"
"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.
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