"
"Why, there is plenty of room for our heads here," replied Ned. "We
could stand up and yet have some to spare."
"Right here, yes. We shall go through some places that you would not
want to stand through, I imagine."
"Are you ready?"
"Yes."
Tom Phipps climbed over into the car.
"All right, Jim," he called.
Immediately the car began to move and in a few moments had attained a
high rate of speed.
"Now, boys, remember your heads," cautioned their guide.
Instinctively each crouched lower as their vehicle was all at once
plunged into sudden darkness. Drops of water now and then spattered
down on their bare heads. The noise of the car in the dark was
deafening. The sound was as if many ore cars instead of one were
crashing through the dark tunnel. The lads experienced a strange
thrill when the realization came to them with its full force, that
they were shooting through the earth, far beneath the surface at the
speed of an express train.
"Why don't you have lights in here?" asked one of the passengers.
"Not necessary," said Mr. Phipps. "It is seldom that anyone has
occasion to go through this tunnel--practically never unless something
happens to a car in here. There are lights along that may be turned
on if necessary, but it would be a needless expense to keep them going
all the time--"
"What's that loud noise?" asked Tad.
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