It was on the evening of the next day that Margaret beheld the
action of the Artesian ray. She greatly objected at first to
going inside of the screened space by herself, and urged Roland
to accompany her; but this he stoutly refused to do, assuring her
that it was essential for but one person at a time to view the
action of the ray. She demurred a good deal, but at last
consented to allow herself to be shut up within the screen.

What Margaret saw was different from the gradual excavation which
had revealed itself before the eyes of Roland. She looked
immediately into a hole nearly ten feet deep. The action of the
apparatus was such that the power of penetration gained by the ray
during its operation at any time was retained, so that when the
current was shut off the photic boring ceased, and recommenced when
the batteries were again put into action at the point where it had
left off. The moment Margaret looked down she gave a little cry,
and started back against the screen. She was afraid she would fall
in.

"Roland," she exclaimed, "you don't mean to say that this is not
really an opening into the earth?"

He was near her on the other side of the screen, and he explained
to her the action of the light. Over and over she asked him to
come inside and tell her what it was she saw, but he always
refused.

"The bottom is beautifully smooth and gray," she exclaimed; "what
is that?"