`But that would need a railway going down-hill,' the Earl remarked. `You can't have all your railways going down-hill?'

`They all do,' said Mein Herr.

`Not from both ends?'

`From both ends.'

`Then I give it up!' said the Earl.

`Can you explain the process?' said Lady Muriel. `Without using that language, that I ca'n't speak fluently?'

`Easily,' said Mein Herr. `Each railway is in a long tunnel, perfectly straight: so of course the middle of it is nearer the centre of the globe than the two ends: so every train runs half-way down-hill, and that gives it force enough to run the other half up-hill.'

`Thank you. I understand that perfectly,' said Lady Muriel. `But the velocity, in the middle of the tunnel, must be something fearful!'

Mein Herr was evidently much gratified at the intelligent interest Lady Muriel took in his remarks. At every moment the old man seemed to grow more chatty and more fluent. `You would like to know our methods of driving?' he smilingly enquired. `To us, a run-away horse is of no import at all!'

Lady Muriel slightly shuddered. `To us it is a very real danger,' she said.

`That is because your carriage is wholly behind your horse. Your horse runs. Your carriage follows. Perhaps your horse has the bit in his teeth. Who shall stop him? You fly, ever faster and faster! Finally comes the inevitable upset!'

`But suppose your horse manages to get the bit in his teeth?'

`No matter! We would not concern ourselves. Our horse is harnessed in the very centre of our carriage. Two wheels are in front of him, and two behind. To the roof is attached one end of a broad belt. This goes under the horse's body, and the other end is attached to a leetle--what you call a "windlass", I think. The horse takes the bit in his teeth. He runs away. We are flying at ten miles an hour! We turn our little windlass, five turns, six turns, seven turns, and--poof! Our horse is off the ground! Now let him gallop in the air as much as he pleases: our carriage stands still. We sit round him, and watch him till he is tired. Then we let him down. Our horse is glad, very much glad, when his feet once more touch the ground!'

`Capital!' said the Earl, who had been listening attentively. `Are there any other peculiarities in your carriages?'

`In the wheels, sometimes, my Lord. For your health, you go to sea: to be pitched, to be rolled, occasionally to be drowned. We do all that on land: we are pitched, as you; we are rolled, as you; but drowned, no! There is no water!'

`What are the wheels like, then?'

`They are oval, my Lord. Therefore the carriages rise and fall.'

`Yes, and pitch the carriage backwards and forwards: but how do they make it roll?'

`They do not match, my Lord. The end of one wheel answers to the side of the opposite wheel. So first one side of the carriage rises, then the other. And it pitches all the while. Ah, you must be a good sailor, to drive in our boat-carriages!'