ttage?"

"He would not wish to leave us."

"Don't you think of finding him a wife, some day?"

"A wife for Harry," exclaimed Ford. "And who would it be? A girl from up
yonder, who would love merry-makings and dancing, who would prefer her
clan to our mine! Harry wouldn't do it!"

"Simon," said Madge, "you would not forbid that Harry should take a
wife."

"I would forbid nothing," returned the old miner, "but there's no hurry
about that. Who knows but we may find one for him--"

Harry re-entered at that moment, and Simon Ford was silent.

When Madge rose from the table, all followed her example, and seated
themselves at the door of the cottage. "Well, Simon," said the engineer,
"I am ready to hear you."

"Mr. Starr," responded Ford, "I do not need your ears, but your legs.
Are you quite rested?"

"Quite rested and quite refreshed, Simon. I am ready to go with you
wherever you like."

"Harry," said Simon Ford, turning to his son, "light our safety lamps."

"Are you going to take safety lamps!" exclaimed James Starr, in
amazement, knowing that there was no fear of explosions of fire-damp in
a pit quite empty of coal.

"Yes, Mr. Starr, it will be prudent."

"My good Simon, won't you propose next to put me in a miner's dress?"

"Not just yet, sir, not just yet!" returned the old overman, his
deep-set eyes gleaming strangely.

Harry soon reappeared, carrying three safety lamps. He handed one of
these to the engineer, the other to his father, and kept the third
hanging from his left hand, whilst his right was armed with a long
stick.

"Forward!" said Simon Ford, taking up a strong pick, which was leaning
against the wall of the cottage.

"Forward!" echoed the engineer. "Good-by, Madge."

"GOD speed you!" responded the good woman.

"A good supper, wife, do you hear?" exclaimed Ford. "We shall be hungry
when we come back, and will do it justice!"

CHAPTER V. SOME STRANGE PHENOMENA

MANY superstitious beliefs exist both in the Highlands and Lowlands of
Scotland. Of course the mining population must furnish its contingent
of legends and fables to this mythological repertory. If the fields are
peopled with imaginary beings, either good or bad, with much more reason
must the dark mines be haunted to their lowest depths. Who shakes the
seam during tempestuous nights? who puts the miners on the track of an
as yet unworked vein? who lights the fire-damp, and presides over the
terrible explosions? who