ass through。 Harry； lamp in hand； entered unhesitatingly； and disappeared in the darkness。 His father； mother； and James Starr waited in silence。 A minute……which seemed to them much longer……passed。 Harry did not reappear； did not call。 Gazing into the opening；
James Starr could not even see the light of his lamp； which ought to have illuminated the dark cavern。
Had the ground suddenly given way under Harry's feet？ Had the young miner fallen into some crevice？ Could his voice no longer reach his panions？
The old overman； dead to their remonstrances； was about to enter the opening； when a light appeared； dim at first； but gradually growing brighter； and Harry's voice was heard shouting； 〃e； Mr。 Starr！ e； father！ The road to New Aberfoyle is open！〃
If； by some superhuman power； engineers could have raised in a block； a thousand feet thick； all that portion of the terrestrial crust which supports the lakes； rivers； gulfs； and territories of the counties of Stirling； Dumbarton； and Renfrew； they would have found； under that enormous lid； an immense excavation； to which but one other in the world can be pared…… the celebrated Mammoth caves of Kentucky。 This excavation was posed of several hundred divisions of all sizes and shapes。 It might be called a hive with numberless ranges of cells； capriciously arranged； but a hive on a vast scale； and which； instead of bees； might have lodged all the ichthyosauri； megatheriums； and ptero…dactyles of the geological epoch。
A labyrinth of galleries； some higher than the most lofty cathedrals； others like cloisters； narrow and winding……these following a horizontal line； those on an incline or running obliquely in all directions…… connected the caverns and allowed free munication between them。