"By opening the valve."

"Why don't you open it then?"

"BECAUSE THE VALVE-STRING IS BROKEN!"


CHAPTER IX.


Lady Caroline fainted. When she revived it was dark. They were
apparently cleaving their way through a solid block of black
marble. She moaned and shuddered.

"I wish we had a light."

"I have no lucifers," said Little. "I observe, however, that you
wear a necklace of amber. Amber under certain conditions becomes
highly electrical. Permit me."

He took the amber necklace and rubbed it briskly. Then he asked
her to present her knuckle to the gem. A bright spark was the
result. This was repeated for some hours. The light was not
brilliant, but it was enough for the purposes of propriety, and
satisfied the delicately minded girl.

Suddenly there was a tearing, hissing noise and a smell of gas.
Little looked up and turned pale. The balloon, at what I shall
call the pointed end of the Bologna sausage, was evidently bursting
from increased pressure. The gas was escaping, and already they