the cottage； learned with extreme satisfaction that no serious damage was done in New Aberfoyle。
The bed of Loch Katrine had fairly given way。 The waters had suddenly broken through by an enormous fissure into the mine beneath。 Of Sir Walter Scott's favorite loch there was not left enough to wet the pretty foot of the Lady of the Lake； all that remained was a pond of a few acres at the further extremity。
This singular event made a profound sensation in the country。 It was a thing unheard of that a lake should in the space of a few minutes empty itself； and disappear into the bowels of the earth。 There was nothing for it but to erase Loch Katrine from the map of Scotland until （by public subscription） it could be refilled； care being of course taken； in the first place； to stop the rent up tight。 This catastrophe would have been the death of Sir Walter Scott； had he still been in the world。
The accident was explicable when it was ascertained that； between the bed of the lake and the vast cavity beneath； the geological strata had bee reduced to a thin layer； incapable of longer sustaining the weight of water。
Now； although to most people this event seemed plainly due to natural causes； yet to James Starr and his friends； Simon and Harry Ford； the question constantly recurred； was it not rather to be attributed to malevolence？ Uneasy suspicions continually harassed their minds。 Was their evil
genius about to renew his persecution of those who ventured to work this rich mine？
At the cottage； some days later； James Starr thus discussed the matter with the old man and his son： 〃Well； Simon；〃 said he； 〃to my thinking we must class this circumstance with the others for which we still seek elucidation； although it is no doubt possible