may seem to you, it is absolutely essential that you should follow them exactly.
"Remember, too, that while there will be no possibility of communicating with us during the journey, we shall yet know just where you are, and whether all is well or not; for I have here instruments of the greatest delicacy, which will inform me of your exact position, and the conditions of heat, cold, and so on, that you are experiencing. During the entire journey I shall not take my eyes from the instruments for a moment; and in case of any emergency you can count upon us to aid you by all the means in our power. And now good-by, my boy, and mark my words: you will never regret the step you have taken, and I promise you that you will be back here, safe and sound, before nightfall!"
The doctor spoke too confidently. Little did he dream, as he made this promise, that it was destined to be weeks before our hero set foot on his native land again!
A moment later William passed into a closed chamber at the top of the tube, made his way into the car, and carefully locked himself in. Then the suction-pumps were set to work, this upper chamber was exhausted of air, and the car was ready to start on its strange journey.
