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eep 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 last ton of Aberfoyle coal had been emptied into railway trucks to be sent to Glasgow。 Agricultural life had now taken the place of the more stirring； active； industrial life。 The contrast was all the greater because； during winter； field work is at a standstill。 But formerly； at whatever season； the mining population； above and below ground； filled the scene with animation。 Great wagons of coal used to be passing night and day。 The rails； with their rotten sleepers； now disused； were then constantly ground by the weight of wagons。 Now stony roads took the place of the old mining tramways。 James Starr felt as if he was traversing a desert。
The engineer gazed about him with a saddened eye。 He stopped now and then to take breath。 He listened。 The air was no longer filled with distant whistlings and the panting of engines。 None of those black vapors which the manufacturer loves to see； hung in the horizon； mingling with the clouds。 No tall cylindrical or prismatic chimney vomited out smoke； after being fed from the mine itself； no blast…pipe was puffing out its white vapor。 The ground；
formerly black with coal dust； had a bright look； to which James Starr's eyes were not accustomed。
When the engineer stood still； Harry Ford stopped also。 The young miner waited in silence。 He felt what was passing in his panion's mind； and he shared his feelings； he； a child of the mine； whose whole life had been passed in its depths。
〃Yes； Harry； it is all changed；〃 said Starr。 〃But at the rate we worked； of course the treasures of coal would have been exhausted some day。 Do you regret that time？〃
〃I do regret it； Mr。 Starr；〃 answered Harry。 〃The work was hard； but it was interesting； as are all struggles。〃
〃No doubt； my lad。 A continuous struggle against the dangers of landslips； fires； inundations； explosions of firedamp； like claps of thunder。 One had to guard against all those perils！ You say well！ It was a struggle； and consequently an exciting life。〃
〃The miners of Alva have been more favored than the miners of Aberfoyle； Mr。 Starr！〃
〃Ay； Harry； so they have；〃 replied the engineer。
〃Indeed；〃 cried the young man； 〃it's a pity that all the globe was not made of coal； then there would have been enough to last millions of years！〃
〃No doubt there would； Harry； it must be acknowledged； however； that nature has shown more forethought by forming our sphere principally of sandstone； limestone； and granite； which fire cannot consume。〃
〃Do you mean to say； Mr。 Starr； that mankind would have ended by burning their own globe？〃
〃Yes！ The whole of it； my lad；〃 answered the engineer。 〃The earth would have passed to the last bit into the furnaces of engines； machines； steamers； gas factories； certainly； that would have been the end of our world one fine day！〃
〃There is no fear of that now； Mr。 Starr。 But yet； the mines will be exhausted； no doubt； and more rapidly than the statistics make out！〃
〃That will happen； Harry； and in my opinion England is very wrong in exchanging her fuel for the gold of other nations！ I know well；〃 added the engineer； 〃that neither hydraulics nor electricity has yet shown all they can do； and that some day these two forces will be more pletely
utilized。 But no matter！ Coal is of a very practical use； and lends itself easily to the various wants of industry。 Unfortunately man cannot produce it at will。 Though our external forests grow incessantly under the influence of heat and water； our subterranean forests will not be reproduced； and if they were； the globe would never be in the state necessary to make them into coal。〃
James Starr and his guide； whilst talking； had continued their walk at a rapid pace。 An hour after leaving Callander they reached the Dochart pit。
The most indifferent person would have been touched at the appearance this deserted spot presented。 It was like the skeleton of something that had formerly lived。 A few wretched trees bordered a plain where the ground was hidden under the black dust of the mineral fuel； but no cinders nor even fragments of coal were to be seen。 All had been carried away and consumed long ago。
They walked into the shed which covered the opening of the Yarrow shaft； whence ladders still gave access to the lower galleries of the pit。 The engineer bent over the opening。 Formerly from this place could be heard the powerful whistle of the air inhaled by the ventilators。 It was now a silent abyss。 It was like being at the mouth of some extinct volcano。
When the mine was being worked； ingenious machines were used in certain shafts of the Aberfoyle colliery； which in this respect was very well off； frames furnished with automatic lifts； working in wooden slides； oscillating ladders； called 〃man…engines；〃 which； by a simple movement； permitted the miners to descend without danger。
But all these appliances had been carried away； after the cessation of the works。 In the Yarrow shaft there remained only a long succession of ladders； separated at every fifty feet by narrow landings。 Thirty of these ladders placed thus end to end led the visitor down into the lower gallery； a depth of fifteen hundred feet。 This was the only way of munication which existed between the bottom of the Dochart pit and the open air。 As to air； that came in by the Yarrow shaft； from whence galleries municated with another shaft whose orifice opened at a higher level； the warm air naturally escaped by this species of inverted siphon。
〃I will follow you； my lad；〃 said the engineer； signing to the young man to precede him。
〃As you please； Mr。 Starr。〃
〃Have you your lamp？〃
〃Yes； and I only wish it was still the safety lamp； which we formerly had to use！〃
〃Sure enough；〃 returned James Starr； 〃there is no fear of fire…damp explosions now！〃
Harry was provided with a simple oil lamp； the wick of which he lighted。 In the mine； now empty of coal； escapes of light carburetted hydrogen could not occur。 As no explosion need be feared； there was no necessity for interposing between the flame and the surrounding air that metallic screen which prevents the gas from catching fire。 The Davy lamp was of no use here。 But if the danger did not exist； it was because the cause of it had disappeared； and with this cause； the bustible in which formerly consisted the riches of the Dochart pit。
Harry descended the first steps of the upper ladder。 Starr followed。 They soon found themselves in a profound obscurity； which was only relieved by the glimmer of the lamp。 The young man held it above his head； the better to light his panion。 A dozen ladders were descended by the engineer and his guide； with the measured step habitual to the miner。 They were all still in good condition。
James Starr examined； as well as the insufficient light would permit； the sides of the dark shaft； which were covered by a partly rotten lining of wood。
Arrived at the fifteenth landing； that is to say； half way down； they halted for a few minutes。
〃Decidedly； I have not your legs； my lad；〃 said the engineer； panting。
〃You are very stout； Mr。 Starr；〃 replied Harry； 〃and it's something too； you see； to live all one's life in the mine。〃
〃Right； Harry。 Formerly； when I was twenty； I could have gone down all at a breath。 e； forward！〃
But just as the two were about to leave the platform； a voice； as yet far distant； was heard in the depths of the shaft。 It came up like a sonorous billow； swelling as it advanced； and being more and more distinct。
〃Halloo！ who es here？〃 asked the engineer； stopping Harry。
〃I cannot say；〃 answered the young miner。
〃Is it not your father？〃
〃My father； Mr。 Starr？ no。〃
〃Some neighbor； then？〃
〃We have no neighbors in the bottom of the pit；〃 replied Harry。 〃We are alone； quite alone。〃
〃Well； we must let this intruder pass；〃 said James Starr。 〃Those who are descending must yield the path to those who are ascending。〃
They waited。 The voice broke out again with a ma