Chapter 11 - Page 2

them?"

"Both punish and reward. Remember, if one hand shut us up
in that passage, another hand delivered us! I shall not
soon forget that."

"But, Harry, how can we be sure that these two hands do not belong
to the same body?"

"What can put such a notion in your head, Jack?" asked Harry.

"Well, I don't know. Creatures that live in these holes, Harry, don't you
see? they can't be made like us, eh?"

"But they ARE just like us, Jack."

"Oh, no! don't say that, Harry! Perhaps some madman managed to get
in for a time."

"A madman! No madman would have formed such connected plans,
or done such continued mischief as befell us after the breaking
of the ladders."

"Well, but anyhow he has done no harm for the last three years,
either to you, Harry, or any of your people."

"No matter, Jack," replied Harry; "I am persuaded that this malignant
being, whoever he is, has by no means given up his evil intentions.
I can hardly say on what I

found my convictions. But at any rate, for the sake of the new works,
I must and will know who he is and whence he comes."

"For the sake of the new works did you say?" asked Jack,
considerably surprised.

"I said so, Jack," returned Harry. "I may be mistaken,
but, to me, all that has happened proves the existence
of an interest in this mine in strong opposition to ours.
Many a time have I considered the matter; I feel almost sure of it.
Just consider the whole series of inexplicable circumstances,
so singularly linked together. To begin with, the anonymous letter,
contradictory to that of my father, at once proves that some
man had become aware of our projects, and wished to prevent
their accomplishment. Mr. Starr comes to see us at the Dochart pit.
No sooner does he enter it with me than an immense stone is
cast upon us, and communication is interrupted by the breaking
of the ladders in the Yarrow shaft. We commence exploring.
An experiment, by which the existence of a new vein would
be proved, is rendered impossible by stoppage of fissures.
Notwithstanding this, the examination is carried out,
the vein discovered. We return as we came, a prodigious
gust of air meets us, our lamp is broken, utter darkness
surrounds us. Nevertheless, we make our way along the gloomy
passage until, on reaching the entrance, we find it blocked up.
There we were--imprisoned. Now, Jack, don't you see in all
these things a malicious intention? Ah, yes, believe me,
some being hitherto invisible, but not supernatural, as you will
persist in thinking, was concealed in the mine. For some reason,
known only to himself, he strove to keep us out of it.
WAS there, did I say? I feel an inward conviction that he IS