Chapter 20 Chapter 20 The Ascetic Monk

The old foreman never thought of this name. This was the name of the last of the ascetics of the Dochart Coal Bunker. In the past, before the invention of the safelight, SimonFord got acquainted with this rough man who risked his life to induce small gas explosions every day.He had seen this eccentric wandering about the mines, always accompanied by a huge snowy owl, a monstrous owl who, in his dangerous profession, Hold it out of reach of his hands.One day, the old man disappeared, but when he disappeared, a little orphan was born in the mine, and she only had him, her great-grandfather, as her parents.This child is obviously Nell.For fifteen years, the two had probably lived in some secret deep cave, until the day Nell was rescued by Harry.

The old foreman related to the engineer and his son, with a mixture of pity and anger, the things which he did not think of until he saw the name of Sylfax. All the circumstances became clear.Silfax was the mysterious man they had sought in vain in the depths of New Aberfoyle! So you know him, Simon?asked the engineer. Yes, indeed, replied the foreman.The one with the snowy owl!He is no longer young.He was probably fifteen or twenty years older than me.A kind of savage, he does not associate with anyone, and is regarded as a person who is not afraid of fire and water!He chose the profession of ascetic monk out of interest, and he didn't care much about it.This dangerous trade troubled his mind.He was said to be vicious, but he might just be a madman.He has incredible strength.Nobody knows coal mines as well as he does, at least as I do.People accept a certain convenience that he offers.Indeed, I thought he had been dead for years.

However, James.Then Starr said, What does this mean: You stole from me the last vein of our old mine? ah!Here, Simon."It's been a long time," replied Ford, "I told you, Sylfax, that his mind was always confused, and he thought he had some power over old Aberfoyle.So, with Dochart's coal bunker his coal bunker!He was exhausted, and his temper became more and more violent.With every strike of the pickaxe, it was as if his guts had been ripped out of him!You should remember this, Madge? Yes, Simon, replied the old Scotch woman. I remember all these things now, Simon.Ford continued, Ever since seeing the name of Silfax on this door, but, I repeat, I thought he was dead; An ascetic monk from the former Coal Bunker!

Indeed, James.There is an explanation for everything, Starr said.An accident revealed the existence of the new seam to Silverax.In the selfishness of a lunatic, he was tempted to call himself the defender of the new seam.He lives alone in the coal mines, and travels day and night, and he may have accidentally learned your secret, Simon, and that you asked me to hurry to the cottage.Hence the contradictory letter of yours; hence the destruction of the ladders which threw the boulders into the Harry and Yale mines after my arrival; thus the blocking of the cracks in the rock-wall of the new seam; Thus, in the end, we were imprisoned and then released, all thanks to Nell who had come to save us, no doubt concealed from her and against this Sylfax's objections!

The things you have just described are obviously bound to happen, Mr. James, Simon.Ford replied that the old penitent must be mad, now! That's better, Madge said. I don't think so, James.Starr shook his head and went on, because his madness could be a frightful madness!ah!I understand now that Nell cannot think of him without horror, and I understand also that she does not want to denounce her grandfather!What wretched years she had passed by the old man's side! Very miserable!Simon.Ford replied that he lived between his savagery and his snowy owl, who could not be less savage than he!Because, of course, it's not dead, the bird!It could only be that it blew out our lights, it was it that nearly cut the rope that held Harry and Nell!

And I understand, Madge said, the news of his granddaughter's marriage to our son seems to intensify Silfax's old hatred and aggravate his rage! Indeed, Nell's marriage to the son of the man he accused of stealing his last Aberfoyle lode could only culminate his rage!Simon.Ford went on. But he should have tolerated the combination perfectly!Harry cried, however strange he might appear in public life, he would be made to realize at last that Nell's new life was worth more than the one he had made her live in the depths of the coal mines!I believe, Mr. Stahl, if we can give him our hand, we can finally make him sane!

No reason to speak to a madman, my poor Harry, replied the engineer. It is certainly better to know the enemy than to know nothing, but it is not over, because today we know who he is.Continue our vigilance, friends, and for a start, Harry, Nell must be asked!It has to be done!She will understand that the time has come and that her silence will no longer be justified.For her grandfather's benefit, she had better speak out.It is as much to us as to him that we bring to naught these sinister plans. I have no doubt, Mr Starr, replied Harry, that Nell will meet your question with his actions.You now know that she has kept silent so far out of conscience and responsibility.Out of duty, out of conscience, she will speak when you ask her to.My mother is doing very well.Take her back to her room.She desperately needs meditation, but I'll go to her

No, Harry, said the girl in a firm and clear voice, returning to the hall of the cottage at this very moment. Neil was pale.Her eyes showed how she had cried, but her uprightness made her step out at this moment, making people feel her determination. Nell, Harry called, and went to meet the girl. Harry, replied Nell, gesturing to stop her fiancé, your father, your mother and you, you must know everything today.Nor should you not know, Mr. Starr, about your taking in and not knowing about it and Harry's unlucky, alas!The thing about this kid rescued from the abyss. Neil!Harry cried out.

Let Nell say, James.said Starr, forcing Harry to be quiet. I'm old Sylfax's granddaughter, Nell went on, and I never knew what a mother was until I came in here, she added, looking at Madge. May this day be blessed, my daughter!replied the old Scotch woman. I saw Simon.I never knew what a father was until Ford, went on Nell, and friend, until the day Harry's hand touched mine!For fifteen years I lived alone with my grandfather in the most remote and hidden corner of the mine.With him, it's good to say the least.It is more accurate to live through him.I can barely see him.When he disappeared from old Aberfoyle, he hid in those deep places known only to him.In his way, he treated me well then, albeit intimidatingly.He gave me something he went out to find, but I don't remember exactly, except that at first, when I was a little boy, I had a goat as a nurse, and its death caused me great grief.Seeing how sad I was, my grandfather first replaced a dog with another animal, he told me.Unfortunately, that dog is a barking dog, and it barks all the time.Grandpa doesn't like dogs to bark.He was frightened when he heard the sound.He taught me to be quiet, but he failed to teach the dog.The poor animal disappeared almost immediately.Grandfather had a vicious bird for companionship, a snowy owl, which frightened me at first, but the bird, though repulsive to me, became attached to me so much that I ended up attached to him too.It is even more obedient to me than to its master, and this makes me uneasy about it.Grandpa is jealous.Snowy Owl and I, we try to keep him from finding out that we are together as much as possible!We knew it had to be that way!But I tell you too much!you are involved

No, my daughter, James.Starr replied, say what comes to your mind. My grandfather, Neil went on, always looked at you living near the coal mines in a very nasty light.But there is no shortage of space.The hiding place he has chosen for himself is far, far away from you.He hates feeling like you're there.When I asked him about the people up there, his face darkened, he didn't answer, and remained silent for a long time like a mute.But when he realized that he could no longer keep you where you were, and that you seemed to be encroaching on his territory, he became angry.He swore that if you finally broke into the new coal mine that until then only he knew about it, you would be screwed!In spite of his age, his strength is unearthly, so his threats make me tremble for you as well.

Go on, Neil, Simon.Ford told the girl that she paused for a moment, as if to better focus her memory. After your first attempt, Nell went on, as soon as Grandpa caught you breaking into the alley at New Aberfoyle, he blocked the exits and made the alley your prison.I only recognized your shadows, glimpsed dimly in the darkness of the coal mines, but I couldn't imagine a few Christians starving to death in this abyss, so at last, at the risk of being caught red-handed, I ended up a few miles away. God send you some water and bread!I would have liked to lead you out, but it was too difficult to escape my grandfather's watchful eyes!You are all dying!Jack.Ryan and his friends came that day and God made me meet them!I lead them all the way to you.When I went back, my grandfather caught me on the spot.His anger at me was horrific.I thought I was going to die at his hands!Since then, life has become overwhelming for me.My grandfather was totally out of his mind.He declares himself the King of Shadow and Fire!When he heard your picks hammering what he thought were his veins, he went mad and hit me in a rage.I want to escape.This is impossible, he watched me so closely.At last, three months ago, in a fit of indescribable insanity, he lowered me into the abyss where you found me, and he, after vainly summoning the snowy owl, disappeared, his faithful companion with me.Since when have I been there?I have no idea!When you come, my Harry, when you're going to get me out, all I know is, I think I'm dying!However, you also saw that old Sylfax's granddaughter couldn't be Harry.Wife of Ford, because this is your life, the lives of all of you! Neil!Harry cried. No, the girl went on, I have decided to sacrifice.There is only one way to save you from destruction: that is for me to go back to my grandfather.He's threatening all of New Aberfoyle!This is an unforgiving man, and no one knows what the vengeful spirit will incite against him!My responsibility is clear.If I hesitate to realize it, I shall be the worst of men!Goodbye, and thanks!You have taught me happiness in this world!No matter what happens, please consider that my whole heart will be with you! Hearing this, Simon.Ford, Madge, and Harry in mad pain stood up. What, Nell!They cried out in despair, you are leaving us! James.Starr separated them with an authoritative gesture, then walked right up to Nell and took her hands. It is well, my child, he said to her, you have said what you should have said, but we have something to answer you too.We will not let you go, and, if necessary, we will force you to stay.Do you think we would be so cowardly to accept your valiant offering?Old Silfax's menace is dire, all right!But, after all, a person is only a person, and we're going to take precautions.But can you, for Silfax's own good, tell us his habits, and tell us where he hides?We just want to do one thing to make him incapable of doing evil, and perhaps bring him back to reason. Your hopes are impossible, Nell replied, my grandfather was everywhere and everywhere.I never knew where he was hiding.When he found some shelter, he left me alone and disappeared.When I make up my mind, Mr. Starr, I know what you will answer me.trust me!There's only one way my grandfather can be reassured, and that's if I can find him again.He is invisible, he, but he sees everything.Consider how he discovered your most secret thoughts.From the letter to Mr. Starr, until Harry and I were going to marry if he didn't have this inexplicable ability to know everything.My grandfather, as far as I can see, was a man of great intellect even in his madness.Before, he occasionally said something important to me.He told me about God, and only deceived me in one point: when he wanted to incite me to hatred of the whole human race, he wanted to convince me that all men were treacherous.When Harry brought me to this cottage, you thought I was just ignorant!I'm better than that.I am terrified!ah!please forgive me!However, for a few days, I thought I had fallen into the hands of the wicked, and I wanted to hide from you.It was you, Madge, who began to direct my thoughts to the truth, not only in your words, but in the scenes of your life, when I saw you loved and respected by your husband and son!Later, when I saw those happy and good laborers worshiping Mr. Starr, I thought they were his slaves at first, when I first saw all the people of Aberfoyle come to the church and kneel there Coming down, praying to God and thanking Him for His boundless favor, I said to myself then: My grandfather deceived me!But today, through the things you told me, my mind is clear, and I think he is lying to himself!I was therefore retracing those secret paths I had walked with him in the past.He will spy on me!I'll call him and he'll hear me, and who knows if I'll bring him back to reality in going back to him? Everyone let the girl talk.Everyone felt that, in her noble fancy, it might do her good to let her open her whole heart to her friends, when she thought she would leave them forever.But when she was exhausted and her eyes filled with tears, she stopped, and Harry turned to his mother, saying: My mother, what would you think of a man who would turn his back on the noble girl you just heard? I would think, Madge replied, that the man is a coward, and that if he were my son I would not recognize him.I will curse him! You heard my mother, Nell, went on Harry, I'll follow you wherever you go.If you insist on going, let's go together Harry!Harry!Neil cried. She is so excited.The girl's lips turned gray and she fell into Madge's arms, asking the engineer, Simon, and Harry to leave her alone.