer quickly。
〃No; Mr。 Starr;〃 answered the young miner。
〃Very well;〃 said Starr; without speaking of the anonymous letter。 Then; continuing; 〃And can you tell me what you father wants with me?〃
〃Mr。 Starr; my father wishes to tell you himself。〃
〃But you know what it is?〃
〃I do; sir。〃
〃Well; Harry; I will not ask you more。 But let us get on; for I'm anxious to see Simon Ford。 By…the…bye; where does he live?〃
〃In the mine。〃
〃What! In the Dochart pit?〃
〃Yes; Mr。 Starr;〃 replied Harry。
〃Really! has your family never left the old mine since the cessation of the works?〃
〃Not a day; Mr。 Starr。 You know my father。 It is there he was born; it is there he means to die!〃
〃I can understand that; Harry。 I can understand that! His native mine! He did not like to abandon it! And are you happy there?〃
〃Yes; Mr。 Starr;〃 replied the young miner; 〃for we love one another; and we have but few wants。〃
〃Well; Harry;〃 said the engineer; 〃lead the way。〃
And walking rapidly through the streets of Callander; in a few minutes they had left the town behind them。
CHAPTER III THE DOCHART PIT
HARRY FORD was a fine; strapping fellow of five and twenty。 His grave looks; his habitually passive expression; had from childhood been noticed among his comrades in the mine。 His regular features; his deep blue eyes; his curly hair; rather chestnut than fair; the natural grace of his person; altogether made him a fine specimen of a lowlander。 Accustomed from his earliest days to the work of the mine; he was strong and hardy; as well as brave and good。 Guided by his father; and impelled by his own inclinations; he had early begun his education; and at an age when most lads
are little more than apprentices; he had managed to make himself of some importance; a leader; in fact; among his fellows; and few are very ignorant in a country which does all it can to remove ignorance。 Though; during the first years of his youth; the pick was never out of Harry's hand; nevertheless the young miner was not long in acquiring sufficient knowledge to raise him into the upper class of the miners; and he would certainly have succeeded his father as overman of the Dochart pit; if the colliery had not been abandoned。
James Starr was still a good walker; yet he could not easily have kept up with his guide; if the latter had not slackened his pace。 The young man; carrying the engineer's bag; followed the left bank of the river for about a mile。 Leaving its winding course; they took a road under tall; dripping trees。 Wide fields lay on either side; around isolated farms。 In one field a herd of hornless cows were quietly grazing; in another sheep with silky wool; like those in a child's toy sheep fold。
The Yarrow shaft was situated four miles from Callander。 Whilst walking; James Starr could not but be struck with the change in the country。 He had not seen it since the day when the