had burst into the colliery； for its galleries and passages perated as far as the Caledonian Canal。 In that case the entire excavation； vast as it was； would be pletely flooded。 Not a single inhabitant of New Aberfoyle would escape death。
But when the foremost fugitives reached the entrance to the tunnel； they encountered Simon Ford； who had quitted his cottage。 〃Stop； my friends； stop！〃 shouted the old man； 〃if our town is to be overwhelmed； the floods will rush faster than you can； no one can possibly escape。 But see！ the waters are rising no further！ it appears to me the danger is over。〃
〃And our rades at the far end of the works……what about them？〃 cried some of the miners。
〃There is nothing to fear for them；〃 replied Simon； 〃they are working on a higher level than the bed of the loch。〃
It was soon evident that the old man was in the right。 The sudden influx of water had rushed to the very lowest
bed of the vast mine； and its only ultimate effect was to raise the level of Loch Malcolm a few feet。 Coal Town was uninjured； and it was reasonable to hope that no one had perished in the flood of water which had descended to the depths of the mine never yet perated by the workmen。
Simon and his men could not decide whether this inundation was owing to the overflow of a subterranean sheet of water perating fissures in the solid rock； or to some underground torrent breaking through its worn bed； and precipitating itself to the lowest level of the mine。 But that very same evening they knew what to think about it； for the local papers published an account of the marvelous phenomenon which Loch Katrine had exhibited。
The surprising news was soon after confirmed by the four travelers； who； returning with all possible speed to