"Yes, Harry, it is all changed," said Starr. "But at the rate we worked,
of course the treasures of coal would have been exhausted some day.
Do you regret that time?"
"I do regret it, Mr. Starr," answered Harry. "The work was hard,
but it was interesting, as are all struggles."
"No doubt, my lad. A continuous struggle against the dangers
of landslips, fires, inundations, explosions of firedamp, like claps
of thunder. One had to guard against all those perils! You say well!
It was a struggle, and consequently an exciting life."
"The miners of Alva have been more favored than the miners
of Aberfoyle, Mr. Starr!"
"Ay, Harry, so they have," replied the engineer.
"Indeed," cried the young man, "it's a pity that all the globe
was not made of coal; then there would have been enough to last
millions of years!"
"No doubt there would, Harry; it must be acknowledged,
however, that nature has shown more forethought by forming
our sphere principally of sandstone, limestone, and granite,
which fire cannot consume."
"Do you mean to say, Mr. Starr, that mankind would have ended
by burning their own globe?"
"Yes! The whole of it, my lad," answered the engineer.
"The earth would have passed to the last bit into the furnaces
of engines, machines, steamers, gas factories; certainly, that would
have been the end of our world one fine day!"
"There is no fear of that now, Mr.
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