He thought he could perceive here and there faint indications of long, nearly horizontal lines--lines of different shades of light.
Above him, as if it hung in the air, was the round, dark hole through which he had descended.
He rose, took his hands from the shell, and made a few steps.

He trod upon a horizontal surface, but in putting one foot forward, he felt a slight incline.

It seemed to him that he was about to slip downward! Instantly he retreated to the shell and clutched it in a sudden frenzy of fear.
Standing thus, with his eyes still wandering, he heard the bell of the telephone ring.

Without hesitation he mounted the shell and got into the car.

Bryce was calling him.
"Come up," he said.