T really seemed as if William was correct in his surmise, for the weight of bodies in the car kept steadily increasing, and he could now jump from the floor to the ceiling without fear of rising too quickly. In fact, if the increase in weight continued at the same rate, it was evident that bodies in the car would have several times their normal weight before the center of the earth was reached.

Our hero was so fascinated by the idea that he was soon to weigh some four hundred pounds or so that he could not take his glance away from the spring balance for an instant, but watched it with feverish interest. Imagine his dismay, therefore, when, shortly after indicating a weight of four ounces, the needle on the dial began to move backward.