“We are now ten miles underground!” he exclaimed. “That is doing very well. My theories are working out. I think we shall land somewhere before long.”
“I hopes so!” exclaimed Washington coming in at this point. “I’m mighty skeered shootin’ down int’ this dark hole, and no time-table t’ show when we’s due t’ arrive.”
“We ought to land in a couple of days more,” the professor answered. “Never mind about worrying Washington, I’ll take care of you.”
“I hopes so, Perfesser,” the colored man said. “I got a little girl waitin’ for me back in Georgia, an’ I’d like t’ see her 'fore I git burned up.”
Accompanied by the professor, the boys made a tour of the ship to see that all the machinery and apparatus were in working order. Owing to the changed conditions the negative gravity engine had to be worked at faster speed than usual, since the downward pull of the earth was greater the farther they descended into the interior and they did not want to fall too swiftly. But this was easily provided for, since the professor had made the apparatus capable of standing a great strain.
The ten miles had become fourteen when the professor, finding that everything was in good shape, proposed that the boys go to bed. They did not want to, though they were sleepy, and they feared to miss some strange sights.
But when the professor had promised to call them in case anything unusual developed, they consented to turn in, and Bill and Tom assumed their duties, which were light enough, now that the ship was merely falling into the immense shaft.
When Mark turned into his bunk he could not go to sleep at once. It may have been the excitement over their new position, or because he had eaten too hearty a supper, but the fact was he remained awake for some time.
While thus tossing restlessly on his bed, wondering what ailed him, he thought he heard a noise in the main apartment out of which the storeroom opened. He crawled softly from his bed, and looked from his stateroom door.
In the light of a shaded electric Mark saw the figure of some one glide across the floor and take refuge in the room, which Professor Henderson always was so particular about.