# VII: New Aberfoyle explained — The Child of the Cavern

> Chapter companion for The Child of the Cavern by Jules Verne.

## What happens

Simon Ford's firedamp experiment confirms the existence of a vast new coal seam. James Starr plans to form a new Aberfoyle Company and resume mining. After blasting a wall with dynamite, the party discovers an immense natural cavern system filled with coal veins, which Starr names New Aberfoyle. Harry remains uneasy about the mysterious circumstances surrounding the discovery.

## Themes in this chapter

### Exploration and Discovery

The chapter centers on the discovery of a vast new coal field and the exploration of the natural cavern system.

### Family and Loyalty

The Ford family works together with James Starr, and Simon Ford's loyalty to the mine and his son is evident.

### Mystery and the Supernatural

Harry's unease about the inexplicable circumstances surrounding the discovery hints at a mysterious force at work.

## Character check-ins

### James Starr

The engineer who confirms the new coal vein and plans to revive the mine.

### Simon Ford

The old overman whose experiment succeeded; he is overjoyed and eager to resume work.

### Harry Ford

The young miner who remains thoughtful and uneasy about the strange events leading to the discovery.

### Madge

Simon's wife, who accompanies the party and observes the blasting.

## Key lines

> The old overman’s experiment had succeeded. Firedamp, it is well known, is only generated in coal seams; therefore the existence of a vein of precious combustible could no longer be doubted.

Simon Ford's test with firedamp proved there was a coal seam, since firedamp only comes from coal.

_Confirms the discovery of a new coal vein._

> Yes, nature alone! It might at first have been supposed that some works abandoned for centuries had been discovered afresh. Nothing of the sort.

The caverns were entirely natural, not man-made.

_Emphasizes that the vast network of galleries was formed by nature._

> The road to New Aberfoyle is open!

Harry announces that the passage into the new mine is clear.

_Marks the moment of entry into the newly discovered coal field._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_child_of_the_cavern_se/chapters/vii-new-aberfoyle
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_child_of_the_cavern_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_child_of_the_cavern_se/chapters