way? What if the velocity with which it
must have fallen during the first few thousand miles had torn the
package in pieces, and the papers had been left floating about in the
centre of the earth? What if Bob had been taken ill?"--just at this
moment my fears and speculations were arrested by the sight of a small
white object, looking like a flake of snow, away down the hole,
hundreds of feet away, as it seemed to me. My heart almost ceased to
beat; the white object was coming nearer and nearer, and looking larger
and larger every second. But it is moving slower and slower all the
time, as if it was nearly tired out! Perhaps it will not come _quite_
within reach after all? What an awful disappointment that would be! No!
it doesn't quite stop--_up_ it comes--ten feet more and I will have it;
five feet more--hurra! underneath goes the stout net, and the precious
bundle is clasped safely in my arms.

I was so exhausted by anxiety and excitement, that I had to sit down for
a while, that I might recover my strength. I really do not think that I
was half so much overcome when I first came out of the hole myself.

And now for the city, to keep my appointment with the gentlemen at the
Coffee-House. I had hired a pony to carry me to Canton, and had fastened
it to a tree near by; and very soon I was galloping off like lightning.
About ten o'clock, I reached the hotel; and, after stopping for a glass
of water at the office to clear my throat, I entered the room where I
knew my patrons would be assembled, and threw my bundle down upon the
table.

Every man there started to his feet; but such was their surprise at my
appearance,--for not a soul amongst them ever dreamed that I would keep
my appointment,--that for one or two minutes, as before, not a word was
spoken. While they all stood around staring at me as if I had just
dropped from the clouds, I proceeded very leisurely to untie the
strings of the package; when, with a simultaneous movement, my eager
customers rushed towards the table, reaching out their hands frantically
for the papers.

"Gentlemen," said I, in a clear, collected voice, "before proceeding to
distribute the mail, allow me to offer a few brief remarks." I had
written out this speech, and committed it to memory. "It is very natural
that you should have great curiosity to know by what means I have
managed to redeem the pledge that I gave you a short time ago. In the
presence of gentlemen so enlightened as you