crust. Thank God! We were safe!

I put my nose to the intake pipe through which samples were to have

been taken during the passage of the prospector through the earth,

and my fondest hopes were realized--a flood of fresh air was pouring

into the iron cabin. The reaction left me in a state of collapse,

and I lost consciousness.

II

A STRANGE WORLD

I WAS UNCONSCIOUS LITTLE MORE THAN AN INSTANT, for as I lunged

forward from the crossbeam to which I had been clinging, and fell

with a crash to the floor of the cabin, the shock brought me to

myself.

My first concern was with Perry. I was horrified at the thought

that upon the very threshold of salvation he might be dead. Tearing

open his shirt I placed my ear to his breast. I could have cried

with relief--his heart was beating quite regularly.

At the water tank I wetted my handkerchief, slapping it smartly

across his forehead and face several times. In a moment I was

rewarded by the raising of his lids. For a time he lay wide-eyed

and quite uncomprehending. Then his scattered wits slowly

foregathered, and he sat up sniffing the air with an expression of

wonderment upon his face.

"Why, David," he cried at last, "it's air, as sure as I live.

Why--why what does it mean? Where in the world are we? What has

happened?"

"It means that we're back at the surface all right, Perry," I cried;

"but where, I don't know. I haven't opened her up yet. Been too

busy reviving you. Lord, man, but you had a close squeak!"

"You say we're back at the surface, David? How can that be? How

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