Page:Clement Fezandié - Through the Earth.djvu/253

Rh before! He had left Australia on a sultry summer's day, and had reached the United States in the depths of winter! Of all the wonderful events of his most extraordinary trip, this was perhaps the most marvelous, and he could hardly recover from his surprise.

At this juncture the boat, which was now sailing on the surface of the ocean, was hailed by another, which soon came alongside, and a young man stepped on board:

"Is this Mr. William Swindon?" he asked.

"Yes, sir; that's my name," said William.

"Well, I am the representative of the Universal Press Association, central branch, New York city. I should like a full account of your trip for the morning papers, and will pay you a hundred thousand dollars cash for the exclusive right to use it in every country on the face of the globe. Will you consent?"

Would he consent! William felt that, though his trip was ended, his surprising adventures had only begun, and this last stroke of fortune completely unnerved him.

rest of our story is soon told. Our hero, after sending the tale of his adventures to the