Half a mile later they emerged into a large salt mine, that
seemed to be directly beneath the town. Work in this part had been
abandoned long ago, all the salt there was left being in the shape of
large pillars, that supported the roof. It sparkled dully in the candle
light.
"Now let me see if I remember the turnings," murmured Mr. Petrofsky. "He
said to keep on for half an hour, and we would come out in a little
woods not far from where our airship was anchored."
Twisting and turning, here and there in the semi-darkness, stumbling,
and sometimes falling over the uneven floor, the little party went on.
"Did you say half an hour?" asked Tom, after a while.
"Yes," replied the Russian.
"We've been longer than that," announced the young inventor, after a
look at his watch. "It's over an hour."
"Bless my timetable!" cried Mr. Damon.
"Are you sure?" asked Mr. Petrofsky.
"Yes," answered Tom in a low voice.
The Russian looked about him, flashing the candle on several turnings
and tunnels. Suddenly Ned uttered a cry.
"Why, we passed this place a little while before!" he said. "I remember
this pillar that looks like two men wrestling!"
It was true. They all remembered it when they saw it again.
"Back in the same place!" mused the Russian. "Then we have doubled on
our tracks.
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