The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1914-06-08

was horrihed 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 wit, relief: his heart was beating
At the water tank I wetted my
handkerchief, siapping II smartly
across his forehead and face several
times. In q moment I was rewarded
by the raising of his lids.
For . time he lay wide eyed and
quite uncomprehending. Then his
scattered wits slowly foregathered.
and he sat UP shining the air with an
why. David" ne cried at last,
Its air, az sure as I live. Why
why, what does II meant Where In
the world are VET What has hap
pened7"
surface all right. Perry" I cried but
her up yet. Been too busy reviving
you. Lord. man. but you had close
squeak"
David? How can that be? How long
have I been unconscious?"
mot long. We turned In the Ice
stratum. Don't you recall the sudden
whirlins Of our seat.I After that the
drill was above us instead OF below.
We didn't notice It at the time, but
recall II now"
"You mean to say that we turned
back In the ice stratum, David? That
IL not possible. The prospector can
not turn unless It's nose Is DETECTED.
II the nose were DETECTED from the
outside-by some external force or
resistance-the steering wheel within
would have moved In response. The
steering wheel was not budged.
David. since We started. You know
that"
/ did know Il; but here We were
with our drill racing In pure air. and
copious volumes Of 1t pouring into the
cabin.
1--WE couldn't have turned in the
Ice stratum, Perry. know as we'll as
you" 1 replied; but the fact re-
mains that we did. for here we are
this minute at the surface OF tho
earth again. and I am going out to
see Just where"
Better wait till morning, David.
II must be midnight now"
glanced at the chronometer.
Half after twelve. We have been
out seventy-two hours. 80 It must be
midnight. Nevertheless I'm going to
have a look Mt the blessed sky that
again." and 20 saying lifted the bars
from the inner door and swung It
open. There was quite a quantity Of
loose material In tho Jacket, and this
had to remove with q shovel to get
at the opposite door In the outer shell.
In a short time I had removed
enough Of the earth and rock to the
floor OF tho cabin to expose the door
beyond. Perry was directly behind
me az threw II open. Tho upper half
was above the surface of the ground.
turned and looked at Perry. 1t was
broad daylight without!
Something seems to have gone
wrong either with our calculations or
the chronometer." said.
Perry shook his head: there was .
strange expression in his eyes.
Lets have q look beyond that
door. David" he cried.
Together we stepped out to stand in
silent contemplation Of a landscape at
once weird and beautiful.
Before US a low and level shore
stretched down to silent sea. So far
as the eye could reach the surface Of
the water was dotted with countless
tiny isles-some OF towering, barren
granite rock. others resplendent In
gorgeous trappings Of tropical vege-
tation. myriad starred with tbs mag
nifcent splendor of vivid blooms.
Behind US rose q dark and forbid
ding wood Of giant arborescent ferns
intermingled with the commoner types
Of q primeval tropical forest. Huge
creepers depended In great loops from
tree to tree. dense underbrush over
grew q tangled mass Of fallen trunks
and branches. Upon the outer verge
we could see the same splendid color
ing OF countless blossoms that glori-
fled tho Islands. but within the dense
shadows all seemed dark and gloomy
as the grave.
And upon all the MONDAY sun
poured Its torrid rays out OF a cloud
less sky.
Where on earth can we beT I
asked, turning to Perry.
For some moments the old man did
not reply. He stood with bowed head
buried In deep thought. But at last
he spoke.
David" he said. II am not so sure
that We are on earth"
what do you mean. Perryr I
cried. do you think that we are
dead, and that this 10 heaven"
He smiled. and turning pointed to
the nose Of the prospector protruding
from tho ground at our backs.
But for that. David. I might be-
lieve that we were indeed come to the
country beyond the Styx. The pros
spector renders that theory untenable.
1t certainly could never have gone to
heaven. However. I am willing to
concede that we may actually be In
another world from that which We
have always known. II we are not
on earth there In every reason to be-
lieve that we may be In It."
we may have quartered through
the earth's crust and come out upon
some tropical island Of the West
Indies" I suggested.
Again Perry shook his head.