Looking upon its familiar form, he felt that he had a companion in this region of unreality.
Pushing back the sliding door of the car, Clewe sat upon the bottom and cautiously put out his feet and legs, lowering them until they touched the shell.

It was firm and solid.

Although he knew it must be so, the immovability of the great mass of iron gave him a sudden shock of mysterious fear.

How could it be immovable when there was nothing under it?
But he must get out of that car, he must explore, he must find out.
There certainly could be no danger so long as he could cling to his shell.
He now cautiously got out of the car and let himself down upon the shell.

It was not a pleasant surface to stand upon, being uneven, with great spiral ribs, and Clewe sat down upon it, clinging to it with his hands.