“The ones you threw down the Hollow Tube.”
“Where are they now?”
“In the same Tube, and coming back this way,” said the Hearer.
Ruggedo got out of his throne and began to pace up and down the cavern.
“I wonder what can be done to stop them,” he mused.
“Well,” said the Hearer, “if you could turn the Tube upside down, they would be falling the other way, Your Majesty.”
Ruggedo glared at him wickedly, for it was impossible to turn the Tube upside down and he believed the Hearer was slyly poking fun at him. Presently he asked:
“How far away are those people now?”
"About nine thousand three hundred and six miles, seventeen furlongs, eight feet and four inches—as nearly as I can judge from the sound of their voices," replied the Hearer.
“Aha! Then it will be some time before they arrive,” said Ruggedo, “and when they get here I shall be ready to receive them.”