Chapter 18

CHAPTER XVIII NELL'S WEDDING

IT was agreed that the inhabitants of the cottage must keep more on
their guard than ever. The threats of old Silfax were too serious
to be disregarded. It was only too possible that he possessed some
terrible means by which the whole of Aberfoyle might be annihilated.

Armed sentinels were posted at the various entrances to
the mine, with orders to keep strict watch day and night.
Any stranger entering the mine was brought before James Starr,
that he might give an account of himself. There being no fear
of treason among the inhabitants of Coal Town, the threatened
danger to the subterranean colony was made known to them.
Nell was informed of all the precautions taken, and became
more tranquil, although she was not free from uneasiness.
Harry's determination to follow her wherever she went compelled
her to promise not to escape from her friends.

During the week preceding the wedding, no accident whatever
occurred in Aberfoyle. The system of watching was carefully
maintained, but the miners began to recover from the panic,
which had seriously interrupted the work of excavation.
James Starr continued to look out for Silfax. The old man having
vindictively declared that Nell should never marry Simon's son,
it was natural to suppose that he would not hesitate to commit
any violent deed which would hinder their union.

The examination of the mine was carried on minutely.
Every passage and gallery was searched, up to those higher ranges
which opened out among the ruins of Dundonald Castle. It was rightly
supposed that through this old building Silfax passed out to obtain
what was needful for the support of his miserable existence
(which he must have done, either by purchasing or thieving).

As to the "fire-maidens," James Starr began to think that appearance
must have been produced by some jet of fire-damp gas which,
issuing from that part of the pit, could be lighted by Silfax. He was
not far wrong; but all search for proof of this was fruitless,
and the continued strain of anxiety in this perpetual effort
to detect a malignant and invisible being rendered the engineer--
outwardly calm--an unhappy man.

389

As the wedding-day approached, his dread of some catastrophe increased,
and he could not but speak of it to the old overman, whose uneasiness
soon more than equaled his own. At length the day came.
Silfax had given no token of existence.

By daybreak the entire population of Coal Town was astir.
Work was suspended; overseers and workmen alike desired to do
honor to Simon Ford and his son. They all felt they owed a large
debt of gratitude to these bold and persevering men, by whose
means the mine had been restored to its