the underground city-地下城(英文版)-第35章

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ed　to　stop　the　marriage　of　Nell　and　Harry　by　overwhelming　the　entire　population　of　the　place　beneath　the　ruins　of　the　coal　mine。

As　he　stood　ready　to　acplish　this　act　of　vengeance；　his　enormous　owl；　whose　white　plumage　was　marked　with　black　spots；　was　seen　hovering　directly　above　his　head。

At　that　moment　a　man　flung　himself　into　the　waters　of　the　lake；　and　swam　vigorously　towards　the　canoe。

It　was　Jack　Ryan；　fully　determined　to　reach　the　madman　before　he　could　do　the　dreadful　deed　of　destruction。

Silfax　saw　him　ing。　　Instantly　he　smashed　the　glass　of　his　lamp；　and；　snatching　out　the　burning　wick；　waved　it　in　the　air。

Silence　like　death　fell　upon　the　astounded　multitude。　　James　Starr；　in　the　calmness　of　despair；　marvelled　that　the　inevitable　explosion　was　even　for　a　moment　delayed。

Silfax；　gazing　upwards　with　wild　and　contracted　features；　appeared　to　bee　aware　that　the　gas；　lighter　than　the　lower　atmosphere；　was　accumulating　far　up　under　the　dome；　and　at　a　sign　from　him　the　owl；　seizing　in　its　claw　the　lighted　match；　soared　upwards　to　the　vaulted　roof；　towards　which　the　madman　pointed　with　outstretched　arm。


Another　second　and　New　Aberfoyle　would　be　no　more。

Suddenly　Nell　sprang　from　Harry's　arms；　and；　with　a　bright　look　of　inspiration；　she　ran　to　the　very　brink　of　the　waters　of　the　lake。　　〃Harfang！　　Harfang！〃　cried　she　in　a　clear　voice；　〃here！　e　to　me！〃

The　faithful　bird；　surprised；　appeared　to　hesitate　in　its　flight。　Presently；　recognizing　Nell's　voice；　it　dropped　the　burning　match　into　the　water；　and；　describing　a　wide　circle；　flew　downwards；　alighting　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　pany　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　
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