the underground city-第31章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ng　at　the　maiden's　feet。

Then　a　terrible　cry　echoed　through　the　vaulted　roofs。　It　was　the　last　sound　uttered　by　old　Silfax。

Just　as　Jack　Ryan　laid　his　hand　on　the　edge　of　the　canoe；　the　old　man；　foiled　in　his　purpose　of　revenge；　cast　himself　headlong　into　the　waters　of　the　lake。

〃Save　him！　oh；　save　him！〃　shrieked　Nell　in　a　voice　of　agony。　Immediately　Harry　plunged　into　the　water；　and；　swimming　towards　Jack　Ryan；　he　dived　repeatedly。

But　his　efforts　were　useless。　　The　waters　of　Loch　Malcolm　yielded　not　their　prey：　　they　closed　forever　over　Silfax。


CHAPTER　XIX　THE　LEGEND　OF　OLD　SILFAX


Six　months　after　these　events；　the　marriage；　so　strangely　interrupted；　was　finally　celebrated　in　St。　Giles's　chapel；　and　the　young　couple；　who　still　wore　mourning　garments；　returned　to　the　cottage。　James　Starr　and　Simon　Ford；　henceforth　free　from　the　anxieties　which　had　so　long　distressed　them；　joyously　presided　over　the　entertainment　which　followed　the　ceremony；　and　prolonged　it　to　the　following　day。

On　this　memorable　occasion；　Jack　Ryan；　in　his　favorite　character　of　piper；　and　in　all　the　glory　of　full　dress；　blew　up　his　chanter；　and　astonished　the　company　by　the　unheard　of　achievement　of　playing；　singing；　and　dancing　all　at　once。

It　is　needless　to　say　that　Harry　and　Nell　were　happy。　These　loving　hearts；　after　the　trials　they　had　gone　through　found　in　their　union　the　happiness　they　deserved。

As　to　Simon　Ford；　the　ex…overman　of　New　Aberfoyle；　he　began　to　talk　of　celebrating　his　golden　wedding；　after

fifty　years　of　marriage　with　good　old　Madge；　who　liked　the　idea　immensely　herself。

〃And　after　that；　why　not　golden　wedding　number　two？〃

〃You　would　like　a　couple　of　fifties；　would　you；　Mr。　Simon？〃　said　Jack　Ryan。

〃All　right；　my　boy；〃　replied　the　overman　quietly；　〃I　see　nothing　against　it　in　this　fine　climate　of　ours；　and　living　far　from　the　luxury　and　intemperance　of　the　outer　world。〃

Will　the　dwellers　in　Coal　Town　ever　be　called　to　witness　this　second　ceremony？　　Time　will　show。　　Certainly　the　strange　bird　of　old　Silfax　seemed　destined　to　attain　a　wonderful　longevity。　The　Harfang　continued　to　haunt　the　gloomy　recesses　of　the　cave。　After　the　old　man's　death；　Nell　had　attempted　to　keep　the　owl；　but　in　a　very　few　days　he　flew　away。　　He　evidently　disliked　human　society　as　much　as　his　master　had　done；　and；　besides　that；　he　appeared　to　have　a　particular　spite　against　Harry。　　The　jealous　bird　seemed　to　remember　and　hate　him　for　having　carried　off　Nell　from　the　deep　abyss；　notwithstanding　all　he　could　do　to　prevent　him。　Still；　at　long　intervals；　Nell　would　see　the　creature　hovering　above　Loch　Malcolm。

Could　he　possibly　be　watching　for　his　friend　of　yore？　Did　he　strive　to　pierce；　with　keen　eye；　the　depths　which　had　engulfed　his　master？

The　history　of　the　Harfang　became　legendary；　and　furnished　Jack　Ryan　with　many　a　tale　and　song。　　Thanks　to　him；　the　story　of　old　Silfax　and　his　bird　will　long　be　preserved；　and　handed　down　to　future　generations　of　the　Scottish　peasantry。





End