But they knew him, and they said and did nothing more than was their duty.
The door of the shaft was removed, the car which had hung high above it was lowered to the mouth of the opening, and Roland stepped within it and seated himself.

Above him and around him were placed geological tools and instruments of many kinds; a lantern, food and drink; everything, in fact, which he could possibly be presumed to need upon this extraordinary journey.

A telephone was at his side by which he could communicate at any time with the surface of the earth.

There were electric bells; there was everything to make his expedition safe and profitable.

When he gave the word to start the engines, there were no ceremonies, and nothing was said out of the common.
When the conical top of the car had descended below the surface, a steel grating, with orifices for the passage of the chains, was let down over the mouth of the shaft, and the downward journey was begun.