of digging by beginning at a deep spot in the ocean instead of beginning on land?"
"That consideration," said Dr. Giles, laughing, "would not influence me in the least, for the difficulties of working under water would retard us far more than we should be helped by the mile or two we should gain. No; my main reason for commencing the work under water is a most imperative one, and one that I do not wish to talk about just yet. You may, however, rest assured that I have excellent reasons for beginning work in the ocean itself."
What those reasons were was seen only later.
Dr. Giles lost no time in putting his plans into practical operation. As we have already hinted, he began operations simultaneously in Australia and New York, so that the digging might proceed in both directions at once. In this way the work would occupy but one half of the time it would require were the start made only from one side.
The point selected for the operation in the eastern hemisphere was at about 40° south latitude and 110° east of Greenwich, near the southwestern coast of the Australian continent, about two hundred miles from shore; while on the
