The children gazed with wondering eyes into the deep, dark hole, and Marjorie clung to Dick’s arm nervously. “How wonderful!” she exclaimed; “but I’m glad we’ve seen where it was, aren’t you, Dick?”
But Dick was thinking deeply.
“Are you sure it went right through to the Equator?” he asked of the Walrus.
“Yah!” said that worthy, “for sure.”
“Then if we slid through, we should come out at the other end?” said Dick.
“Yah! das is so,” said the Walrus, nodding violently.
“Well, then, I think we’ll do it,” said Dick, boldly.
“Oh, Dick!” cried Marjorie, in alarm.
“Well, why not?” said Dick, for, really, so many strange things had happened that nothing seemed impossible to him now. “It would be rather jolly to see what it’s like at the other end, and it’s no use stopping here. Do you know your way from the Equator?” he added, turning to the Dodo.
“Yes,” said the bird, who was quite ready to start on the perilous voyage, and, grasping Fidge by the hand, he gave a loud whoop, and began to slide down the steep incline.