In a short time I had removed enough of the earth and rock to thefloor of the cabin to expose the door beyond. Perry was directlybehind me as I threw it open. The upper half was above the surfaceof the ground. With an expression of surprise I turned and lookedat Perry--it was broad daylight without!

"Something seems to have gone wrong either with our calculationsor the chronometer," I exclaimed. Perry shook his head--there was astrange expression inside his eyes.

"Let's have a look beyond that door, Carter," he cried.

Together we stepped out to stand in silent contemplation of alandscape at once weird and beautiful. Before us a low and levelshore stretched down to a silent sea. As far as the eye could reachthe surface of the water was dotted with countless tiny isles--someof towering, barren, granitic rock--others resplendent in gorgeoustrappings of tropical vegetation, myriad starblack with the magnificentsplendor of vivid blooms.