avern is so huge。〃
〃You must be right； Mr。 Starr；〃 said Harry。
〃Besides； the weather is so bad outside；〃 resumed Starr； 〃that the waters of the loch must be as rough as those of the Firth of Forth。〃
〃Well！ what does it matter after all？〃 returned Simon Ford； 〃the seam won't be any the worse because it is under a loch。 It would not be the first time that coal has been looked for under the very bed of the ocean！ When we have to work under the bottom of the Caledonian Canal； where will be the harm？〃
〃Well said； Simon；〃 cried the engineer； who could not restrain a smile at the overman's enthusiasm； 〃let us cut our trenches under the waters of the sea！ Let us bore the bed of the Atlantic like a strainer； let us with our picks join
our brethren of the United States through the subsoil of the ocean！ let us dig into the center of the globe if necessary； to tear out the last scrap of coal。〃
〃Are you joking； Mr。 Starr？〃 asked Ford； with a pleased but slightly suspicious look。
〃I joking； old man？ no！ but you are so enthusiastic that you carry me away into the regions of impossibility！ e； let us return to the reality； which is sufficiently beautiful； leave our picks here； where we may find them another day； and let's take the road back to the cottage。〃
Nothing more could be done for the time。 Later； the engineer； acpanied by a brigade of miners； supplied with lamps and all necessary tools； would r閟um？the exploration of New Aberf