CHAPTER　XVIII　NELL'S　WEDDING

IT　was　agreed　that　the　inhabitants　of　the　cottage　must　keep　more　on　their　guard　than　ever。 The　threats　of　old　Silfax　were　too　serious　to　be　disregarded。 It　was　only　too　possible　that　he　possessed　some　terrible　means　by　which　the　whole　of　Aberfoyle　might　be　annihilated。

Armed　sentinels　were　posted　at　the　various　entrances　to　the　mine；　with　orders　to　keep　strict　watch　day　and　night。　Any　stranger　entering　the　mine　was　brought　before　James　Starr；　that　he　might　give　an　account　of　himself。 There　being　no　fear　of　treason　among　the　inhabitants　of　Coal　Town；　the　threatened　danger　to　the　subterranean　colony　was　made　known　to　them。　Nell　was