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 their heads to explore these old historical remains； but then they always went alone。 The inhabitants of Irvine would not have taken them there at any price。 Indeed； several legends were based on the story of certain 〃fire…maidens；〃 who haunted the old castle。
The most superstitious declared they had seen these fantastic creatures with their own eyes。 Jack Ryan was naturally one of them。 It was a fact that from time to time long flames appeared； sometimes on a broken piece of wall； sometimes on the summit of the tower which was the highest point of Dundonald Castle。
Did these flames really assume a human shape； as was asserted？ Did they merit the name of fire…maidens； given them by the people of the coast？ It was evidently just an optical delusion； aided by a good deal of credulity； and science could easily have explained the phenomenon。
However that might be； these fire…maidens had the reputation of frequenting the ruins of the old castle and there performing wild strathspeys； especially on dark nights。 Jack Ryan； bold fellow though he was； would never have dared to acpany those dances with the music of his bagpipes。
〃Old Nick is enough for them！〃 said he。 〃He doesn't need me to plete his infernal orchestra。〃
We may well believe that these strange apparitions frequently furnished a text for the evening stories。 Jack Ryan was ending the evening with one of these。 His auditors； transported into the phantom world； were worked up into a state of mind which would believe anything。
All at once shouts were heard outside。 Jack Ryan stopped short in the middle of his story； and all rushed out of the barn。 The night was pitchy dark。 Squalls of wind and rain swept along the beach。 Two or three fishermen； their backs against a rock； the better to resist the wind； were shouting at the top of their voices。
Jack Ryan and his panions ran up to them。 The
shouts were； however； not for the inhabitants of the farm； but to warn men who； without being aware of it； were going to destruction。 A dark； confused mass appeared some way out at sea。 It was a vessel whose position could be seen by her lights； for she carried a white one on her foremast； a green on the starboard side； and a red on the outside。 She was evidently running straight on the rocks。
〃A ship in distress？〃 said Ryan。
〃Ay；〃 answered one of the fishermen； 〃and now they want to tack； but it's too late！〃
〃Do they want to run ashore？〃 said another。
〃It seems so；〃 responded one of the fishermen； 〃unless he has been misled by some……〃
The man was interrupted by a yell from Jack。 Could the crew have heard it？ At any rate； it was too late for them to beat back from the line of breakers which gleamed white in the darkness。
But it was not； as might be supposed； a last effort of Ryan's to warn the doomed ship。 He now had his back to the sea。 His panions turned also； and gazed at a spot situated about half a mile inland。 It was Dundonald Castle。 A long flame twisted and bent under the gale； on the summit of the old tower。
〃The Fire…Maiden！〃 cried the superstitious men in terror。
Clearly； it needed a good strong imagination to find any human likeness in that flame。 Waving in the wind like a luminous flag； it seemed sometimes to fly round the tower； as if it was just going out； and a moment after it was seen again dancing on its blue point。
〃The Fire…Maiden！ the Fire…Maiden！〃 cried the terrified fishermen and peasants。
All was then explained。 The ship； having lost her reckoning in the fog； had taken this flame on the top of Dundonald Castle for the Irvine light。 She thought herself at the entrance of the Firth； ten miles to the north； when she was really running on a shore which offered no refuge。
What could be done to save her； if there was still time？ It was too late。 A frightful crash was heard above the tumult of the elements。 The vessel had struck。 The white line of surf was broken for an instant； she heeled over on her side and lay among the rocks。
At the same time； by a strange coincidence； the long flame disappeared； as if it had been swept away by a violent gust。 Earth； sea； and sky were plunged in plete darkness。
〃The Fire…Maiden！〃 shouted Ryan； for the last time； as the apparition； which he and his panions believed supernatural； disappeared。 But then the courage of these superstitious Scotchmen； which had failed before a fancied danger； returned in face of a real one； which they were ready to brave in order to save their fellow…creatures。 The tempest did not deter them。 As heroic as they had before been credulous； fastening ropes round their waists； they rushed into the waves to the aid of those on the wreck。
Happily； they succeeded in their endeavors； although some……and bold Jack Ryan was among the number……were severely wounded on the rocks。 But the captain of the vessel and the eight sailors who posed his crew were hauled up； safe and sound； on the beach。
The ship was the Norwegian brig MOTALA； laden with timber； and bound for Glasgow。 Of the MOTALA herself nothing remained but a few spars； washed up by the waves； and dashed among the rocks on the beach。
Jack Ryan and three of his panions； wounded like himself； were carried into a room of Melrose Farm； where every care was lavished on them。 Ryan was the most hurt； for when with the rope round his waist he had rushed into the sea； the waves had almost immediately dashed him back against the rocks。 He was brought； indeed； very nearly lifeless on to the beach。
The brave fellow was therefore confined to bed for several days； to his great disgust。 However； as soon as he was given permission to sing as much as he liked； he bore his trouble patiently； and the farm echoed all day with his jovial voice。 But from this adventure he imbibed a more lively sentiment of fear with regard to brownies and other goblins who amuse themselves by plaguing mankind； and he made them responsible for the catastrophe of the Motala。 It would have been vain to try and convince him that the Fire…Maidens did not exist； and that the flame； so suddenly appearing among the ruins； was but a natural phenomenon。 No reasoning could make him believe it。 His panions were； if possible； more obstinate than he in
their credulity。 According to them； one of the Fire…Maidens had maliciously attracted the MOTALA to the coast。 As to wishing to punish her； as well try to bring the tempest to justice！ The magistrates might order what arrests they pleased； but a flame cannot be imprisoned； an impalpable being can't be handcuffed。 It must be acknowledged that the researches which were ultimately made gave ground； at least in appearance； to this superstitious way of explaining the facts。
The inquiry was made with great care。 Officials came to Dundonald Castle； and they proceeded to conduct a most vigorous search。 The magistrate wished first to ascertain if the ground bore any footprints； which could be attributed to other than goblins' feet。 It was impossible to find the least trace； whether old or new。 Moreover； the earth； still damp from the rain of the day before； would have preserved the least vestige。
The result of all this was； that the magistrates only got for their trouble a new legend added to so many others……a legend which would be perpetuated by the remembrance of the catastrophe of the MOTALA； and indisputably confirm the truth of the apparition of the Fire…Maidens。
A hearty fellow like Jack Ryan； with so strong a constitution； could not be long confined to his bed。 A few sprains and bruises were not quite enough to keep him on his back longer than he liked。 He had not time to be ill。
Jack； therefore； soon got well。 As soon as he was on his legs again； before resuming his work on the farm； he wished to go and visit his