“No,” said Onrai, “we fell in with a strange race of people down there, and it was they who detained us.”
“Tell me all about them,” said Enola, and she was all attention at once.
“Not now, Enola,” said Mr. Bruce, “wait until we have reached the villa, and all are together, and we will give you a full account of our six days’ jaunt in the Land, not of, but under On.”
“I think,” said Mr. Graham, “this is the happiest moment of my life.”
“Why, my dear,” said Mrs. Graham, “I have often heard you make the same remark concerning the eventful time when you first met me.”
“Why, certainly, wife,” answered her husband, “that was the happiest moment which I had known even up to the present time, but now you see I am happier for having been brought out of a position where I never expected to see you again.”
“And was it as bad as that, father?” asked Nellie.
“Quite,” answered her father; “in fact, it was dollars to cents that we would never again see daylight, but it all goes to show how little we know of what will transpire in our little lives.”
“Yes, things looked pretty dark in every way,” said Harry. “In fact, we couldn’t see our hands before our eyes. And all chances for escape were equally dark and obscure. Where do you suppose we were, mother?”
“Why, somewhere down there in the bowels of the earth,” answered Mrs. Graham.