wax matches. The first thing to be done was to strike a light,
and see what sort of a place I was floating in. The sensation of
floating in equilibrium was delightful and soothing; and yet I felt that
it would be a relief to touch something solid. As soon as my candle
lighted up the cavity, I saw that the walls of my strange abode were
perforated in various places by holes, some of which were large enough
to admit my body. Taking my cap from my head, I found that by waving it
in the air I could readily waft my body in whatever direction I chose;
and, in less than a minute, I found myself comfortably seated in the
largest and most convenient of these cavities. I now felt the need of
food and drink; and, before proceeding to do any thing else, I opened
one of the cans of concentrated meat, and with a glass of water from the
jar which I had so fortunately brought with me, I made quite a nice
meal. With all the burden that weighed upon my mind, I could not help
smiling when I thought that I was the only person that had ever dined in
that particular locality. After dinner, I stretched myself out, and took
a good long sleep. At last I awoke as bright as a lark, and began to
explore the surrounding region. The point that I wished particularly to
determine was this: What is the cause of the low, grinding sound that I
continually hear? and from what locality does it proceed? Upon the
answer to these questions depended all my hopes of escape. Strapping
the jar and cans securely about me, I thought that I would try to
penetrate the orifice which I had entered; but, as soon as I got upon my
feet, the slight muscular effort that I made in walking lifted me again
into the air, and I found myself once more in equilibrium. At first this
discouraged and perplexed me; but observing that I could propel myself
with the greatest ease by just fanning the air, as before, with my cap,
I concluded that this was a very easy as well as rapid mode of
locomotion. As I advanced farther and farther into the cavity, I found
that the grating noise, to which I have alluded, grew louder and more
distinct; and after moving along, perhaps about two miles, I came in
sight of an immense cylinder, the size of which it was impossible for
me to estimate, as I could see only a small section of the surface.
Floating on, I laid myself alongside of the great tube, and, taking my
knife from my pocket, tapped the cylinder several times, and found that
it was composed