Chapter 22 Chapter XXII The Legend of Old Sylfax

Six months after these events, the so curiously aborted wedding of Harry Ford and Nell took place at St. Giles' Chapel.After the blessing of their union by the Reverend Reverend Hobson, the young couple, still dressed in black, returned to the cottage. No more worries, James Starr and Simon Ford happily presided over the post-ceremony celebrations, which continued into the next day. In this memorable occasion, Jack Ryan, once again donning his bagpiper costume, after inflating the sheepskin pouch of his bagpipes, was given the opportunity to play, sing and dance simultaneously, to the applause of the entire audience. Triple result.

The next day, under the leadership of engineer James Starr, surface and underground works resumed. Needless to say, Harry and Nell are happy.These two hearts, who have suffered so much, find the happiness they deserve in their union. As for Simon Ford, the honorary foreman of New-Aberfoyle, who intends to live to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of his marriage to the good Madge, he wants nothing more. "And after that, why not one more?" said Jack Ryan. "Two fiftieths, that's not much for you, Mr. Simon!" "You are right, boy," replied the old foreman calmly, "in the climate of New-Aberfoyle, in an environment that never knows the climate outside is abnormal, what does it matter that a man can live two hundred years?" Surprising!"

Will the residents of Coal City one day participate in this second celebration?The future will answer. In any case, one bird that seemed to live a particularly long life was Old Sylfax's Snowy Owl.It has been flying here and there frequently in this dark place.But after the old man's death, despite Nell's attempts to keep him, he escaped after a few days.Not only because it dislikes human society as much as its former owner does, but it seems to have a special hatred for Harry, a jealous bird who always thinks and resents him as Nell's first kidnapper, in Shaft As it ascended through the hole, it failed to catch Nell.

It had been a long time since Nell had seen it soar over Lake Malcolm. Does it want to see its old friends again?Does it want to look as far as the bottom of the abyss where Sylfax is swallowed? There is reason to say both, as the snowy owl became legendary, inspiring more than one fictional story about Jack Ryan. Thanks to this jovial companion, the legend of the old friar of the coal mines of Aberfoyle, the bird of Old Sylfax, is still sung in Scottish vigils.