Page:Clement Fezandié - Through the Earth.djvu/136

116 slowly, but William will fall almost as fast as before; and so, instead of remaining suspended in mid-air, he will now catch up with the bottom of the car and soon reach it. In a word, he will have regained a certain amount of weight."

"Well, doctor, since you say so, I suppose I must believe you; but I only wish we had an X-ray apparatus here that would enable us to see William during his strange trip. It promises to be more astonishing than I had imagined, and I should be willing to give a great deal to be able to see what happens to him."

Our hero, although he had listened to these long explanations with interest, was now becoming impatient; for he saw that the time of departure was approaching, and he wished to ask the doctor a few practical questions which had occurred to him.

"What is it, my boy?" asked the doctor, noticing his uneasiness.

"I'm sorry to interrupt you," said William, "but I should like to have some advice in regard to my trip. For example, I suppose you've arranged some special apparatus so that I shall be able to breathe during my fall."

Dr. Giles shook his head with a smile. "No, William," said he; "you will need nothing of the