And then the very queerest thing happened to him that could be imagined. The spring he took shot him up through the hole like an arrow taking flight.
He never touched the root, but over-shot the mark and disappeared with a loud scream of amazement and alarm into the outer world.
CHAPTER XII
THE GEYSER
"Somebody grabbed him!" shouted Andy Sudds.
"Oh, lawsy-massy-gollyation!" yelped the frightened darkey. "Massa Mark done been kerried up, suah 'nuff! I tole youse disher was de end ob de worl'."
But Jack, followed by the old hunter, sprang to the opening. How light they were upon their feet! The experience of moving shot this surprising thought through Jack Darrow's mind:
"I'm as light as a feather. I have lost half my weight, I declare I
How can that be possible?"
Andy Sudds was evidently disturbed by the same thought. He cried:
"Somebody holt onto me! I'm going up!"