shed into the waves to the aid of those on the wreck。
Happily； they succeeded in their endeavors； although some……and bold Jack Ryan was among the number……were severely wounded on the rocks。 But the captain of the vessel and the eight sailors who posed his crew were hauled up； safe and sound； on the beach。
The ship was the Norwegian brig MOTALA； laden with timber； and bound for Glasgow。 Of the MOTALA herself nothing remained but a few spars； washed up by the waves； and dashed among the rocks on the beach。
Jack Ryan and three of his panions； wounded like himself； were carried into a room of Melrose Farm； where every care was lavished on them。 Ryan was the most hurt； for when with the rope round his waist he had rushed into the sea； the waves had almost immediately dashed him back against the rocks。 He was brought； indeed； very nearly lifeless on to the beach。
The brave fellow was therefore confined to bed for several days； to his great disgust。 However； as soon as he was given permission to sing as much as he liked； he bore his trouble patiently； and the farm echoed all day with his jovial voice。 But from this adventure he imbibed a more lively sentiment of fear with regard to brownies and other goblins who amuse themselves by plaguing mankind； and he made them responsible for the catastrophe of the Motala。 It would have been vain to try and convince him that the Fire…Maidens did not exist； and that the flame； so suddenly appearing among the ruins； was but a natural phenomenon。 No reasoning could make him believe it。 His panions were； if possible； more obstinate than he in
their credulity。 According to them； one of the Fire…Maidens had maliciously attracted the MOTALA to the coast。 As to wishing to punish her； as well try to bring the tempest to justice！ The magistrates might order what arrests they pleased； but a flame cannot be imprisoned； an impalpable being can't be handcuffed。 It must be acknowledged that the researches which were ultimately made gave ground； at least in appearance； to this superstitious way of explaining the facts。
The inquiry was made with great care。 Officials came to Dundonald Castle； and they proceeded to conduct a most vigorous search。 The magistrate wished first to ascertain if the ground bore any footprints； which could be attributed to other than goblins' feet。 It was impossible to find the least trace； whether old or new。 Moreover； the earth； still damp from the rain of the day before； would have preserved the least vestige。
The result of all this was； that the magistrates only got for their trouble a new legend added to so many others……a legend which would be perpetuated by the remembrance of the catastrophe of the MOTALA； and indisputably confirm the truth of the apparition of the Fire…Maidens。
A hearty fellow like Jack Ryan； with so strong a constitution； could not be long confined to his bed。 A few sprains and bruises were not quite enough to keep him on his back longer than he liked。 He had not time to be ill。
Jack； therefore； soon got well。 As soon as he was on his legs again； before resuming his work on the farm； he wished to go and visit his friend Harry； and learn why he had not e to the Irvine merry…making。 He could not understand his absence； for Harry was not a man who would willingly promise and not perform。 It was unlikely； too； that the son of the old overman had not heard of the wreck of the MOTALA； as it was in all the papers。 He must know the part Jack had taken in it； and what had happened to him； and it was unlike Harry not to hasten to the farm and see how his old chum was going on。
As Harry had not e； there must have been something to prevent him。 Jack Ryan would as soon deny the existence of the Fire…Maidens as believe in Harry's indifference。
Two days after the catastrophe Jack left the farm merily； feeling nothing of his wounds。 Singing in the fullness of his heart； he awoke the echoes of the cliff； as he walked to the station of the railway； which VIA Glasgow would take him to Stirling and Callander。
As he was waiting for his train； his attention was attracted by a bill posted up on the walls； containing the following notice：
〃On the 4th of December； the engineer； James Starr； of Edinburgh； embarked from Granton Pier； on board the Prince of Wales。 He disembarked the same day at Stirling。 From that time nothing further has been heard of him。
〃Any information concerning him is requested to be sent to the President of the Royal Institution； Edinburgh。〃
Jack Ryan； stopping before one of these advertisements； read it twice over； with extreme surprise。
〃Mr。 Starr！〃 he exclaimed。 〃Why； on the 4th of December I met him with Harry on the ladder of the Dochart pit！ That was ten days ago！ And he has not been seen from that time！ That explains why my chum didn't e to Irvine。〃
And without taking time to inform the President of the Royal Institution by letter； what he knew relative to James Starr； Jack jumped into the train； determining to go first of all to the Yarrow shaft。 There he would descend to the depths of the pit； if necessary； to find Harry； and with him was sure to be the engineer James Starr。
〃They haven't turned up again；〃 said he to himself。 〃Why？ Has anything prevented them？ Could any work of importance keep them still at the bottom of the mine？ I must find out！〃 and Ryan； hastening his steps； arrived in less than an hour at the Yarrow shaft。
Externally nothing was changed。 The same silence around。 Not a living creature was moving in that desert region。 Jack entered the ruined shed which covered the opening of the shaft。 He gazed down into the dark abyss……nothing was to be seen。 He listened……nothing was to be heard。
〃And my lamp！〃 he exclaimed； 〃suppose it isn't in its place！〃 The lamp which Ryan used when he visited the pit was usually deposited in a corner； near the landing of the topmost ladder。 It had disappeared。
〃Here is a nuisance！〃 said Jack； beginning to feel rather
uneasy。 Then； without hesitating； superstitious though he was； 〃I will go；〃 said he； 〃though it's as dark down there as in the lowest depths of the infernal regions！〃
And he began to descend the long flight of ladders； which led down the gloomy shaft。 Jack Ryan had not forgotten his old mining habits； and he was well acquainted with the Dochart pit； or he would scarcely have dared to venture thus。 He went very carefully； however。 His foot tried each round； as some of them were worm…eaten。 A false step would entail a deadly fall； through this space of fifteen hundred feet。 He counted each landing as he passed it； knowing that he could not reach the bottom of the shaft until he had left the thirtieth。 Once there； he would have no trouble； so he thought； in finding the cottage； built； as we have said； at the extremity of the principal passage。
Jack Ryan went on thus until he got to the twenty…sixth landing； and consequently had two hundred feet between him and the bottom。
Here he put down his leg to feel for the first rung of the twenty…seventh ladder。 But his foot swinging in space found nothing to rest on。 He knelt down and felt about with his hand for the top of the ladder。 It was in vain。
〃Old Nick him