feet below the surface of the ground, must have been
exhausted by this time.

All this passed through Jack's mind, as he saw that by himself he could
do nothing to get to the cottage. He had no doubt but that communication
had been interrupted with a malevolent intention. At any rate, the
authorities must be informed, and that as soon as possible. Jack Ryan
bent forward from the landing.

"Harry! Harry!" he shouted with his powerful voice.

Harry's name echoed and re-echoed among the rocks, and finally died away
in the depths of the shaft.

Ryan rapidly ascended the upper ladders and returned to the light of
day. Without losing a moment he reached the Callander station, just
caught the express to Edinburgh, and by three o'clock was before the
Lord Provost.

There his declaration was received. His account was given so clearly
that it could not be doubted. Sir William Elphiston, President of the
Royal Institution, and not only colleague, but a personal friend of
Starr's, was also informed, and asked to direct the search which was
to be made without delay in the mine. Several men were placed at his
disposal, supplied with lamps, picks, long rope ladders, not forgetting
provisions and cordials. Then guided by Jack Ryan, the party set out for
the Aberfoyle mines.

The same evening the expedition arrived at the opening of the Yarrow
shaft, and descended to the twenty-seventh landing, at which Jack Ryan
had been stopped a few hours previously. The lamps, fastened to long
ropes, were lowered down the shaft, and it was thus ascertained that the
four last ladders were wanting.

As soon as the lamps had been brought up, the men fixed to the landing a
rope ladder, which unrolled itself down the shaft, and all descended one
after the other. Jack Ryan's descent was the most difficult, for he went
first down the swinging ladders, and fastened them for the others.

The space at the bottom of the shaft was completely deserted; but Sir
William was much surprised at hearing Jack Ryan exclaim, "Here are bits
of the ladders, and some of them half burnt!"

"Burnt?" repeated Sir William. "Indeed, here sure enough are cinders
which have evidently been cold a long time!"

"Do you think, sir," asked Ryan, "that Mr. Starr could have had any
reason for burning the ladders, and thus breaking of communication with
the world?"

"Certainly not," answered Sir William Elphiston, who had become very
thoughtful. "Come, my lad, lead us to th