"You may say, what I have had others offer by way of solution,
that all is drained into a mighty inland sea or enormous lake.
Granting so much, which I really believe to be the truth as far
as it goes, why does that lake never overflow? Of all that
surely must drain into its basin, be that enormously wide and
deep as it may, how much could ordinary evaporation dispose of?
Only an infinitesimal portion; scarcely worth mentioning in such
connection. Then,--what becomes of the surplusage?"

Another pause, during which neither Gillespie ventured a
solution; then the professor offered his own suggestion:

"It must flow off in some manner, and what other manner can that
be than--through a subterranean connection with the Pacific
Ocean?"

Bruno gave a short ejaculation at this, while Waldo broke forth
in words, after his own particular fashion:

"Jules Verne redivivus! Why can't WE take a trip through the
centre of the earth, or--or--any other little old thing like
that?"

"With the tank of compressed air as a life-preserver?" laughed
Bruno, in turn. "That might serve, but; unfortunately, we have
only the one, and we are three in number, boy."

"Only two, now; I'm squelched!" sighed the jester, faintly.