Page:Clement Fezandié - Through the Earth.djvu/113

Rh as there will be many interesting physical experiences for my passengers to undergo during the trip, and I should very much like to have an account of them.

"There is one more chance left. I told my agents to wait in Australia until the last moment, and not to leave the continent without doing everything possible to secure a passenger. That is my last hope. So far they have telephoned me that they have been unsuccessful; but they have still five minutes left, and—who knows?—perhaps even now something may turn up."

The minutes passed slowly by until the last one had sped. Dr. Giles put up his watch, and turned disconsolately to his friends.

"It's no use," said he; "the car will have to go through without any passengers, after all."

At this moment the telephone in the doctor's office began to ring. With a bound the worthy man was at the instrument, listening to the message. It was most laconic:

"Boy of sixteen wants to go as passenger. Shall we bring him?"

Dr. Giles hesitated a few seconds, and then his reply was borne back over the wires:

"Bring him anyway."

Only three words, but they meant volumes!