he could well afford to forget the precariousness of his position.
His fears somewhat allayed in regard to his present danger, our hero swam to a window at the side of the car to see if the tube there showed any signs of giving way. He did not stop to reflect on the doctor's admonition, but threw open the shutter and looked out at the tube.
He gave but a single glance, and then, with a cry of pain, he clapped his hand over his eyes; for he was now falling with such frightful rapidity that the light of the car, reflected from the walls of the tube, almost blinded him.
He hastily closed the shutter again, and after waiting a few minutes to compose himself, he swam again to the top of the car, and gazed up the tube. But what was his consternation to notice that the speck of fire was gradually growing larger! The molten matter was evidently gaining on him!
