Ryan knew； having had it proved by many circumstances； that his friend was a man of his word。 With him； a thing promised was a thing done。 Now； at the Irvine merry…making； nothing was wanting； neither song； nor dance； nor fun of any sort……nothing but Harry Ford。
The notice relative to James Starr； published in the papers； had not yet been seen by Ryan。 The honest fellow was therefore only worried by Harry's absence； telling himself that something serious could alone have prevented him from keeping his promise。 So； the day after the Irvine games； Jack Ryan intended to take the railway from Glasgow and go to the Dochart pit； and this he would have done had he not been detained by an accident which nearly cost him his life。 Something which occurred on the night of the 12th of December was of a nature to support the opinions of all partisans of the supernatural； and there were many at Melrose Farm。
Irvine； a little seaport of Renfrew； containing nearly seven thousand inhabitants； lies in a sharp bend made by the Scottish coast； near the mouth of the Firth of Clyde。 The most ancient and the most famed ruins on this part
of the coast were those of this castle of Robert Stuart； which bore the name of Dundonald Castle。
At this period Dundonald Castle； a refuge for all the stray goblins of the country； was pletely deserted。 It stood on the top of a high rock； two miles from the town； and was seldom visited。 Sometimes a few strangers took it into th