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diff --git a/6717.txt b/6717.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..aa3d331 --- /dev/null +++ b/6717.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7209 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Through Space to Mars, by Roy Rockwood + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Through Space to Mars + +Author: Roy Rockwood + +Posting Date: August 29, 2012 [EBook #6717] +Release Date: October, 2004 +First Posted: January 19, 2003 +Last Updated: May 16, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THROUGH SPACE TO MARS *** + + + + +Produced by Sean Pobuda + + + + + + + + + +THROUGH SPACE TO MARS + +Or the Longest Journey on Record + +By Roy Rockwood + +#4 in the "Great Marvel Series" + + + + +CHAPTER I + +TWO CHUMS + + +"Mark, hand me that test tube, will you, please?" + +The lad who had made the request looked over at his companion, a +boy of about his own age, who was on the other side of the +laboratory table. + +"The big one, or the small one?" questioned Mark Sampson. + +"The large one," answered Jack Darrow. "I want to put plenty of +the chemical in this time and give it a good try." + +"Now be careful, Jack. You know what happened the last time." + +"You mean what nearly happened. The tube burst, but we didn't +get hurt. I have to laugh when I think of the way you ducked +under the table. Ha, ha! It was awfully funny!" + +"Humph! Maybe you think so, but I don't," responded Mark with +rather a serious air. "I noticed that you got behind a chair." + +"Well, of course. I didn't want broken glass in my eyes. Come +on, are you going to hand me that test tube, or will I have to +come and get it? We haven't much more time to-day." + +"Oh, here's the tube," said Mark as he passed it over. "But +please be careful, Jack." + +Jack measured out some black chemical that resembled gunpowder, +and poured it into the test tube which Mark handed him. Then he +inserted in the opening a cork, from which extended a glass tube, +to the outer end of which was fastened a rubber pipe. + +He paused in his experiment to laugh again. + +"What are you making--laughing gas?" asked Mark. + +"No. But--excuse me--ha, ha! I can't help laughing when I +think of the way you ducked under the table the other day." + +"Maybe you'll laugh on the other side of your countenance, as +Washington White would say," commented Mark; "especially if that +big tube bursts." + +"But it isn't going to burst." + +"How do you know?" + +"Well, I worked out this experiment carefully. I've calculated +just how strong the new gas will be, and--" + +"Ah, that's just it. It's a new gas, and you've never yet +succeeded in making it, have you?" + +"No; but--" + +"And it takes a different combination of chemicals to make it +from any you ever experimented with before, doesn't it?" asked +Mark. + +"It does. But--" + +"Yes, and I don't see how you can tell, with any amount of +calculation, just how much force will develop from those +chemicals, as no one ever put them together before." + +"Well, maybe I can't," admitted Jack. "But this tube is very +strong, and even if it does break nothing very serious can +happen." + +"Unless the gas you expect to generate is stronger than you have +any idea of." + +"Well, I'm going to do it. I've got half an hour before +Professor Lenton and his class comes in, and that's time enough. +Here, just hold this rubber tube under this jar, will you? And +be sure to keep the edge of the jar below the surface of the +water. I don't want any of the gas to escape." + +He handed Mark the end of the rubber tube, and the somewhat +nervous student, who was helping his chum Jack in the experiment, +inserted it under the edge of a large bell-glass, the open mouth +of which was placed just under the surface of water in a shallow +pan. + +The two lads were students at the Universal Electrical and +Chemical College. They stood high in their classes, and were +often allowed to conduct experiments on their own responsibility, +this being one of those occasions. Jack, who was somewhat older +than his companion, was of a more adventurous turn of mind, and +was constantly trying new things. Not always safe ones, either, +for often he had produced small explosions in the laboratory of +the college. Only minor damage had been done thus far, but, as +Mark said, one could never tell what was going to happen when +Jack mixed certain things in test tubes and placed them over a +spirit lamp, or the flame of a Bunsen burner. + +"Have you got that tube under the jar?" asked Jack as he lighted +a large Bunsen flame. + +"It's under," answered Mark. "But say, what are you going to do +in case you prove that your theory is right, and that you can +make a new kind of gas? What good will it be?" + +"Lots of good. If I'm right, this will be the lightest gas ever +made. Much lighter than hydrogen--" + +"Lighter than the kind Professor Henderson made for use in the +Flying Mermaid, in which we went to the center of the earth?" + +"No, I'm afraid I can't equal his gas; but then, no one can ever +hope to. I'm going to make a new gas, though, and I'll show you +that it will be much lighter and more powerful than hydrogen." + +"More powerful, eh? Then I wish you'd have some one else hold +this. I'm afraid the test tube will burst." + +"What if it does? It can't hurt you--very much. But here, since +you're so nervous, I'll put a pile of books all around the tube +and the burner. Then, if it bursts, the books will prevent the +pieces of glass from flying all about. Does that satisfy you?" +and Jack began heaping some books about the burner, over which he +was about to suspend the test tube containing the queer chemical. + +"Yes," returned Mark doubtfully. "I suppose it's all right--unless +the books will be blown all over." + +"Well, I'll be jig-sawed!" exclaimed Jack with a laugh. "There's +no satisfying you. You're too particular, Mark." + +"Maybe; but I don't want to get hurt." + +"You'll not be injured in the least. Look, you're quite a +distance away, and even if it does explode and the books are +scattered away, it can't hurt much to be hit by one of these +volumes. There, I'm all ready now. Hold the tube firmly." + +He placed the test tube in a support, clamping it fast, so that +it would be held steady over the flame. Then he turned on more +of the illuminating gas, which, coming through the Bunsen burner, +was made intensely hot. A little column of flame now enveloped +the big test tube containing the powder. + +There was a little crackling sound as the heat expanded the +powder, and the end of the test tube became quite red from the +flame. + +"That tube'll melt!" exclaimed Mark, peering over the pile of +books. "It's too near the flame." + +"Guess you're right," admitted Jack. "I'll raise it up a bit." + +He turned down the flame and elevated the tube slightly. Then he +took a position where he could watch the process of making what +he hoped would be a new kind of gas. He wanted to be where he +could see the vapor beginning to collect in the top of the tube, +pass off through the glass in the cork, and then through the +little rubber hose to the bell glass held by Mark. If the gas +was generated too quickly, Jack knew he would have to turn down +the heat slightly. + +The crackling sound continued. Then, as Jack watched, he saw a +thick, yellowish vapor collecting in the top of the test tube +near the cork. + +"It's coming!" he cried. "There's my new gas!" + +"What's the name of it?" asked Mark. + +"I haven't named it yet. I want to collect it in the jar and +show it to Professor Lenton. He said he didn't believe I could +make it." + +The boys resumed their careful watching of the experiment. It +was a nervous moment, for, from experience, Mark knew you never +could tell what would happen when Jack began to try new +combinations of chemicals. He was ready to drop down on an +instant's warning, out of the way of flying missiles. + +"See any bubbles in that pan of water yet?" cried Jack. + +"No, not yet." + +"That's queer. The test tube is full of the yellow gas, and some +ought to be over to where you are now. I'm going to turn on some +more heat." + +He increased the Bunsen flame. The crackling noise was louder. +The test tube became a fiery red. + +"It's bubbling now!" suddenly called Mark. + +"That's good! The experiment is a success! I knew I could make +it. Is any of the gas coming up in the glass jar?" + +Mark bent over to make a closer examination. There were a few +seconds of silence, broken only by the roaring of the burner and +the crackling of the black powder. + +"Yes, there is vapor in the jar," he said. + +"Good! That's the stuff!" cried Jack. "Now I guess Professor +Lenton will admit that I'm right." + +He turned the Bunsen flame up higher. A moment later he uttered +a cry, for he saw the cork being forced from the test tube. The +pressure of the new gas was too much for it. + +"Lookout!" cried Jack. "She's going up!" + +Then followed a sharp explosion, and the laboratory seemed filled +with fragments of broken glass and torn books. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +JACK MAKES OXYGEN + + +"There it goes! There it goes!" cried Mark, making a dive for +the laboratory door, but slipping and sprawling on the floor. +"There it goes, Jack!" + +"No; it's gone already!" cried Jack, who, even in the midst of +danger and excitement, seemed to remain calm and still to have +his appreciation of it joke. + +"Come on!" cried Mark as he scrambled to his feet. "We must get +out of here, Jack!" + +"What's the use now? It's all over." + +There was a tinkling sound, as fragments of the broken test tube, +the bell-jar and other things began falling about the room. + +Mark was fumbling at the door of the laboratory, seeking to +escape. + +"Come on back," said Jack. "It's all over. There's no more +danger. We'll try it again." + +Just then one of the pile of books, that had been blown on an +upper shelf, came down, landing on Mark's head. + +"No danger?" cried Mark, trembling from excitement. "No danger? +What do you call that?" and he pointed to the books at his feet, +while he rubbed his head ruefully. + +"Well, there aren't any more," observed Jack, with a look upward. + +Just then the door opened, and an elderly gentleman, wearing +spectacles, entered the laboratory. He seemed much excited. + +"What happened? Is any one hurt? Was there an explosion here?" +he asked. + +Then he saw the devastation on all sides--the broken glass, the +scattered and torn books--and he noticed Mark rubbing his head. + +"There was--er--a slight explosion," replied Jack, a faint smile +spreading over his face. + +"Are you hurt?" the professor asked quickly, stepping over to +Mark. "Shall I get a doctor?" + +"A book hit him," explained Jack. + +"A book! Did a book explode?" + +"No, sir. You see, I was making a new kind of gas, and Mark was +helping me. He was afraid the test tube would explode, so I +piled books around it, and--" + +"And it did blow up!" cried Mark, still rubbing his head. "The +test tube, and the other tube, and the rubber hose, and the +bell-jar. I told you it would, Jack." + +"Then you weren't disappointed," retorted Jack, this time with a +broad smile. "I don't like to disappoint people," he added. + +"What kind of gas was it, Darrow?" asked Professor Lenton. + +"Well, I hadn't exactly named it yet," answered the young +inventor. "I was going to show it to you, and see what you +thought of it. It's the kind you said I couldn't make." + +"And did you make it?" asked the instructor grimly. + +"Yes, sir--some." + +"Where is it?" + +"It's--er--well, you can smell it," replied Jack. + +Sure enough, there was a strong, unpleasant odor in the +laboratory, but that was usual in the college where all sorts of +experiments were constantly going on. + +"Hum--yes," admitted the professor. "I do perceive a new odor. +But I'm glad neither of you was hurt, and the damage doesn't seem +to be great." + +"No, sir. It was my own apparatus I was using," explained Jack. +"I'll be more careful next time. I'll not put in so much of the +chemical." + +"I don't believe there had better be a 'next time' right away," +declared Mr. Lenton. + +"The next attempt you make to invent a powerful gas, you had +better generate it in something stronger than a glass test tube. +Use an iron retort." + +"Yes, sir," replied Jack. + +"And now you had better report for your geometry lesson," went on +the professor. "I need the laboratory now for a class in +physics. Just tell the janitor to come here and sweep up the +broken glass. I am very glad neither of you boys was seriously +injured. You must be more careful next time." + +"Oh, Mark was careful enough," said Jack. "It was all my fault. +I didn't think the gas was quite so powerful." + +"All right," answered the professor with a smile as Jack and Mark +passed out on their way to another classroom. + +The two lads, whom some of my readers have met before in the +previous books of this series, were friends who had become +acquainted under peculiar circumstances. They were orphans, and, +after having had many trying experiences, each of them had left +his cruel employers, and, unknown to each other previously, had +met in a certain village, where they were obliged to beg for +food. They decided to cast their lots together, and, boarding a +freight train, started West. + +The train, as told in the first volume to this series, called +"Through the Air to the North Pole," was wrecked near a place +where a certain Professor Amos Henderson, and his colored helper, +Washington White, lived. Mr. Henderson was a learned scientist +who was constantly building new wonderful machines. He was +working on an airship, in which to set out and locate the North +Pole, when he discovered Jack and Mark, injured in the freight +wreck. He and Washington White carried the lads to the +inventor's workshop, and there the boys recovered. When they +were well enough, the professor invited them to live with him, +and, more than that, to take a trip with him North Pole. + +They went, in company with Washington and an old hunter, named +Andy Sudds, and some other men, whom the professor took along to +help him. + +Many adventures befell the party. They had battles with wild +beasts in the far north, and were attacked by savage Esquimaux. +Once they were caught in a terrible storm. They actually passed +over the exact location of the North Pole, and Professor +Henderson made some interesting scientific observations. + +In the second volume of this series, entitled "Under the Ocean to +the South Pole," Professor Henderson, Jack, Mark, Washington and +old Andy Sudds, made even a more remarkable trip. The professor +had a theory that there was an open sea at the South Pole, and he +wanted to prove it. He decided that the best way to get there +was to go under the ocean in a submarine boat, and he and the +boys built a very fine, craft, called the Porpoise, which was +capable of being propelled under water at a great depth. + +The voyagers had rather a hard time of it. They were caught in a +great sea of Sargasso grass, monstrous suckers held the boat in +immense arms, and it required hard fighting to get free. The +boys and the others had the novel experience of walking about on +the bottom of the sea in new kinds of diving suits invented by +the professor. + +On their journey to the South Pole, the adventurers came upon a +strange island in the Atlantic, far from the coast of South +America. On it was a great whirlpool, into which the Porpoise +was nearly sucked by a powerful current. They managed to escape, +and had a glimpse of unfathomable depths. They passed on, but +could not forget the strange hole in the island. + +Mark suggested that it might lead to the center of the earth, +which is hollow, according to some scientists, and after some +consideration, Professor Henderson, on his return from the South +Pole, decided to go down the immense shaft. + +To do this required a different kind of vessel from any he had +yet built. He would need one that could sail on the water, and +yet float in the air like a balloon or aeroplane. + +How he built this queer craft and took a most remarkable voyage, +you will find set down in the third book of this series, entitled +"Five Thousand Miles Underground." + +In their new craft, called the Flying Mermaid, the professor, the +boys, Washington and Andy, sailed until they came to the great +shaft leading downward. Then the ship rose in the air and +descended through clouds of vapor. After many perils they +reached the center of the earth, where they found a strange race +of beings. + +One day, to their horror, an earthquake dosed the shaft by which +they had come to the center of the earth. The boys were in +despair of ever getting to the surface again, but the professor +had been prepared for this emergency, and he had built a strong +cylinder, into which all the travelers placed themselves. Then +it was projected into a powerful upward shooting column of water, +which Professor Henderson hoped would take them to the surface of +the earth. Nor was he mistaken. They had a terrible journey, +but came safely out of it. + +They opened the cylinder, to find themselves floating on the sea, +and they were rescued by a passing vessel. Of course, they had +abandoned the Mermaid, leaving the craft in the center of the +earth, but they had brought back with them some valuable +diamonds, which formed their fortune. + +This ended, for a time, the experiments of the professor, who +decided to settle down to a quiet life, and write out the +observations he had made on the three voyages. The boys wanted +to get an education, and, investing their share from the sale of +the diamonds, they took up a course at the Universal Electrical +and Chemical College. Each had an ambition to become as great an +inventor as was Professor Henderson, with whom they continued to +live in a small city on the Maine coast. Washington White and +Andy Sudds also dwelt with the professor, Andy going off on +occasional hunting trips, and Washington acting as a sort of body +servant to Mr. Henderson. + +Jack and Mark had completed one term at the college, and were in +the midst of the second when this story opens. + +They had not lost their love for making queer voyages, and one of +their greatest desires was to help the professor turn out a craft +even more wonderful than the Electric Monarch, the Porpoise or +the Flying Mermaid. It was in this connection that Jack was +experimenting on the new gas, when the slight accident happened. + +"Are you going to try that again?" asked Mark, as he and his chum +walked along to their geometry class. + +"Sure," replied Jack. "I want that to succeed. I know I am on +the right track." + +"You came near getting blown off the track," remarked his +companion, which was as near to a joke as he ever would come, +for, though Jack was jolly and full of fun, Mark was more +serious, inclined to take a sterner view of life. + +"Oh, I'll succeed yet!" exclaimed Jack. "And when I do--you'll +see something--that's all." + +"And feel it, too," added Mark, putting his hand on his head, the +book having raised quite a lump. + +It was several days after this before the boys had the chance to +work alone in the laboratory again, and Jack had to promise not +to try his experiment with the new gas before this privilege was +granted him. + +"Want any help?" asked Dick Jenfer, another student, as he saw +Jack and Mark enter the laboratory. + +"Yes, if you want to hold a test tube for me," answered Jack. +"I'm going to try a new way of making oxygen." + +"No, thanks! Not for mine!" exclaimed Dick as he turned away. +"I don't want to be around when you try your new experiments. +The old way of making oxygen is good enough for me." + +"Well, I have a new scheme," went on Jack. + +Soon he and Mark, whom he had again induced to help him, were +busy with test tubes, rubber hose, Bunsen flames, jars of water, +and all that is required to make oxygen. + +Somewhat to his own surprise, the experiment Jack tried was a +success. He collected a jarful of oxygen, generated in a way he +had thought out for himself. It was much simpler than the usual +method. + +Just as he concluded the test, some one opened the laboratory +door. It was Professor Lenton. + +"I have a telegram for you," he said. + +"A telegram?" + +"Yes. It just arrived." + +Jack tore open the yellow envelope. + +"It's from Professor Henderson," he said. + +"Is anything the matter?" asked Mark. + +"I don't know," answered Jack. "It says: 'Come home at once.' +I wonder what's wrong?" + +"I hope nothing serious," said Professor Lenton. + +"You may both prepare to leave this afternoon. I am sorry. Let +me hear from you when you reach Professor Henderson. I trust +nothing has happened to him. He is too great a scientist for us +to lose." + + + + +CHAPTER III + +WASHINGTON MEETS THE BOYS + + +All thoughts of experiments were driven from the minds of Jack +and Mark by the telegram. They imagined that something had +happened to their old friend, and it worried them. If he was +dangerously hurt, as might be, for he was constantly experimenting +in a small way, it would mean that a great change must take place +in their lives. + +"What do you suppose can have happened?" asked Mark, as he and +Jack went to their rooms to get ready to leave the college. + +"I haven't the least idea. Maybe he wants us to go on another +trip." + +Mark finished packing, and Jack was not far behind him. Then the +lads went to the railroad station, where they purchased tickets +for home and were soon on a train. On the journey they could not +help but refer occasionally to the telegram, though Jack kept +insisting that nothing so serious had happened. Mark was not +quite in such good spirits. + +"Well, here we are," announced Jack, about three hours later, as +the train pulled into a small station. "And there's Washington +on the platform waiting for us." + +Jack hurried out of the car, followed by Mark. + +"Hello, Wash!" cried the fat lad. "How are you? Catch this +valise!" and he threw it to the colored man before the train had +come to a stop. Washington deftly caught the grip, though he had +to make a quick movement to accomplish it. + +"I 'clar t' gracious!" he exclaimed. "Dat suttinly am a most +inconsequential mannah in which to project a transmigatory object +in contiguousness to mah predistination." + +"Whoa, there!" cried Jack. "Better take two bites at that, +Wash!" + +"Dat's all right, Massa Jack," answered the colored man. "I'se +glad to see yo', an' I suttinly hopes dat de transubstantiationableness +ob my--" + +"Wow!" cried Jack. "Say that over again, and say it slow." + +"Don't yo' foregather mah excitability?" asked the colored man +rather anxiously. + +"Yes, I guess so. What's the answer? How's the professor? +How's Andy? What's the matter? Why did he send for us?" + +"Wait! Wait! Please wait!" begged Washington. "One ob dem +interrogatorial projections at a time, Massa Jack. Where am +Massa Mark?" + +"Here I am," replied Jack's chum, as he followed him out on the +platform of the train, which had come to a stop. + +"Dats right!" exclaimed Washington. "Let me hab yo' extended +article ob transportation an' I'll jest expidite it in--" + +"I guess you mean it, all right," interrupted Jack. "But what's +up? Why did the professor send for us?" + +"I doan't know, Massa Jack." + +"You don't know?" + +"Nopy. He jest done gone tell me to send dat transmigatory +telegraph, an' dat's all." + +"But why does he want us? He's not sick, is he?" asked Mark. + +"Never felt bettah!" exclaimed Washington as he walked along the +street leading from the depot, a valise in either hand. "His +state ob health am equal to de sophistication ob de soporiferousness." + +"You mean he sleeps well?" questioned Jack. + +"Dat's what I done meant to convey to yo', Massa Jack." + +"Well, why don't you say it?" asked Mark. + +"Dat's jest what I done. I said--" + +"Never mind," interrupted Jack. + +"Then you can't tell us why the professor sent for us?" + +"He's got company," went on Washington, as if he had just thought +of that. + +"Company?" exclaimed both boys. + +"Yyais." + +"Who is it?" + +"Why, his name am Santell Roumann." + +"What an odd name!" commented Mark. + +"Is he a doctor?" asked Jack. + +"He speaks wid a Germannes aceetnuation," said Washington. "He +suttinly uses de most ogilistic conglomerations--" + +"If he can beat you, he's a wonder," said Jack. "But where did +he come from?" + +"I 'clar t' goodness I doan't know. All I knows is dat he jest +comed. One day he wasn't dere, and come next day he was." + +"Does the professor know him?" + +"Suah! He's a friend ob de perfesser," added Washington. "De +perfesser was pow'ful glade t' see him." + +"'Then he must be some scientist," said Mark. + +"Dat's it! He's chock full obscientistical bombasticness an' +labiodentalisms," said the colored man. + +"I guess the professor wanted us to meet him and learn something +that we couldn't in college," spoke Mark. "Well, we'll soon be +there." + +"Yes," assented Jack. "I want to find out what it's all about. +Santell Roumann--that's an odd name." + +"An' he's a mighty odd man," supplemented Washington. + +They reached the house a few minutes later, and went in the front +door. The sounds of two voices came from the library. One of +them was that of Professor Henderson. He was saying: + +"I tell you it can't be done! It is utterly impossible! It is +madness to think of such a terrible trip!" + +"And I tell you it can be done--it shall be done and you are the +very man to accomplish it," insisted the other. "You and your +young assistants will succeed. I know you will. You will go +with me, and we will make the longest journey on record." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +WONDERFUL PLAN + + +"I wonder what they can be talking about?" asked Mark of Jack, as +they paused outside the library door. + +"I don t know, but it concerns us." + +"What makes you think so?" + +"Because, didn't you hear the stranger speak of us as the 'young +assistants'? That's us." + +"Very likely. But who is the man in with Professor Henderson, +and what is the wonderful journey he is talking about?" + +"Dat gen'man in wid de perfesser am also a perfessor." Explained +Washington in a whisper. "He's Perfesser Santell Roumann. Now I +'spects I'd better saggasiate mahself inter proximity t' de +culinary reservation." + +"You mean you've got to go to the kitchen?" asked Jack with a +smile. + +"Dat's what I approximated to yo'," replied the colored man. + +"I wonder if we'd better go in now, or wait until Professor +Henderson is through talking to Mr. Roumann?" asked Mark. + +"Yo' am to go right in," remarked Washington. "Dem's de orders I +got when I went t' de statione t' meet yo'." + +"All right," assented Jack. "Come on, Mark. We'll find out +what's wanted of us." + +The two boys entered the library, whence the voices of Professor +Henderson and Mr. Roumann could still be heard in earnest +discussion. Mr. Henderson looked up as his proteges advanced to +the middle of the apartment. + +"Jack! Mark!" he exclaimed. "I am very glad you came so +promptly. I have something very important to communicate to +you--something that I hope will make up for the loss you suffer +in being taken away from college in the middle of the term. Or, +to be more correct, Mr. Roumann will impart most of the +information, for it is at his suggestion that I sent for you." + +"Are these the young assistants of whom you spoke?" asked the +other man, and the boys noticed that he was a big, burly German, +with a bushy, gray beard, and penetrating, blue eyes. + +"This is Jack Darrow," said the professor, indicating the stout +youth, "and the other is Mark Sampson. They have lived with me +several years now, and we have had many adventures together." + +"Ha! Hum! Yes!" murmured Mr. Roumann, then he said something in +German. + +"I beg your pardon," he went on quickly. "I have a habit of +talking to myself in my own language once in a while. What I +said was that I did not know the lads were so young. I am +somewhat apprehensive--" + +"Do not be alarmed on the score of their youth," cried Professor +Henderson. "I assure you that they have had a peculiar training, +and, in some scientific attainments, they know as much as I do. +You will not find them too young for our purpose, in case we +decide that the thing can be done." + +"I tell you it can be done, and it shall be done," insisted Mr. +Roumann. + +"I have my doubts," went on Mr. Henderson. + +Jack and Mark must have shown the wonder they felt at this talk +between the professor and his friend, for their guardian turned +to them and said: + +"Boys, you must excuse me for not telling you at once the reason +why I sent for you. The truth is that Mr. Roumann has laid a +very strange proposition before me. It is so stupendous that I +hardly know whether to consider it or not. I want to talk with +you about it, and see what you think." + +"They will go with us, will they not?" asked Mr. Roumann. + +"That is for them to say," replied Mr. Henderson. + +"Go where?" asked Jack, wondering if there was in prospect +another voyage to one of the Poles, or a trip to the interior of +the earth. + +Professor Henderson looked at the other man. They were silent a +moment. + +"Shall I tell them?" asked Mr. Henderson. + +"Surely," assented Mr. Roumann. "It all depends on you and them +whether we go or remain on earth." + +Jack started. Then there was a question of getting off the +earth. He began to think there might be exciting times for Mark +and himself. + +"Mr. Roumann has proposed a wonderful plan to me," went on +Professor Henderson. "It is nothing more nor less than a trip +to--" + +"Mars!" burst out the blue-eyed man. "We are going to make the +most wonderful journey on record. A trip through space to the +planet Mars! Such an opportunity for reaching it, and proving +whether or not there is life on it, will not occur again for many +years. It is now but thirty-five millions of miles away from us. +Soon it will begin to recede, at the rate of twenty-eight +millions of miles a year, until it is two hundred and thirty four +millions of miles away from us. Then we may never be able to +reach it. Now, when it is but thirty-five millions of miles +away, we have a chance to get there." + +"I still believe it is impossible," said Professor Henderson in a +low voice. + +"Nothing is impossible!" exclaimed Mr. Roumann. "We shall go to +Mars! I say it! I who know! I who hold the secret of the +wonderful power that will take us there, and, what is more, bring +us back! I say it! We shall go!" + +"Impossible!" said the professor again, shaking his head. + +"Don't say that word!" implored Mr. Roumann. "I will prove to +you that we shall go." + +"Go to Mars!" exclaimed Mark. + +"Thirty-five million miles!" exclaimed Jack with awe in his +tones. "How can we ever cover that distance? No airship ever +made would do it." + +"Not an airship, perhaps," said Mr. Roumann, "but something +else. I will tell you how--" + +"Perhaps I had better explain from the beginning," interrupted +Mr. Henderson. + +"Maybe it will be better," assented the other. + +"Boys, be seated," spoke their guardian, and Jack and Mark took +chairs. "Mr. Santell Roumann is an inventor, like myself," went +on Mr. Henderson. "I have known him for several years, but I had +not seen him in a long time, until he called on me the other day +with his strange proposition. We used to attend the same +college, but since his graduation he has been experimenting in +Germany." + +"Where I discovered the secret of the wonderful power that will +take us to Mars," added Mr. Roumann. + +"That is one point on which we differ," continued Mr. Henderson. +"Mr. Roumann believes we can get to the red planet, which, as he +correctly says, is nearer to us now than it will be again in many +years. I do not see how we can get there through the intervening +space." + +"And I will prove to you that we can," insisted the other. "The +power which I shall use is strongest known. But it depends on +you and your young assistants." + +"On us?" asked Jack. + +"Yes," replied Mr. Santell Roumann. "If and Professor Henderson +can build the proper projectile, we shall go." + +"A projectile!" exclaimed Jack. + +"A projectile," said Mr. Roumann again. "I have studied it all +out, and I think the projectile, shaped somewhat like a great +shell, such as they use in warfare, or, more properly speaking, +built like a cigar or a torpedo, is the only feasible means of +reaching Mars. We shall go in a projectile, two hundred feet +long, and ten feet in diameter at the largest point. That will +offer the least resistance to the atmosphere of the earth, though +when we get within the atmosphere of Mars, and are subjected to +its attraction of gravitation, we shall meet with even less +resistance." + +"Why?" asked Jack, who wanted to know the reason for everything. + +"Because," answered Mr. Roumann, "from my observations I have +proved that the atmosphere of Mars is much less dense than is +that surrounding the earth, and the attraction of gravitation +there is about two-thirds less. That is, an object that weighs +one hundred pounds on the earth will weigh only thirty-three +pounds on Mars." + +"That's the stuff!" cried Jack. + +"Why?" asked Mr. Roumann in some surprise. + +"Then I'll have a chance to lose weight," replied Jack. "I'm +getting too fat here. I weigh a hundred and eighty pounds, and +that's too much for a lad of my age. When I get to Mars I'll +only weigh--let's see, two-thirds of one hundred and eighty--" +and Jack got out pencil and paper and began figuring. + +"It's sixty pounds!" exclaimed Mark, who was quick at figures. + +"How are we to get to Mars, Mr. Roumann?" demanded Jack. + +"I will tell you," answered the blue-eyed man. "When you and the +professor have constructed the projectile, after plans which I +shall draw, I will apply my new, wonderful, secret power, and--" + +"If yo' gen'men will kindly project yo'se'ves hitherward, an' +proceed to discuss de similitodinariness ob de interplanetary +conjunction what am waitin' fo' yo' heah, de obverseness of de +inner constitutions will be expeditiously relieved," spoke the +colored man, suddenly looking in the room. + +"Does that mean supper is ready, Washington?" asked Professor +Henderson. + +"Yes, sah. It suah do." + +"Then why didn't you say so?" + +"I did, perfesser." + +"Well, perhaps you thought so. Washington has a very peculiar +habit of using big words, just because they sound so imposing," +went on the professor. "He spends all his spare time consulting +the dictionary." + +"I have noticed it," remarked Mr. Roumann, smiling. + +"Well, suppose we go out to supper?" went on Mr. Henderson. "You +boys must be hungry." + +"I can eat," admitted Jack. + +"You'll get stouter if you do," warned Mark with a smile. + +"Can't help it. Wait until we get to Mars." + +"Oh, yes, you didn't finish telling us how we were to get there, +Mr. Roumann," said Jack. + +"I'll tell you while we're at supper," said the scientist. "I +confess that Washington's announcement came just at the right +time. I am very hungry." + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE SECRET POWER + + +For a few minutes after they were seated at the table nothing was +heard but the rattle of the dishes and the clatter of knives and +forks. Washington was a fine cook, and there was a plentiful +supply of just what the boys liked best. + +When the meal was well under way, the dining room door opened, +and a strange figure entered. It was that of rather an aged man, +who walked with soft, cat-like tread, and who leaned forward, as +if on the trail of some enemy or wild beast. His eyes were +bright, however, in spite of his age. + +"Andy Sudds!" exclaimed Jack. "I was wondering where you were." + +"Well, snap my gunlock, if it isn't Jack Darrow!" exclaimed Andy. + +"Any luck?" asked Mark, for he knew the old man must have been +hunting. + +"And Mark, too!" went on the old hunter. "Well, this is a +surprise. No, I didn't have any luck--that is, what you could +call luck. There's been a weasel carrying off our chickens and +killing them, and I went out to shoot it." + +"Did you cotch it, Mistah Sudds?" asked Washington anxiously. + +"I didn't 'cotch' it," answered Andy with a grin. "I killed it. +I guess the chickens will be safe now, Wash. But I'm hungry. +I've been hiding out there by the chicken coop all the afternoon. +But what brings you boys back from college?" + +"We came home because we are going to take a trip to Mars," +explained Jack. + +"Mars! Mars! Good land! Where'll you folks go next?" exclaimed +Andy. "Wash, pass me some of that cold ham." + +"You said you would tell us now how we were to get there, Mr. +Roumann," said Jack, who was anxious, as was Mark, to hear the +particulars. + +"And so I will," replied the scientist. "You must know that I +have long been interested in the planet Mars, for several +reasons. Some reasons I will tell you now, and the others I will +disclose at a future time." + +"Mars, you know, is the fourth major planet, computing their +positions in distance from the sun. First there is Mercury, +then--" + +"I know," interrupted Jack; "Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, +Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. I learned them at school." + +"That's right," said Mr. Roumann. "But, while Mercury is only +about thirty-six millions of miles from the sun at its nearest +point, the closest it ever comes to the earth is fifty-seven +millions of miles, while, as I told you, Mars is now but thirty-five +millions of miles away, a difference in favor of Mars of +twenty-two millions of miles, quite a distance when one has to +travel it. Neptune, the farthest of the major planets, is two +billion eight hundred millions of miles from the sun, and it is +separated from this earth by--" + +"By two billion seven hundred and eight million miles," said Mark +quickly. + +"How do you make that out?" asked Jack in some surprise. + +"By subtracting ninety-two millions of miles, which is the +distance from the earth to the sun, from the number of miles +Neptune is away from the sun," said Mark. + +"That's right," admitted Mr. Henderson. "You're very quick at +figures, Mark." + +"Well, let's get to Mars," said Jack. "Maybe Andy can find some +new kind of game there." + +"Me? I'm not going to any place so many millions of miles away +from here," answered the old hunter, looking up from his plate. +"It's good enough hunting here." + +"Wait until you see," said Mr. Roumann with a smile. "I expect +to find many marvels on Mars." + +"If we get there," added Mr. Henderson. + +"We'll get there," declared Mr. Roumann confidently. "As I said, +I have long been interested in Mars, and one reason is that I +want to prove that there is life on it--that it is inhabited by a +superior race of beings. Another reason is that I expect to find +on it a supply--or at least specimens--of a most valuable +substance--" + +Mr. Roumann stopped suddenly. + +"Well?" asked Mr. Henderson questioningly, for there was an odd +manner about the blue-eyed scientist. + +"That is something I do not wish to speak about at present," said +Mr. Roumann quickly. "I will tell you my other reason for going +to Mars--when we get there." + +"Now, as to the method. As I told you, Professor Henderson, and +as I intimated to you boys, we will go in a long, torpedo-shaped +projectile, which, though it will not be very large in diameter, +will be long enough to contain all our machinery and ourselves, +with a sufficient store of provisions for a year or more. But I +know what you are going to ask, and that is: How can I send the +projectile through space? + +"Well, I'll tell you--that is, partly tell you, for some parts of +my secret can never be revealed. I have discovered a wonderful +power, more wonderful than man ever dreamed of before. I have +called it Etherium, for the reason that I expect it to carry us +through the ether, or space that exists outside of the atmosphere +of this earth and that of Mars. + +"Now, professor, do you think you and your assistants can build a +proper projectile?" + +"We built an airship that went to the North Pole, we constructed +a submarine that took us to the South Pole, and we had the Flying +Mermaid, in which we went to the center of the earth," said Mr. +Henderson. "I think we can build you the torpedo-shaped +projectile. But what will make it move through thirty-five +millions of miles of space?" + +"I will!" exclaimed the other. "I and my wonderful, secret +power--Etherium! If you will build the projectile I will do the +rest. I will give you the plans for the machinery at once, and +you can begin as soon as you are ready. You have a large +workshop here, I understand." + +"Yes, we have all the means at our command," admitted Mr. +Henderson. + +"But it must be built in secret," stipulated Mr. Roumann. "No +one must know about it until we are ready to leave. Several +unscrupulous men have tried to steal my secret." + +"We can construct the projectile and machinery so that no one but +ourselves, and one or two trusty mechanics, will ever know about +it," promised Mr. Henderson. + +"Good! Now, when can you begin? As I told you, Mars is already +beginning to move away from us at the rate of twenty-eight +millions of miles a year. That is over two millions of miles a +month, and every day counts." + +"We will start at once," promised Mr. Henderson. "That is, if +Jack and Mark decide they want to go. I will let them choose. +Boys, do you want to try to go to Mars, or go back to college?" + +"Mars! Every time!" cried Jack. "I want to begin to weigh +less." + +"I'll go wherever Jack goes," said Mark. + +"Very well, then," assented the professor. "But you must +remember, Mr. Roumann, that I am still unconvinced that you +possess the secret of a power that will project a heavy object +through space to Mars--thirty-five millions of miles away. I do +not say it can't be done, only I want to be shown. I will aid +you all I can, and I will accompany you. But I fear we shall +never get to Mars." + +"And I tell you we will!" insisted the other. "Come, I will +prove it to you by mathematics, and by illustrating some of the +force of my new secret power. Let us go to the laboratory." + +The professor took from a valise, which sat in a corner of the +room, a bundle of papers. Then, followed by the professor and +the boys, he started for the private laboratory of Mr. Henderson. + +As they left the dining-room they heard an unexpected noise at +one of the windows. They looked quickly up, and Jack saw the +face of a man staring in. + +Before he could cry out, there came the sound of Washington's +voice: + +"Hey dar! Git away from dere! Skedaddle, now, or I'll +prognostigate yo' inter modicums ob transmigatory infatisamatisms!" + +The face disappeared from the window, and the sound of footsteps +in rapid retreat was heard. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +BUILDING THE PROJECTILE + + +"Did you see that?" exclaimed Jack. + +"What?" asked Professor Henderson quickly. + +"Some one at the window," replied Jack. + +"I saw the face," added Mark. "It was a man looking in." + +"A man? What sort of a man?" inquired Mr. Roumann, and he showed +some excitement. + +"I couldn't tell very well," answered Jack. "I saw him for only +a second. But the man was looking right in." + +"Did he have a heavy black mustache?" asked the German, and +strode rapidly toward the window. + +"No, he didn't have a mustache at all," said Jack. "He was +smooth-shaven. I'm sure of that." + +"Then it can't be he," murmured Mr. Roumann. + +"Who did you think it was?" asked Professor Henderson. + + "I--I thought it was an enemy of mine," was the answer. "Some +one who has been trying to discover my secret. But the man whom +I fear has a heavy black mustache, and this one, you say, Jack, +had none?" + +"None at all." + +"Then it's all right." + +Jack thought of saying that the man might have shaved his +mustache off, but he did not want Mr. Roumann to worry. + +"I guess he was only a tramp," said Amos Henderson. "Some one +wandering about looking for a chicken coop that isn't locked. +Or, perhaps, seeking a chance to rob." + +Jack said nothing, but from the glimpse he had had of the man's +face, he did not believe the fellow was a tramp. There was too +much intelligence shown. The face was an evil one, and seemed to +indicate that the man had an object in peering into the window--a +motive that was not connected with a chicken coop. + +"I'll tell Andy to keep watch for a while tonight with his gun," +went on the professor. "I don't like prowlers around here. I +have some valuable tools in my machine shop, and they might steal +them." + +"Now, Professor Henderson," began Mr. Roumann, when he had taken +his seat at a small table and spread out his plans in front of +him, "I am only going to sketch briefly, for you and your young +assistants, what I propose. As I have said, we will need a +projectile, two hundred feet long and about ten feet through in +the thickest part. In that we will build sleeping and living +apartments, lacks to store the air which we will have to breathe +while traveling through space, other tanks for water, a +compartment for food, another for scientific instruments, and we +will need a comparatively large space for my machinery." + +"Why will it take up so much space?" asked the professor. "I +thought you said the new power required only a small machine to +generate it." + +"That is true, but you see we will have to carry two kinds of +machines." + +"Two? Why is that?" + +"Because we are going to travel through two, and perhaps three, +different mediums. We are going to shoot through the atmosphere +of the earth; then through the vast region beyond that, filled +with what is called ether." + +"And is that different from our atmosphere?" asked Mark. + +"Much different," replied Mr. Roumann. "There is no air to it at +all. The secret power which I have invented is perfectly adapted +to project us through this ether. That is why I call it +Etherium. Then when we reach Mars, we will find a different +atmosphere, somewhat like this earth's, I expect, but which will +require still another kind of power to move us in. I hope, +however, that the same force which sends us through the limits of +the atmosphere of this earth will take us through that of Mars. +So that is why I need so much space for machinery." + +"Well, I guess we can build the projectile for you," said Mr. +Henderson. "It will take us nearly a month, though." + +"No longer, I hope," said the German. "Every day is valuable. +Once the projectile is finished we will enter it, seal ourselves +up, and be shot through space. When we get to Mars--well, there +are many things to do when we reach there." + +"I shall be much interested in seeing if they have discovered a +way of conquering the air," said Mr. Henderson. "If they are a +race of superior intelligence, as some authorities believe, from +the fact that Mars may have been inhabited for millions of years +before this earth was formed, they must have advanced very +greatly in science. The mastery of the air--in making flying +machines--would be one of the surest tests." + +"I think you will find the Martians a very learned race, +professor," said Mr. Roumann. + +"I want to see if the boys there are like the fellows on earth-- +playing baseball, football and so on," marked Jack. + +"I shall be interested in the colleges," added Mark, "and in the +great canals of Mars." + +"I believe there will be plenty to interest us on the planet +which glows so red at night," went on Mr. Henderson. "But, Mr. +Roumann, it is only fair to tell you that the building of this +projectile will cost considerable money. I do not hesitate +on this account, but, as you know, the Flying Mermaid, in which +we went to the center of the earth, had to be abandoned there. +That was quite a heavy loss. I should not like--" + +"You will suffer no loss in this case," interrupted Roumann. "I +appreciate that the projectile cost a large sum. I have no money +to advance you, but I can promise you that when we reach Mars you +will be amply repaid. We shall be rich--rich beyond your wildest +dreams. There will be gold in untold quantities--" + +"I never heard that there was much gold on Mars," said Jack. + +"Not in the form of gold," said the German, who was growing very +excited, "but something that can be turned into gold. I am on +the track of the most wonderful substance--that which gives Mars +its red color--that which will--" + +He stopped suddenly. + +"I must say no more now," he added, calming himself by a strong +effort. "Sufficient to state that you will never regret making +the trip to the wonderful planet." + +"But now about your new force--how powerful is it?" asked Mr. +Henderson. "You promised to demonstrate it to me." + +"Yes, and I will do so." + +Thereupon the German plunged into a mass of figures and +calculations, which were quite puzzling to the boys, but which +seemed very clear to Mr. Henderson. The German drew several +rough outlines, and the discussion became quite technical. Toward +the close, the inventor of the-secret force gave a demonstration +of its power. By means of certain chemicals and an electric +current he developed from the end of a wire a force sufficient to +knock over a heavy block of steel, weighing over a ton. + +"That is only a small sample of what my force will do," he said. +"In the proper machine it will be ten times more strong. The +conditions here are not exactly harmonious. Now, are you +satisfied, Professor Henderson?" + +"Yes. I could not help but be after that demonstration, it is +wonderful." + +"And you will make the projectile for me--for us?" + +"I will. I'll start at once." + +"Good! And I promise that you will come back from Mars even more +wealthy than you were when you returned from the center of the +earth." + +"Most of that wealth is now gone," said Mr. Henderson with a +smile. "I have enough left, however, to build the projectile, +and we'll start at once." + +"Hurrah for Mars!" cried Jack. + +"And the marvelous red substance!" added Mark. + +"Hush! Not a word about that!" cried Mr. Roumann warningly. +"That must be kept a profound secret!" + +The next day the boys, Professor Henderson, Washington White, and +some trusty machinists began the building of the Annihilator, as +the projectile was to be called, because it was to annihilate +space. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +AT TERRIFIC SPEED + + +"Now, boys," remarked Mr. Roumann one morning about a week after +work had been in progress on the projectile, "I did not mention +it, of course, but I hope you will not let it become known in the +village that we are constructing a machine in which to proceed to +Mars. It would not do to have a lot of curious people out here." + +"Oh, you needn't worry about that," replied Jack. "We have built +several things in the shop here, and no one ever knew about them +until we were ready to have them start off." + +"We'll tell Andy Sudds to keep on guard with his rifle," +suggested Mark. "That will prevent curious persons coming too +close." + +"That will be a good idea," declared Mr. Roumann. + +"You need have no fear of anything being discovered," put in Mr. +Henderson, who was busy planning the engine-room of the strange +craft. + +"When we first came here we used to be bothered by curious +persons, but I soon found a method of keeping them away." + +"How was that?" inquired the German. + +"Why, I ran a wire all around the shop, and charged the conductor +with a mild current of electricity. Some people got shocked by +coming too close, and after that they gave my place a wide berth. +I'll do the same thing now." + +"A fine idea," commented Mr. Roumann. "But what about Washington +White? He is so fond of talking, and using big words, that he +may disclose our plans." + +"No, I can trust Washington," declared the professor. "But, as a +further precaution, I have not told him what our object is. All +he knows is that we are building a new machine, but he does not +know what it is for, nor where we are going." + +"That's good." + +"Maybe when he does find out he'll not want to go," added Mark. + +"Do you intend to take him with us?" asked Mr. Roumann. + +"I think so--if he'll go," replied Mr. Henderson. "He has always +been with me, and he is very helpful on these trips. But I shall +not tell him where we are going until we are almost ready to +start. But now, Mr. Roumann, I'd like to consult with you about +the installation of the motor, or whatever we are to call it, by +means of which your secret force is to be used." + +"A motor will be as good a name as any other. We'll call it the +Etherium motor." + +"What will we call the other one?" asked Jack. + +"What other one?" + +"The motive power by which we are to go through the atmosphere of +the earth." + +"Well, we can call that the atmospheric motor," replied Mr. +Roumann. "However, there is no hurry about that. I want to get +the work in the engine-room under way first." + +He and the professor were soon deep in the discussion, while Jack +and Mark, with the aid of the machinists, were busy constructing +the main part of the projectile. + +The first thing to be done was to build the shell of the +projectile. This consisted of plates of a new and peculiar +metal, invented by Professor Henderson. The plates were riveted +together, in the shape of a great cigar, two hundred feet long. +This work took some time, but, as the professor had in his shop +the proper machinery for it, a small force could accomplish a +great deal of work. + +The rear of the projectile was to be occupied by the mysterious +apparatus that was to drive it through space. In this compartment +would be many strange machines, including the one which Mr. Roumann +had invented to use the terrific and secret force of which he was +the discoverer. + +There were apparatus for distilling water from the atmosphere, +others for manufacturing oxygen, dynamos for furnishing light to +the interior of the Annihilator, motors for working the various +small machines, and a number of other appliances. + +Forward from the engine-room was a space to be used in storing +away the food supplies, and the materials necessary for generating +the force used, as well as for making a new supply of air when +needed. + +Amidships was a living-room, with a plate-glass window on either +side. There was not much space to move about in it, as, owing to +the long and narrow shape of the projectile, economy of room was +enforced. Still, the place was a lengthy one, with tables and +chairs, which could be folded up out of the way when not in use. +There was provision for a library of scientific and other books, +and a piano played by electricity and brass disks, somewhat on +the order of modern player-pianos. + +"What are those apertures in the sides of the living-room?" asked +Jack of Mr. Roumann, as the lad glanced over a sheet of +blue-print paper, on which was shown a plan of the projectile. + +"Those," said the German, "are for the guns." + +"Guns!" exclaimed Mark. "Why, they're too big for guns. They +are large enough to put a cannon through." + +"And that is just what is going to be put through them, my boy," +went on Mr. Roumann. "From those openings, and you will see that +there are four of them, will protrude the muzzles of my electric +cannons." + +"Do we need them?" asked Jack. + +"You can't tell what we'll need when we get to Mars," was the +slow answer. "You must remember that we know nothing about the +inhabitants of the planet. While I believe that the people there +are of a very high grade of intelligence, we must be prepared for +the worst. We may find them terrible savages, who will want to +attack and destroy us. With the electric cannon we can defend +ourselves." + +"That's so," admitted Jack. "We had to fight the Esquimaux up +north," + +"And the putty-men in the center of the earth," added Mark. + +Forward of the living-room, and near what corresponded to the bow +of the projectile, were the sleeping-rooms, consisting of two +long, narrow compartments, with a passageway between them, like +the aisle in a sleeping-car. The beds were berths against the +wall, much as in the Pullman cars of to-day. + +In the very "nose" of the Annihilator was the pilot house. Here +were grouped together the wheels, levers, cams, gears, pistons +and other apparatus that controlled the big projectile. Standing +in it, and peering out through a heavy plate glass window, the +operator could guide the machine in any direction he desired, and +he could also regulate the rate of progress. + +A number of scientific instruments were carried, for showing and +registering the speed and direction of the Annihilator, the +distance it was above the earth, and there was an indicator to +note how near the travelers came to Mars. There was also a +powerful telescope, and a number of cameras so arranged that they +would automatically take pictures. + +"We'll have to travel through space pretty fast in order to cover +thirty-five millions of miles," observed Jack, stopping in his +work of helping rivet some of the plates. + +"About how fast will we have to go, Mr. Roumann?" + +"I have it all figured out," replied the German. + +"I hope our projectile will stand it," remarked Mr. Henderson. +"We did not have to make such terrific speed on our other +voyages." + +"I think that the Annihilator, as we have planned it, will not +suffer from the strain of speed," when on Mr. Roumann, looking up +from his study of some blue-prints. "You may be astonished when +I tell you we shall have to travel at the rate of one hundred +miles a second." + +"One hundred miles a second!" exclaimed Jack. "That's pretty +fast, isn't it?" + +"It's at the rate of eight million six hundred and forty thousand +miles a day," came from Mark, who was a rapid figurer. + +"And to cover thirty-five million miles would take us less than +five days," said Jack. "But such an enormous speed--" + +"We must travel at about that speed," interrupted Mr. Roumann, +"though I fancy we will be nearer ten days than five in reaching +Mars." + +"Why?" asked Jack. + +"Because we will not dare travel at such terrific speed as one +hundred miles a second through the atmosphere of the earth. We +would be burned into cinders by the mere friction of the air. +Therefore, I shall send the Annihilator comparatively slowly +through the earth's atmosphere, and perhaps I will find that I shall have +to do the same thing when we near Mars. But while traveling through +the ether, or the space that is between the two can go as fast +as we like, which will as Mark has said, eight million miles per day." + +"But even that rate," began Jack, "is going to pretty fast." + +"It is faster than almost anything except light," went on Mr. +Roumann. + +"Light travels one hundred and eighty-six thousand miles a +second," stated Mark, who remembered his physics. "That's more +than seven times around the earth in a second." + +"Correct," said Mr. Roumann with a smile. "But sound, as you +know, only goes a little over a thousand feet a second, at a +temperature of thirty-two degrees above zero. In a warmer +atmosphere it travels slightly faster. We are going much faster +than sound ever travels. A cannon ball will travel about three +thousand feet per second, so we are even going to beat cannon +balls. At least, we hope we are, when we get beyond the earth's +atmosphere." + +"That's going to be terrific speed," remarked Jack dubiously, as +if there was some risk in it. + +"You need not worry," said Mr. Roumann. "You know we are building +the Annihilator with a double shell, with a space between the two +walls." + +"Yes?" said Jack questioningly. + +"Well, in that space I intend to put a new kind of gas, that will +absorb all the heat that may be generated by our flight through +space," went on Mr. Roumann. "Now that you know you have +nothing to fear, let us go on with the work." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +A MYSTERIOUS THEFT + + +"Would yo' kindly permit me t' prognostigate yo' attention fo' de +monumental contraction of impossibilitiness in de circomlocution +ob attaining de maximum nutrition ob internal combustion?" asked +Washington White about an hour later, as he poked his head into +the workshop, where the professor, the boys and Mr. Roumann, +together with the machinists, were busily engaged. + +"What's that, Wash?" asked Jack with a wink at Mark. "Would you +mind saying that over again?" + +"Not in de leastest, Massa Jack," replied the colored man. "What +I done intended to convey to de auditory sensibilities ob de +auricular nerves ob do exterior contraption ob de--" + +"Hold on, Washington!" cried Professor Henderson with a laugh. +"That sounds as if it was going in be worse than the other. Did +I understand you to say that you wanted us to come to dinner?" + +"Dat's jest it, pertesser. I done 'spress mahself in de most +disproportionate language what I knows how, an' yet it seems laik +some pussons cain't understand de appreciableness ob simplisosity." + +"Simplisosity is a new one," murmured Mark, while Washington, +with an injured look at Jack, who was laughing, went back to his +kitchen to prepare to serve the meal. + +"I wonder what we'll get to eat when we get up above?" asked +Jack, taking advantage of a lull during the meal, when Washington +was in the kitchen, for it had been agreed that nothing was yet +to be said to the colored man as to their destination, though +Andy Sudds knew of their plans. But Andy could be depended on +not to talk too much. + +"Eat?" repeated the professor. "Why, I fancy that we will take +enough along from the earth to last us, eh, Mr. Roumann?" + +"Not altogether. I am positive that there is life on Mars, and +where there is life there must be things to sustain it. Perhaps +the food there will not be such as we are used to, but when our +supply, runs short we will have to depend on what we will get +there." + +"How long do you expect to stay?" asked Mark. + +"It is hard to say. When I get what I want I shall be ready to +return--that is, after having studied the inhabitants and made +some scientific observations." + +"Maybe the Martians will like us so that they let us come back," +suggested Jack with a laugh. + +"Oh, I fancy we will be able to get away," said Mr. Roumann. +"But now I must get back to the shop. I am having a little more +trouble with my Etherium motor than I anticipated." + +"I don't exactly understand how that works," said Jack. "The +plans don't call for any opening the stern of the Annihilator for +a propeller to project from, and there is no provision for a +tube, such as we used to send compressed air from the Flying +Mermaid. Nor is there anything in front to pull the Annihilator +along." + +"We need nothing like that," explained the German scientist. +"The powerful force which I discovered does not need a tube or a +propeller to enable it to be used. The simplest explanation of +it is that it consists of waves of energy, which pass from +certain square surfaces attached to the motor. The force flows +from the plates right through the stern of the ship, passing +through the metal without the necessity for any openings. The +wireless waves, as they may be called, act on the ether, and, by +pushing against it send the projectile forward, just as if it was +a stream of compressed air acting on the atmosphere, or a +propeller in the water. Of course, that is to be used when we +pass beyond the atmosphere. In the latter space I shall use a +different force, as I also shall when we approach Mars." + +"Then you can't see this force?" asked Mark. + +"No more than you can see the wireless impulses that flow from +the wires of an aerial station." + +"Yet it's there, just the same," spoke Jack. + +"Indeed, it is," answered the scientist. "But, now I must get +back to my motor." + +"Yes," added Professor Henderson, "we must, all get busy. What +are you going to do, Andy?" + +"Well, I thought I'd go off hunting. I'm no good at building +machinery. I thought you might like something for dinner--say a +brace of ducks." + +"Good!" cried Jack, who was fond of eating, which, perhaps, +accounted for his stoutness. + +It was a fine day, just right for hunting, and Andy set off with +his gun over his shoulder. + +"I wonder if there'll be any game on Mars," said Mark. "I think +I'd like to hunt there with Andy." + +"If other things are in proportion, the game there will be very +different from that on this earth," said the scientist. "We may +find monsters there which you never dreamed of." + +"That'll be just the stuff for you, Andy," cried Jack. + +"Well, bring on your monsters," said the old hunter, as he walked +toward the little lake, where wild ducks abounded. "I'll try and +shoot some for you." + +"Andy takes everything as a matter of course," went on Jack. "No +sort of animal seems to frighten him. If he should happen to +meet a dinotherium, such as used to live ages ago, he'd shoot it +first, and wonder about it afterward." + +"And we, are likely to meet with stranger beasts than +dinotheriums on Mars," said Mr. Roumann. + +"What am dat dinotherium?" asked Washington, entering the room at +that moment and catching the word. + +"Washington wants to work that into his conversation!" exclaimed +Jack with a laugh. "But you want to be careful, Wash." + +"Why so, Massa Jack?" + +"Because the dinotheriurn was a fearful beast. It was about +twenty feet long, lived in the water, and ate all sorts of +weeds." + +"How long you say he was?" + +"About twenty feet." + +"He must eat a pow'ful sight ob weeds, den. Wish I had one." + +"What for?" + +"Cause mah garden am jest oberrun wid weeds. If I had one ob dem +dinnasorriouses--" + +"Dinotheriums," corrected Jack. + +"Dat's what I said," observed Washington with dignity. "If I had +one ob dem, I wouldn't hab t' weed mah garden. Where am one to +be possessed ob, Massa Jack?" + +"I guess you were born a few million years too late," was the +lad's answer. "They lived a few centuries before the flood." + +"Good land!" exclaimed Washington, his eyes opening wide. +"Before Noah built de ark?" + +"Yes." + +"Landy gracious! Dat animai'd be so old by dis time dat he +couldn't chew de weeds after he pulled'em. Guess I'll hab t'do +mah own weedin'." + +"I reckon you will," added Mark. + +They went back to the machine shop, and for the next week were +very busy over the Annihilator. It was beginning to assume +shape, and some of the machinery was installed. + +One evening, after a hard day's work, when they 'were all seated +in the big living-room of Professor Henderson's home, discussing +the progress they were making, Jack suddenly held up his hand for +silence. + +"What's the matter?"' asked Mark. + +"I thought I heard somebody walking around the house," was the +stout lad's answer. + +"Maybe it's Washington," suggested the professor. "He generally +goes out to see if his chickens are shut up. He is very proud of +his flock of hens, and seems to hate to kill any for pot-pie." + +They all listened. Plainly there was some one or some animal +moving about under the windows of the living-room. + +"That doesn't sound like Washington," said Mr. Roumann. + +Just then the colored man, who had been upstairs, attending to +some of the housework (for he was the only servant the professor +kept), came down. + +"Were you just outside, Washington?" asked Mr. Henderson. + +"No, sah. I'se been upstairs, makin' beds." + +"There it is again!" cried Jack suddenly. + +The footsteps sounded more plainly, and one of the window +shutters rattled. + +"Dat's somebody after mah chickens!" exclaimed the colored man. +"I'se gwine t' git him, too!" + +He started for the door, but the professor held him back. + +"Let Andy go," he said. "He will make less noise than any of +us." + +He looked at the old hunter and nodded. Andy understood, and, +taking his gun from a corner, slipped out of a side door, making +no more noise than a cat. + +The others, left in the living-room, waited in silence. They +could hear the stealthy footsteps, which, however, seemed now to +be moving away. + +"I wonder who or what it can be?" murmured the professor. "This +is the second time some one has been sneaking around here. I +don't like it." + +"It does look suspicious," admitted Jack. "Do you suppose the +man you spoke of, Mr. Roumann, who you thought might try to +discover your secret, has traced you here, and is endeavoring to +steal it?" + +"No, I hardly think so. I took good care to conceal my +movements, and not even my closest friends know that I am here +with Professor Henderson, making a projectile, the trip of which +will astonish the world. No, I think this must be some other +person." + +"It's a pusson after mah chickens!" insisted Washington. "If +yo'll allow me, perfesser, t' project mahself inter de promixity +of his inner consciousness--" + +"No, you just stay here," decided Mr. Henderson. "You might get +into trouble if you went out and tried conclusions with a thicken +thief, which I suppose is what you are trying to say you want to +do." + +"Dat's what I did say, perfesser." + +They could no longer hear the footsteps, but the silence of the +night was suddenly broken by the report of Andy's gun. + +"There! He's shot at him!" cried Jack. + +"I hope he disabled dat chicken stealer!" yelled the colored man. +"Anybody what'll steal chickens--" + +"Hush!" commanded Mr. Henderson. + +Another shot rang out, and then the sound of footsteps could be +heard. + +"He's running past here," called Jack, hurrying to the door. + +He caught sight of a dark figure rushing past, and was about to +follow, but the outline was immediately lost in the darkness, and +Jack that it would be a useless move. Andy came up. + +"Did you hit him?" cried Jack + +"No. I only fired over his head," replied the old hunter. + +"Who was it?" + +"I don't know, but it was some man prowling around, and for no +good purpose, I take it." + +"Did he steal any ob my chickens?" asked Washington. + +"No; he wasn't near the coop." + +"I guess it was only a tramp," said Mr. Henderson. + +"I hope he doesn't go near the machine shop," added Mr. Roumann. +"Still, if he did, the two machinists sleeping there would hear +him." + +They returned to the room, and Andy stood his gun in a corner. +The weapon was seldom far from him. + +"What was he doing when you saw him?" asked Mr. Henderson. + +"Just sneaking along the window here as if listening." + +"Maybe he was trying to hear what we were talking about," +suggested Jack. + +"Or trying to discover my secret," added Mr. Roumann quickly. +"Fortunately I never talk about the secret of the power. But I +shall be anxious about the machine shop." + +"Suppose we go out and take a look around it," proposed Mark. +"Ned and Sam will know if any intruder has been sneaking around +there." + +They all went out where the Annihilator was in process of +building, but the machinists said they had not been disturbed, +and they were sure no one had stolen anything. + +There was no further disturbance that night, but when Mr. Roumann +paid an early visit to the machine shop the next morning, he +uttered a cry of surprise. + +"What is it?" asked Jack, who accompanied him. + +"The plates--the plates of the Etherium motor!" cried the +scientist. "They have been stolen!" + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +A CRAZY MACHINIST + + +For a moment Jack stared at Mr. Roumann. He did not appreciate +the seriousness of the announcement. The scientist was hurrying +here and there, looking under benches and on tables for missing +plates. + +"Do you mean the plates that make the motor go?" asked Jack. + +"No, not those, but the plates from which the mysterious force is +projected into space--the plates that give the forward motion to +the projectile. They have been stolen. They were taken last +night, and the man Andy fired at stole them!" + +"Will that prevent us from making the trip?" + +"No. I have duplicate plates." + +"Then little harm is done." + +"No particular harm is done to the projectile, but I am afraid +that, with the plates in his possession, the man may discover the +secret of the power that I use. Oh, I should have locked them +up, but I thought they would be safe." + +"What has happened?" asked Mr. Henderson, entering the machine +shop at that moment. The scientist told him, and expressed his +fear. + +"Do you really think there is any danger that the man, whoever he +was, will learn how to use the plates?" inquired the professor. + +"Perhaps, and then, again, perhaps not. I think it will be very +difficult for him to work out the secret of the power from the +plates, for they are only a small part of the mechanism. Still, +he may do so. I am convinced now that this man is either the +same one of whom I stand in fear, or he is some one hired by him +to steal my secret." + +"Then we had better notify the police," suggested Mark. + +"No, that would never do," answered Mr. Roumann. "I would have +to describe the plates, in order to have the authorities identify +them in the possession of the thief, and I do not care to do +that. No; the best plan will be to hasten work or the Annihilator, +and start for Mars before the thief can gain any advantage from the +plates. If he should succeed in discovering from the plate how to +make the power that is discharged in wireless currents, it will take +him a long time, and we can be away before then. Let us hasten our +work and start for Mars." + +"You say you have duplicates of the plates?" asked Jack. + +"Yes. I was afraid lest something happen to one set, so I made +three. Well, it will do no good to worry, but I wish I had the +plates back." + +"I don't see how he got them," observed Mark. "There doesn't +seem to be anything broken, to indicate how the thief got in, and +he certainly didn't touch Professor Henderson's live wire." + +Not a window or a door had been forced, and the two machinists, +who slept in the shop, declared they had heard no suspicious +sounds during the night. It was a mysterious theft, and there +seemed to be no means of solving it. + +At Mr. Roumann's suggestion they all increased their hours of +work on the Annihilator. They wanted to have it finished ahead +of the time set, and it seemed that this would be done. + +Day after day, and far into the night, they labored. Bit by bit +the machinery was installed, the supplies were gathered together, +the great water tanks were built, to provide a supply of the +fluid in case of any accident to the distilling apparatus. The +Etherium motor was almost finished, and the other, motor, which +was to drive the Annihilator through the earth's atmosphere, was +nearly ready to install. The steering apparatus necessitated +considerable labor, and when it was finished Amos Henderson +declared they had made a mistake, and would have to build it all +over again. + +This lost them a week, and time was precious, as there was no +telling what the thief would do with the stolen plates. + +"I tell you what, but we're going to have a better ship than any +of the others we built," remarked Jack one day, as he and Mark +were putting the finishing touches to the living-room. + +"This isn't a ship," said Mark. "It's a projectile." + +"I guess I can call it a ship if I want to," was the retort. +"It's going to sail through the air, and it's an airship, of +course. Wait until you see the one I'm going to build when I get +that new gas invented." + +"I'll not go with you," said Mark. "There's too much danger of +being blown up." + +"There won't be, after I have it perfected. But say, won't it be +fine when we're shooting through space to sit here in an easy +chair and read a book and eat sandwiches?" + +"I guess you think as much of eating as you do of reading, Jack." + +"Well, almost, that's a fact. I must cut out some of my eating, +too. I've gained five pounds this week, because of not doing any +studying. But wait until I get to Mars. Then I'll weigh less." + +"I hope Mr. Roumann lets us help run the machinery," went on +Mark. + +"I guess he'll have to. He'll need help, and I understand that +he and the professor, you and I, and Washington and Andy are the +only ones going along. He and the professor can't run the affair +all alone, and they'll have to have our help. Wash and Andy +won't be much good at machinery." + +"That's so. My! Think of steering a two hundred-foot projectile +through space, when we're moving at the rate of one hundred miles +a second!" + +"Great, isn't it?" commented Jack. + +"It would be a bad thing if it ever got away from us," said Mark. + +"Yes; or if we steered into a comet." + +"That's so. We may run into one of those things--or a shooting +star." + +"As long as we don't fall into the sun and get burned up we'll be +all right," went on Jack. "And when we get to Mars I know what +I'm going to do." + +"What?" + +"Go for a sail on one of the big canals. Mars is covered with +them, astronomers say." + +"Maybe the Martians won't let you." + +"Maybe not. I wish we could start to-morrow." + +"Well, we can't. The Annihilator isn't near done. We will be at +her for two weeks yet." + +The boys were busy for some time fitting up the living-room. +They were in the midst of this occupation, and were conversing +about the strange experiences in store for them, when Jack was +startled by hearing a strange voice say: + +"Say, don't you want some help building this airship?" + +He looked up, to see a man standing near one of the entrances to +the projectile--an entrance that would be closed when the +Annihilator was finished. The man was a stranger, and from his +appearance Jack judged that he was a mechanic. + +"How'd you get in here?" asked Mark, for he knew it was against +the rules for any stranger to enter the machine shop, much less +approach the projectile. + +"I walked," replied the man. "I saw the door open, and I heard +hammering going on in here. I knew it was a machine shop, and as +I'm a first class machinist, out of work, I thought I'd apply for +the job." + +"How'd you get past the doorkeeper?" inquired Jack, for he knew +that Andy Sudds was supposed to be on guard with his gun. + +"He wasn't at the door," went on the man. "There was nobody +there, so I walked in. Can't you give me a job on the airship?" + +"How do you know it's an airship?" asked Jack. + +"Oh, I know. I know lots of things," and the man winked one eye +at the lad. "I built a balloon once." + +"Did you?" asked Mark. He began to think perhaps the man might +be able to aid them. + +"Sure I did. I know about airships. I'll work for low wages, +and I'll keep my mouth closed. Oh, I know what patents mean. +Say," he went on in a whisper, "you'd be surprised to know where +I went in my balloon. I'll tell you," and he looked around as if +to make sure no one was listening. + +"Where did you go?" asked Jack. + +"Up to the moon," was the surprising reply. "And, say, it's all +a mistake about it being made of green cheese. It's green +apples--that's what it's made of. I know, for I was there, and I +ate some. They gave me an awful pain in my head, too," and the +man passed his hand across his brow. "A fearful pain," he went +on. + +Jack and Mark looked at each other. They did not understand the +man's strange talk and actions. + +"You don't believe me, do you?" the stranger asked. "Well, if +you want a good machinist, hire me. I know all about airships +and traveling through space. Why, I once did a dance on the tail +of a comet, only the comet got mad and shook me off. I'll show +you how I danced." + +He threw a somersault, lighted on his hands, and began to waltz +about in the somewhat contracted space of the living-room of the +projectile. Then he set up a loud shout as he regained his feet. + +"That's how!" he cried. + +The boys were alarmed. The man was evidently crazy, or perhaps +he might be doing this for effect, in order to disarm their +suspicions, so that he could discover Mr. Roumann's secret. +They did not know what to do. + +"Come on, we'll all have a dance!" cried the man. "My name is +Axtell--Fred Axtell. I used to live on the moon--tra-la-la!" + +His loud voice attracted the attention of Mr. Henderson, who was +working at the far end of the shop. The professor ran toward the +place where the strangely acting man was, the latter having now +emerged from the ship, followed by the boys. + +"Here we go! Off to the moon!" cried the man, and catching up a +big hammer he began to pound on the sides of the Annihilator as +if he would destroy the projectile. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +WASHINGTON IS AFRAID + + +"Here! Here! Stop him! Grab that man!" cried Mr. Roumann, as +he rushed toward Axtell, who was hammering away madly. + +Jack and Mark started for the fellow. + +"Keep away!" cried the machinist, swinging the sledge toward the +boys. "I want to work on an airship, and I'm going to do it. +I'll make some dents in it, and then I'll straighten them out! +Whoop!" + +Mr. Henderson hastened forward. He took in the situation at a +glance. + +"That man is insane!" the professor whispered to the German +scientist. "Let me deal with him." + +"Do something quickly," pleaded Mr. Roumann, "or he will damage +the projectile." + +"This is the way I work!" cried the insane man, and he brought +down the hammer with great force on the rounded sides of the +Annihilator. He made quite a dent in it. + + +"Stop him!" begged Mr. Ronan. + +Mark and Jack had retreated out of reach of the big hammer, the +professor and the German were consulting together, and in the +door of the shop appeared Andy Sudds with his gun. He had gone +away for a moment, in which interval the crazy machinist had +appeared. + +"Andy will scare him with his gun," whispered Jack to Mark. + +Just then Mr. Henderson called out: + +"If you want work, I can give it to you." + +Axtell stopped his pounding of the projectile, laid his hammer +down, and asked in a mild voice: + +"Can you give me work now?" + +"Of course," answered the professor, as if it was the most +natural thing in the world to give work to insane persons. His +calm manner and soothing words had a quieting effect on the +lunatic. The glare died out of his eyes. + +"Come with me," went on Mr. Henderson. "I have some work +outside." + +"What is it?" asked Axtell suspiciously. + +"I want you to dig a hole so we can put this airship in it," +whispered the professor. "Come outside." + +He wanted to get the man out of the machine shop, where he could +better deal with the fellow. + +"That's just the kind of work I want," declared the unfortunate +person. "I love to dig holes in the ground. I once dug one +clear through to China. Get me a shovel." + +He seemed to have forgotten all about the projectile, and meekly +followed Mr. Henderson. The latter led him some distance from +the shop, talking soothingly to the man, and promising that he +should soon have a shovel. But there was no necessity for going +to these measures. + +Axtell suddenly caught sight of Washington coming toward him, and +he exhibited the greatest fear. + +"Hide me!" he exclaimed to the professor. "Hide me in the +airship! Here comes the king of the cannibal islands!" And away +he ran at top speed and disappeared in the woods behind the +Henderson place. A search was at once made, but he could not be +located. + +Andy was rather worried lest he be blamed for not remaining on +guard, but no one thought of censuring him, as he was such a +faithful watchman and had only left the shop in answer to a call +from Washington, who thought he heard some strange animal after +his chickens. + +"But I'll not desert my post again," declared the old hunter, as +he looked to the loading of his gun. + +"If any other crazy men get inside, they'll have to answer to +me." + +Work on the projectile was resumed, and for a week went on +uninterruptedly. It was nearing completion, though there were +many details yet to look after. Mr. Roumann was having more +trouble with his Etherium motor than he anticipated. + +"The atmospheric motor is all right," he declared, "and it works +to perfection," which was indeed true, for in tests they made +they found that the motor, the force of which was only less +powerful and complicated than the secret power that was to hurl them +through space, would easily send the projectile through the +comparatively thin atmosphere of the earth. They did not +actually move the Annihilator, since to do so would mean they +would have to take it out of the shed. But they made tests and +experiments with heavy objects, applying the force to them, and, +by calculation, Mr. Roumann and the professor found that the +force would actually send the projectile on the start of its +journey. + +"But there is one point about my Etherium motor that still +bothers me," said the German. + +"Can I help you solve it?" asked Mr. Henderson. + +"No, thank you. I think I am on the right track. I will have it +perfected in a few days, and then we will be off for Mars. I can +scarcely wait until I get to that wonderful planet, thirty-five +millions of miles away, where I hope to get possession of a most +wonderful substance. Once we are on Mars--" + +"'Scuse me, Mistah Roumann," interrupted Washington White, who +happened to be in the machine shop at that moment, and overheard +what the scientist said, "'scuse me, but did I done heah yo' +promulgate de ostentatious fact dat yo' is gwine to de planet +Mars?" + +"That's where we're going, Wash," replied Jack, for it had been +decided that the colored man could now be told of their +destination. + +"Yo' means dat red star what shines in de sky?" + +"That's the one, Washington." + +"An' how far did yo' say it was from heah?" was the question +directed at Mr. Henderson. + +"Well, it's about thirty-five millions of miles from the earth." + +"And is yo' all goin'?" + +"Yes, we expect to." + +"Is dis heah contraption yo' done been buildin'?" + +"Yes." + +"And is I gwine, too, perfesser?" + +"I calculated on taking you, Washington. You went north and +south with me, and down into the center of the earth. I thought +you'd like to go on this trip." + +Washington laid down the hammer he had come in to borrow to fix +the chicken coop. He looked around on the circle of smiling +faces. + +"I--I 'spects I'd bettah be lookin' fo' annudder place, +perfesser," he said quietly. + +"Why, you aren't afraid to go to Mars, when you went with us in +the Flying Mermaid down into the earth, are you?" asked Jack. + +"'Scuse me, Massa Jack," said the colored man solemnly, "dis trip +am wuss dan any ob de udders. It suah am. Good land a' massy! +T' t'ink ob being projected transmigatorially in de obverse +tangent ob de parallelism circumdelegated on de inverse side ob a +duodecimo. It's too altogether imparipinated fo' dis chile! +I'se afraid dat's what I is! I'se too much afraid t' go," and +Washington started to run from the shop, as if he feared that the +big projectile would take after him. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +A STRANGE EXPLOSION + + +"Here, come back, Washington," called Mr. Henderson. + +"No, sah! I ain't gwine t' entrust mahself 'n any sech t'ing as +dat!" cried Washington. "I ain't gwine t' be shot up froo de sky. +Why, good land a' massy! 'Sposin' we was t' hit a star, or land +on de moon? I'd look purty, wouldn't I, hangin' on one ob de +moon's horns? How's I eber gwinee git down? I axes yo' dat. +How's I gwine f git down?" + +"Well," said Professor Henderson with a laugh, "if you did get +caught on one of the horns of the moon, Washington, I guess it +would be a pretty hard matter to get down." + +"Dat's what I done said," insisted the colored man. + +"You could slide down a moonbeam," said Jack with a laugh. + +"Yes, an' mebby git hit by a comet or be kamked sensible by a +piece ob star," objected Washington, as if Jack's plan was a +feasible one. "No, sah, I ain't gwine along nohow. Dis ole +earth am good enough fo' me. I don't want to die an' go floatin' +through space. When I dies I wants t' be buried decent-like. I +ain't gwine wid yo' at all." + +It began to look as if Washington's revolt was a settled fact. +Yet they depended on him to go. However, Professor Henderson +solved the problem for him. + +"Who will cook my meals for me, if you don't go, Washington?" he +asked solemnly. + +"Is you really goin', perfesser?" + +"I certainly am." + +"An' yo' t'ink it's safe?" + +"Yes, or I shouldn't go. But I can't have much comfort if I +don't have my meals right, for I can't cook very well, and as for +Jack and Mark--" + +"Hu! Dem boys can't cook wuff a cent. Is dey gwine t' go +'long?" + +"We sure are," answered Jack. + +"Hu! Den I 'spects I'se got t' go," said the colored man, +scratching his head in perplexity. "I can't let de perfesser go +alone, wid nobody t' do his cookin' fer him. Well, I'll go, +but--but I'se mighty skeered, jest de same." + +"You needn't be, Washington," said Mr. Henderson kindly. "We +will be perfectly safe in the Annihilator, and when we get to Mars +I am sure you will like it there." + +"I've got to, wedder I does or not," said Washington simply. +"Well, t' t'ink ob me seein' dis work goin' on, day after day, +an' me nebber suspectin' dat yo' was goin' on sech a transmigatory +flight in de direction ob an interplanetary sphere what transmits +effulgent rays transversely an' pyritiferilously changes 'em inter +crimson light most advantageously." + +"I guess you're all right now, after getting that out of your +system," observed Mark. + +It was two days after this that Jack and Mark, who were working +in the shop with Mr. Roumann, suddenly heard him utter a cry. + +"Has anything happened?" called Jack, dropping his tools and +hastening to the engine-room, where the scientist was. + +"Yes!" cried the German. + +"What?" + +He was pacing rapidly up and down the contracted space, waving a +piece of metal above his head. Jack thought he might have hurt +himself. + +"I have discovered what was the matter with my Etherium motor!" +exclaimed Mr. Roumann. "I didn't bend this piece of metal +properly. That was why the machine did not work satisfactorily. +Now it is all right. We can start in a week." + +"That's good!" said Mark, who had joined his chum. "Are you sure +it will work now, Mr. Roumann?" + +"Quite sure. But we will have a test to make certain. Send +Professor Henderson here, Please." + +The other scientist came from the house, and the test was made. +To the delight of all the Etherium motor worked perfectly. The +slight adjustment of the piece of metal had been all that was +needed. + +"Now we can get ready to leave in a week," repeated the German +enthusiastically. + +In fact, the projectile was finished, and all that was necessary +was to put in the stores and some supplies, turn on the power, +and they would be off through space. + +The actual starting of the Annihilator was, of course, to be left +entirely to Mr. Roumann. He had not disclosed to his companions +the secret of the force that was to make it move, nor had he told +them how to work the Etherium and atmospheric motors. He would +start the machinery in operation, and he had promised to show the +professor and the boys how to control it, but the secret of the +wonderful power he kept to himself. + +"I think we can let the two machinists go now," said Mr. Henderson +at the conclusion of the tests. "We shall not need them any more if +we are almost ready to start." + +"No, we can dispense with their services," agreed Mr. Roumann; +and, accordingly, Ned and Sam were paid off, and left, promising +to say nothing of the wonderful apparatus on which they had been +working. + +The next week was a busy one. Mr. Roumann spent most of his time +in the engine-room, assembling the machinery of the two motors, +and arranging the connections between them and the pilot house in +the "nose" of the projectile. The strange gas had been forced in +between the two shells of the projectile, to absorb the heat that +would be generated by friction, and nearly all the stores had +been put aboard. + +The electric guns were installed, ready to be run out of the +openings of the living-room to repel any attack of the Martians, +and then the ports were closed tightly. + +Finishing touches were being put on the Annihilator, and Mr. +Henderson and his German friend were kept very busy. As for the +boys, they helped wherever they could, and did considerable work, +for they had been well trained by their guardian. + +Andy remained on guard at the door with his gun. He said he was +going to take no more chances with the crazy machinist. + +Nothing further had been seen or heard of the mysterious thief +who had stolen the plates, and it was supposed that he was unable +to make any use of them. + +One afternoon, about three days before the time set to start for +Mars, Mr. Roumann was working alone in the machine shop. The +boys and Professor Henderson had done all there was for them to +do, and the Annihilator was practically finished. + +"Are you going to take along any extra-sized bullets, Andy?" +asked Jack of the old hunter, who was on guard, as usual, at the +door. + +"I don't see why I should. I guess the regular ones will do when +I get to Mars." + +"I don't know about that," went on Jack. "We may find bigger +game than elephants or sea lions there." + +"If we do, I'll use a new kind of explosive electric bullet Mr. +Roumann told me about," declared Andy. "It has a charge of +electricity in it, and he says it will kill the biggest animal +that ever lived, with one shot." + +"Then you're all right," said Mark. "Well we'll soon be on our +way now." + +"I suppose Washington will want to take some of his chickens +along?" ventured Jack. + +"Well, I don't see why he can't," said Andy. "They take pigeons up +in balloons, and I guess chickens would live in the Annihilator--at +least, until we ate them." + +They stood about the entrance to the machine shop, talking of +various topics, but they always came back to the subject of the +wonderful journey before them. + +Suddenly Jack, who had strolled a little away from the door, +looked toward the rear of the big shed that housed the projectile, +and uttered a cry. Mark heard him, and ran to his chum's side. + +"Look!" exclaimed Jack, pointing to two men who were running away +from the shop. "Who are those men?" + +"One is that crazy machinist!" cried Mark. + +"And the other is the tramp we saw looking in the window that +night!" added Jack. "Come on! Let's catch them! They may +have done some damage! Andy! Here! With your gun! Quick!" + +The old hunter hastened to join the boys. He reached them in time +to see the two intruders making for the woods back of the shed. + +"Hold on there!" cried Andy, quickly raising his gun and firing +over their heads. + +But the men did not stop. Hardly had the echoes of Andy's weapon +died away, than there sounded a loud explosion from the shop. A +cloud of smoke poured from the windows. + +"They've blown up the projectile!" cried Mark. "Come on!" + +They ran toward the place where the explosion had occurred. As +they neared the end of the shed Washington came running out. He +showed great fear. + +"Come quick! Come quick!" he cried. + +"What's the matter?" shouted Jack. + +"Somebody's blowed de place up, an' Mr. Roumann am killed!" was +the answer. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE ELECTRIC REMEDY + + +"Get Professor Henderson!" directed Jack, "Where is Mr. Roumann, +Washington?" + +"In heah!" exclaimed the colored man, pointing to the shop. "He +am all blowed to pieces!" + +Jack and Mark were terribly afraid. The smoke of the explosion +hung all about. They rushed through it, and into the shop. Part +of the side of the wooden building had been blown out. + +"Where is he?" asked Mark. "I can't see anything." + +"Over here," called Jack, as he saw a huddled heap in one corner. +As the smoke cleared away he could see pieces of machinery +scattered all about. + +"Is the projectile damaged?" asked Mark anxiously. + +"Doesn't seem to be--at least, on the outside," answered Jack, as +he looked at the huge shape of the Annihilator looming up before +him. "But I'm afraid it's all up with Mr. Roumann." + +He bent over the German scientist. The man seemed lifeless. +There was quite a cut on his head and his clothes were torn. + +"He's breathing a little!" cried jack. "We must get Professor +Henderson here. He'll know what to do--if anything can be done +for him." + +"They must have exploded a bomb in here," said Mark, as he looked +around at the ruin about, them. + +"Something like that," admitted jack. "Here, help me carry Mr. +Roumann out of the fumes," for there was a choking smell in the +shop. + +The two boys found it hard work to carry that limp form out, but +they managed it. Just as they got outside the shop they saw +Professor Henderson running toward them, followed by Washington +and Andy. + +"What has happened?" asked the inventor, for he had not been able +to learn much from Washington's excited account. + +"I don't know," answered Jack. "We heard a explosion, just after +we saw two men running away from the shop, and we found Mr. +Roumann senseless." + +Professor Henderson bent over, and placed his hand on the heart +of his friend. + +"I'm afraid he's dying," he said. + +"Dying?" cried jack in dismay. + +"Yes; and if he expires, the secret of the wonderful power will +die with him. We will never be able to get to Mars!" + +The professor placed his ear against the breast of the unconscious +man. + +"There is still a spark of life," he remarked. "Perhaps I can +save him. I will try my electric remedy." + +He got up and hurried to the house. Mr. Henderson had invented a +number of medical appliances, not the least of which was an +affair, different from an electric battery in that it allowed a +current to be administered internally. It was this that he now +decided to try on the unfortunate German. + +He came back in less than a minute with a curious machine. It +was shaped like a box, but on the outside had a number of shiny +knobs, and several wires ending in brass handles. + +Professor Henderson placed a brass handle in each of the palms of +the German, directing Mark and jack to hold them there. Then he +placed several of the shining knobs at the back of his head, and +ran a long wire around his waist. + +"Now, Andy," ordered the inventor, "if you will take hold of this +rod and place the end of it on his tongue when I open his mouth, +I think we may be able to revive him." + +This was done, and Mr. Henderson turned on the current. There +was a buzzing sound from the box, and a slight tremor was visible +throughout the whole body of the unconscious man. + +"It is beginning to work!" exclaimed the professor. "He is +coming to!" + +Mr. Roumann opened his eyes. + +"Take the rod from his tongue, Andy," directed Mr. Henderson. + +The hunter did so, and the German, looking curiously about him, +asked: + +"Is the projectile damaged?" + +"It doesn't seem to be," replied Jack quickly. + +"Are you much hurt?" asked the professor. + +Mr. Roumann passed his hand slowly across his head. + +"I feel rather strange here," he said. "There seems to be some +injury." + +Mark silently pointed to the cut. Mr. Henderson quickly examined +it. + +"The skull is not injured," he announced. "It is merely a scalp +wound. Wait a moment now and I will give you something to make +you feel better." + +From a small pocket case he took a spoon and a bottle. He poured +out a strong-smelling liquid, and administered a few drops to the +German. The latter's pale face at once became flushed. + +"I think you will be all right now," said Mr. Henderson. "But it +was a narrow escape. Do you feel well enough to let us take you +to the house?" + +"I think so. But guard the shop well. That crazy machinist came +back, and some one was with him. Then came an explosion--and I +don't remember any more." + +"I'll guard the place!" exclaimed Andy. "And if any of those +chaps come around--well, they'll wish they hadn't," and he looked +significantly at his gun. + +Mr. Roumann was getting better every moment, and was soon able to +stand. He was assisted to the house, where Mr. Henderson +attended to the injury on his head. + +Then, after some more medicine had been administered, and the +electric remedy had been applied again, the German announced that +he felt almost as good as ever, except for an aching head. + +"How did it all happen?" asked Mr. Henderson, and Jack and Mark +told what they knew of the explosion. + +"I was working over an extra air-pump that I wish to take along +with us," stated Mr. Roumann, "when I was startled by seeing two +strangers standing near my work bench. One I recognized as the +insane machinist who was here before. The other--" + +"The other was the same one who looked in the window one night, +and who, I believe, stole the power plates," interrupted Jack. + +"I wish I had known that," went on Mr. Roumann. "I would have +made him give them back. But I did not have time to do anything. +Before I could stop him the crazy machinist had thrown something +at me, which I now know must have been a bomb. Then came the +explosion, and knew nothing more until you revived me. Is the +place much wrecked?" + +"I think not," answered Jack. + +"We will go look in a little while; just as soon as we see that +you are all right," announced the professor. + +"Oh, I am all right. Go now. I am anxious to know." + +Having assured himself that the German was able to walk to the +shop, Mr. Henderson an assent, and the two boys, Washington and +two scientists started for the place where Annihilator was kept. + +"How did you happen to see it, Washington?" asked Mark. + +"I was out fixin' a loose board on mah chicken coop," explained +the colored man, "when I seen dem two rapscallions come runnin' +out ob de place. I knowed dey hadn't no right dere, an' I +hollered at 'em. But dey didn't stop, an' de nextest t'ing I +knowed dere was a big bang. I run in, an' I seed Mistah Roumann +all blowed to pieces." + +"Hardly as bad as that," said the German with a smile. + +"Well, almost," insisted Washington. + +They reached the machine shop. The smoke had all cleared away, +but the fumes from the bomb were still noticeable. + +"I wonder what their object could have been?" said Jack. + +"I believe they are urged on by some of my enemies," was the +German's reply. "But let us see what damage has been done. I +hope it is not much." + +Pieces of broken machinery, twisted wheels, bent levers, +shattered cogs and smashed plates were all about one corner of +the shop. But the great projectile was still in place. It had +not even been jarred. + +Mr. Roumann went to an opening in the side that led to the +engine-room. No sooner had he entered than he uttered a cry. + +"The Etherium motor is damaged!" he exclaimed, and with fear in +their hearts the others followed him inside the Annihilator. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +AN ALARMING THREAT + + +The main machines in the engine-room were the two motors, one +designed to send the projectile through the atmosphere, the other +intended to propel it through the space filled with what is +called ether. + +It was to these two massive machines that the eyes of all were +now directed. The smaller one, the atmospheric motor, did not +appear to have been damaged, but several wheels and pipes of the +other were broken and twisted. + +"Is it ruined?" asked Professor Henderson. + +Mr. Roumann was anxiously looking at the apparatus to see what +damage had been done by the bomb. + +"Can't we go to Mars?" inquired Jack. + +"I think so," was the reassuring reply of the scientist. "It is +not damaged so much as I feared. The wheels and pipes are easily +replaced, and as long as the generator and the distributing +plates are not disturbed, I can easily repair the rest. But it +was a fortunate chance that the bomb did not explode nearer the +projectile. Otherwise we would have had to give up our journey." + +"And we would have had to if you had been killed," remarked the +professor. "I thought the secret of the power was going to die +with you!" + +"It will," replied Mr. Roumann, "but not just yet. I shall never +disclose the source of the power until I reach Mars, get what I +am after, and come back. Then I may bequeath it to you, +Professor Henderson, in return for the kindness of yourself and +your young assistants." + +"I will appreciate that. But you had better go to the house now +and let me doctor you up." + +"No, I feel well. I want to get right to work repairing the +damage. It will delay us several days, but we cannot avoid it. +I wish I could catch the men responsible for this outrage." + +"Have you any idea who they were?" + +"No; but I suspect they were in the enemy of mine. A man who +used to work for me, but whom I discharged because of dishonetesty. +His name was Zeb Forker." + +"One of the men who threw the bomb was same one who was at the +window one night," said Mark. "Do you suppose he could be +Forker, Mr. Roumann?" + +"No, I do not believe so. But we will not discuss that now. I +fancy the men will not bother us again." + +"I'll tell Andy to keep a better watch," said Mr. Henderson. + +"And we'll help him," added Mark. "There is little for us to do +on the projectile now, and we can do guard duty, Jack and I +together." + +It took Mr. Roumann several days to repair the damage done to the +Etherium motor by the bomb. During that time Andy and the boys +were constantly on guard about the shop, but the crazy machinist +and his companion did not return. + +Washington White agreed to stand guard part of one night, and, as +the others were tired, they agreed to it. But a fox or some +animal got in among the colored man's chickens, and at the first +sound of alarm from his favorite fowls, Washington deserted his +post and rushed for the coop. Jack, who was awakened by the +noise, looked out of the window. + +"It is some one trying to get in, Wash?" he asked. + +"Dat's what, Massa Jack." + +Jack awakened Mark, and the two hurried down with their guns. +They found the colored maw making a circuit of his coop. + +"I thought you said some one was trying to get in," observed +Jack. + +"So dey was, Massa Jack. I done heard de most, tremendousness +conglomeration of disturbances in de direction ob my domesticoryian +orinthological specimens, an' I runned ober to see what it were." + +"You mean that something was after your chickens?" asked Mark. + +"Dat's de impression I done endeavored to prognostigate to yo', +but seems laik I ain't understood," replied Washington with an +injured air. + +"Oh, I understand you, all right," said Jack, "but I thought you +meant some one was gettin in the machine shop." + +"No, dere ain't been no one dere, but I was skeered dat somebody +was after mah chickens, but I guess it were only a rat. I'll go +back an stay on guard now." + +"No, you'd better go to bed," decided Jack. "Mark and I will +finish out the night." + +"All right," agreed Washington, who, to tell the truth, was getting +sleepy. + +There were no further disturbances, and Mark and Jack found their +tour of duty rather lonesome. + +"Well, I suppose we'll start in a day or so," marked Jack, as +they paced about the big shed which housed the great projectile. + +"Yes. The motor seems to be in good working order again. But +say, I've just thought of something." + +"What?" + +"Suppose something should happen to Mr. Roumann or to the motor +while we were half way to Mars? I mean, suppose he should die, +why, we wouldn't know how to stop the motor, and we might keep on +going forever." + +"Oh, I guess he'll tell the professor enough about it so that in +case anything happened we could start it or stop it. It's only +the secret of the power that he wants to keep." + +"I wonder what he wants to go to Mars for, anyhow?" + +"Well, you know what he said. That he wants to get possession of +some wonderful substance. I guess it is the same stuff that +makes the planet seem red to us." + +"What's he going to do with it?" + +"I don't know." + +"Wonder what it is?" + +"I don't know that, either. Maybe it's some sort of a mineral, +like radium." + +"Radium would be valuable, if he could get that. Maybe that's what +he's going after." + +"No, I think not. If it was, he wouldn't be particular about not +telling us. We'll just have to wait and see." + +The following two days were busy ones, as many little adjustments +had to be made to the machine. But at last Mr. Roumann announced +that all was completed. + +"We will start day after to-morrow," he said. "All the stores +are in the projectile, I have every thing arranged, and we will +begin our trip Mars." + +"Are we going to go up like a balloon, through the roof of the +shed?" asked Jack. "If we we'll have to take the roof off." + +"No, we'll start out through the great doors," said the German. +"My plan is to elevate the nose or bow, of the projectile, point +it toward the sky, at a slight angle, by means of propping it up +on blocks. Then we will get in, seal all the openings, and I +will turn on the power, and off we go. We can shoot right through the +big doors at the end of the shed, and no one will know anything +about it, for we will leave the earth so fast that before any one +is aware of our plans we will be out of sight." + +"That is a good idea," commented Mr. Henderson. "Have you boys +put everything in the projectile that you'll need?" + +"I guess so," replied Jack, "though it's hard to tell what you +really will need on another planet." + +"All I want is my gun and some ammunition," declared Andy Sudds. +"I can get along with that." + +"How about you, Washington?" asked Jack. + +"'Well, I suah would laik t' take mah fowls along." + +"I don't see how you can do that very well, Wash," objected Mr. +Henderson. "We would have to carry food for them, and our space +is very limited at best. I'm afraid you'll have to get rid of +your chickens." + +"Couldn't I take mah Shanghai rooster?" begged the colored man. +"He's a fine bird, an' maybe dem folks on Mars nebber seed a +real rooster. I suah does hate to leab him behind." + +"Oh, I guess you could take him," agreed Mr. Roumann. + +"I'll gib him some ob my rations," promised Washington. "He eats +jest laik white folks, dat Shanghai do. Golly! I'se glad I kin +take him. I'll go out an' make a cage." + +"What will you I do with the rest of your fowls, Wash?" asked +Mark. + +"Oh, a feller named Jim Johnson'll keep 'em fer me till we gits +back. Jim's a cousin ob mine." + +The next day was spent in jacking up the prow of the projectile +so that it pointed in a slanting direction toward the sky. + +"Am yo' aimin' it right at Mars?" asked the colored man, pausing +in the work of making cage for his rooster. + +"No; that isn't necessary," said Mr. Roumann. "Once it starts +upward, I can steer it in any direction I choose. I can send it +directly toward Mars." + +"Hit's jest like a boat," observed Washington. + +"That's it." + +"Well, to-morrow we start," spoke Jack that night, as they were +gathered in the dining-room of the professor's house after +supper, discussing the great trip. + +"And to think that in ten days we'll be on thirty-five millions +of miles away from the earth!" added Mark. + +"It's a mighty long way," said Andy. "Mebby we'll never git +back." + +"Oh, I guess we will," declared Jack "We got back all right +from--" + +His words were interrupted by a breaking of glass. One of the +windows crashed in, and something came through it into the room. +It fell upon the floor--a square, black object. + +"Dat's one ob dem bombs!" cried Washington. "Look out, +everybody! It'll go off!" + +There was a scramble to get out of the room, Washington falling +down on the threshold. Jack, who was in a corner, behind some +chairs, found his way blocked. This gave him a chance to take a +little longer look at the object that had been thrown through the +window. + +"That's not a bomb!" he cried. "It's something wrapped in black +paper." + +The professor, Mark and Mr. Roumann stopped their hurried egress. +They came back and looked at the object. As Jack had said, it +was something tied up in black paper with pink string. + +"It doesn't look like a bomb," observed Mark. + +"More like a brick," said Jack, and started toward it. + +"Maybe it's an infernal machine," suggested Mark. + +Jack hesitated a moment, listened to detect any possible ticking +of some hidden clock mechanism, and then, as no sound came from +the object, he picked it up. Rapidly tearing off the paper, he +disclosed a harmless, red brick. + +"Some one wanted to scare us," remarked Andy. + +"There's a paper wrapped around the brick--a white paper," said +Professor Henderson. + +"So there is," spoke Jack as he removed it. "There's writing on +it, too." + +He held it up to the light. + +"It's a message," he went on, "and not a very pleasant one, +either." + +"Who's it from?" asked Mr. Roumann. + +"It's signed 'The Crazy Machinist', Jack, and this is what it +says:" + +"Beware, I am still after you! I will yet blow you sky-high!" + +"He threw that in through the window!" cried Mark. "He must be +outside here. Let's see if we can't catch him." + +"That's right," added Jack. "Andy! Washington! Come on!" + +The boys, followed by the hunter and the man, hurried from the +house. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +OFF FOR MARS + + +It was dark outside, and coming from the lighted room, the +searchers at first could discern nothing. Then, as their eyes +became accustomed to the gloom, they could make out objects with +greater distinctness. + +A movement in a tree, just outside the broken window, attracted +the attention of Andy. + +"Here's something!" he cried. + +He raised his gun, which he had caught up as he rushed from the +house, and fired high enough in the air, so as not to hurt +whoever was in hiding. The flash of the weapon showed a man in +the act of sliding down the trunk. + +"Catch him!" cried Jack. + +They all made a rush for the tree, but the flash of Andy's gun, +while it revealed the man to them, also had the effect of +momentarily blinding the men and boys. For an instant they could +see nothing, and when the effect of the flash passed away the man +was not in sight in the semi-gloom. They could hear him running +through the underbrush outside of the garden, however, and took +after him. + +But the crazy machinist, if indeed it was he, got away, and after +a vain search through the garden and about the machine shed, they +all returned to the house, Mr. Roumann and the professor having +joined in the hunt. + +"What do you suppose he did it for?" asked Mark, when they were +again gathered in the dining-room, examining the strange message. + +"He wanted to scare us," suggested Jack. + +"No, I really think he means to do us an injury," said Mr. +Roumann. "He has some fancied grievance against us, or he is +being used as a tool by Zeb Forker. Perhaps the man who stole +the plates was with him, and he hoped to get some more during the +confusion. I think we had better take a look at the machine +shop." + +They acted on this suggestion, but an examination there showed +that nothing had been disturbed. No one had been in the place. + +"I'm going to sleep here to-night," said German scientist. "I'm +not going to take chances at the last moment. I'll stay here." + +"So will I," decided Andy, and with his gun he mounted guard +outside, while Mr. Roumann made up a bed in the projectile. They +were not disturbed, however, any more that night. + +"Now for Mars!" cried Jack, as the sun rose the next morning, and +he jumped out of bed. "Hurry up, Mark! One would think you +didn't care about going!" + +"Well, I guess I do, but I don't see what good it does to get up +so early. We aren't going to start until ten o'clock." + +"No; but I couldn't sleep any longer," declared Jack. "I'm going +out to take a look at the Annihilator." + +He quickly dressed, and was on his way down stairs when there +arose quite a commotion out of the garden. Washington's voice was +heard crying: + +"Come back heah, yo' unregenerated specimen ob a ungrateful +bipedical ornithology! What fo' yo' want t' distress mah +longanimity fo'? Come back heah!" + +"What's the matter, Wash?" asked Jack. + +"Oh, dat Shanghai rooster got away jest as I were shuttin' him up +in de cage, an' I'se been runnin' all ober de garden after him. +'Pears laik he doan't want t' go t' Mars." + +"Wait a minute and I'll help you," volunteered Jack. "Come on, +Mark," he added. "Washington's pet has got away." + +The two boys went below, and, with their aid, the colored man +succeeded in catching the rooster, which, crowing a loud protest, +was shut up in a wooden cage and taken to the shop, ready to be +placed in the projectile. + +There was little to do at the last moment. Professor Henderson +had arranged for a relative to come and live in the house during +the time of the journey to Mars, and this gentleman arrived about +nine o'clock. + +Meanwhile, the last of the stores and supplies had been put in +the Annihilator, a final inspection had been given the machinery, +and all the scientific instruments were in place. + +Washington carried the cage containing his rooster into the +storeroom, where there was a large quantity of provisions, +sufficient to last for a year, in case, after reaching Mars, the +travelers should find on the planet no food which they could cat. + +There was a plentiful supply of water, and machinery for +distilling more out of the atmosphere. The gas that occupied the +space between what might be termed the two skins of the +projectile had already been pumped in, and nothing remained to, +do but for the adventurers to enter the great airship, as it +might be designated, seal up the ports, turn on the power and +start. + +Mr. Roumann looked critically to the bracing up of the +Annihilator, to see that it was slanted just right. Then he went +carefully over every inch of the great machine, to make sure that +there were no openings which were not closed. As he reached the +port that communicated with the storeroom, he found it only +partly shut. + +"Did any one of you open this?" he asked suddenly. + +"I didn't," replied Jack. "Why do you ask?" + +"Because I was sure I closed and locked it from the inside early +this morning," was the answer. "Washington, did you open it when +you put your rooster in there?" + +"No, sah. I went in de inside way. I didn't tetch it." + +"That's very strange," murmured Mr. Roumann, as he locked the +port, and each one, in turn, had denied meddling with it. "I was +sure I locked it." + +The matter appeared to give him a little uneasiness, but, as he +had much to do to get the projectile ready for the flight, he had +to leave the solution of the matter until another time. + +The great doors of the machine shed were thrown open. They were +designed to allow such large bodies as airships to pass out, as +Professor Henderson had, in years previous, constructed a number +of aeroplanes and dirigible balloons. So there would be no +trouble in speeding the projectile directly out of the shop. + +The great question, now that all was finished, was whether or not +the projectile would move, and in the manner and with the speed +necessary to get to Mars. There had been no chance for a trial +flight, and it all depended on whether or not Mr. Roumann had +correctly estimated the powers of his motors. + +He was sure he was right, and, from calculations made, Professor +Henderson was also positive. But it yet remained to prove this. + +"Well, we may as well get in," said Mr. Roumann at length. +"Everything is done that can be done. The next thing is to start +the motors, and--then we'll see what happens." + +It was a nervous moment. Once they were in, side the great +projectile, sealed up, would they ever be able to emerge again? +It was a momentous question. + +"Well, here goes!" exclaimed Jack with a jerky laugh as he +stepped into the Annihilator. + +"I'm with You," added Mark as he followed his chum. + +"Come on, Washington!" cried Jack from within. + +"Wait till I take one mo' look at terra cotta!" said the colored +man. + +"You mean terra firma, I guess," spoke the professor. + +"Yes, sah. Dat's hit. Terra flirma--de earth. I wants t' bid +it good-by." + +Andy Sudds, still carrying his gun, went in next. Then followed +Amos Henderson, and finally the German scientist. The latter +clamped fast the cover of the opening by which they had entered. +The interior of the Annihilator was brilliant with electric +lights. + +Mr. Roumann made his way to the pilot house, to see that all the +levers and wheels that controlled the engines were in working +order. Then he went to the engine-room, where he adjusted the +two motors. + +"Well," he said a bit nervously, "we are all ready to start." + +"Let her go!" cried Jack gaily. + +There was no crowd on hand to see them off. Professor +Henderson's relative was the only spectator. + + Mr. Roumann and Mr. Henderson went to pilot house again. They +held a brief consultation. + +"Come here, boys, if you want to see us start the motors going," +called the professor. + +Jack and Mark stood in the doorway. Mr. Roumann grasped a lever. +He threw it over. There was a spark as the electrical contact +was made. + +"The atmospheric motor is now ready to start!" he remarked. +"Push that knob, Professor Henderson." + +The professor pushed in a small, shiny knob. Mr. Roumann turned +a small wheel, and closed another electrical switch. + +Instantly there was a trembling through t whole length of the +projectile. Would it move? Would it leave the earth and go to +Mars? + +There was a moment of hesitancy, as if the great machine had not +quite decided. + +Then came a more violent vibration. There was a humming, +throbbing, hissing sound. Suddenly the boys, and all within the +projectile, felt it swaying. A moment later it began to shoot +through space like a great rocket. + +"Hurrah!" cried Jack. "We're off!" + +"Yes," added Mr. Roumann joyfully, "we are on our way to Mars!" +and he grasped the steering wheel and peered through the thick +plate-glass windows of the pilot house into the vast space before +them. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +SOMETHING ABOUT MARS + + +"Are we really in motion?" asked Jack, after a moment's silence. +"It doesn't seem so." + +"We are certainly in motion," declared Mr. Roumann. "See this +dial?" + +He pointed to one near the steering wheel. The hand on it was +gently vibrating between some of the figures. + +"We are traveling that many miles a second," went on the +scientist. "The atmospheric motor is not working as fast as I +hoped it would, but we are going fast enough. When we start the +Etherium machine we shall go much more speedily." + +"And when will that be?" asked Mark. + +"I can't tell exactly. It will not be until we have passed +through the atmosphere of the earth, and there is no way of +ascertaining in advance just how thick that stratum is." + +"Then how will you know?" asked Jack. + +"By means of my instruments. When the hand on this dial points +to zero I will know that we are beyond the atmosphere, and that +it is time to start the Etherium motor." + +"How do you know in which direction to steer?" asked Mark. "Can +you see anything out of that window?" + +"Not a thing," replied the German. "Look for yourself." + +Jack and Mark peered through the plate glass. All they could see +was a sort of white, fleecy mass of clouds that surrounded the +great projectile. + +"It's just like when we were above the clouds in the Electric +Monarch," said Jack. + +"Exactly," agreed Mr. Henderson. + +"But if you can't see anything, how can you tell where to steer?" +asked Mark. + +"By means of this instrument," replied Mr. Roumann, indicating +another among the many on the wall of the projectile. "This is +automatically kept pointed at Mars, and by means of a hand and +dial I can tell how to keep the Annihilator aimed directly at the +red planet." + +"Even when it is on the opposite side of the earth from us?" +asked Jack. + +"We are now far above the earth," was the answer, "and the planet +on which we lived offers no obstruction to my telescope being +pointed at Mars, even though it is daytime, when Mars is on the +opposite side of the earth." + +"Have we traveled as far as that?" asked Jack in awestruck tones. + +"We have come just thirty thousand miles since leaving the +earth," replied Mr. Roumann. + +"But we don't seem to be moving at all," objected Mark. + +"That is because we are shooting through space so fast, and +because you can see no stationary objects with which to make a +comparison, as when you are traveling on a railroad train," +continued the German. "And, as we are not dependent on tracks, +or roads, with their unevenness, there is no motion to our +projectile, save that of moving through space. That is why it +seems as if we were standing still." + +"But thirty thousand miles!" cried Jack. "I thought the earth's +atmosphere was variously estimated at from only forty to two +hundred miles in thickness." + +"The oxygen atmosphere may be," agreed Mr. Roumann. "As a matter +of fact, the atmosphere we are now in would not support life for +you and me a single instant. But it is atmosphere, nevertheless, +or my instruments would indicate something different, and my +atmospheric motor would not work. No, I expect to be traveling +through the atmosphere for several days yet. Then we shall reach +the true ether, and the Etherium motor will be put into +operation." + +"Well," said Jack, "this trip isn't going to be very strong on +scenery, anyhow." + +"No," agreed Mr. Roumann. "We shan't be able to observe anything +but this fleeciness until we get to Mars." + +"We can see the stars and moon at night, can't we?" asked Mark. + +"There isn't going to be any night," replied the German with a +smile. "We are now in the region of perpetual day." + +"No night!" repeated Jack blankly. + +"No. Just stop to think for a moment. We have left the earth, +and are many thousands of miles away from it. You know that +which causes night and day on the earth is the rotation of it on +its axis. Half the time the part we are living on is turned away +from the sun, and the other half of the time turned toward the +sun. Now, the sun is fixed in space. We are also in space, and +we are so comparatively small that there will never be any +shadows to cause night. We are like a small point in space, and +the sun is constantly shining on us. We do not revolve, so there +will no night, only day." + +"Are we headed for the sun?" asked Mark + +"No, for Mars. But as we will take good care not to head for any +other planet, so as to get it between us and the sun, we shall +never have any darkness." + +"But it doesn't look like sunshine out there," objected Jack, +pointing out of the window. + +"No, because we are surrounded by a mass of vapor. I think it +will presently pass and we shall see the sun. The difference in +temperature between the projectile and the surrounding atmosphere +causes us to be enveloped in a sort of cloud. When the outer +shell of the Annihilator is the same temperature as the +atmosphere through which we are flying, we shall emerge into +sunlight." + +This happened a little later, and soon they could observe the +great ball of fire hanging in space. + +"It seems to be smaller than when we were on the earth, doesn't it?" +asked Mark. + +"It is seemingly smaller," replied Professor Henderson. "We are +going away from the sun you know. Mars is not as close to it as +we are on our planet--I mean the one we have just left--is +ninety-two millions of miles from the sun, while Mars is one +hundred and forty-one millions of miles away, though its orbit is +so eccentric that distance varies about thirteen millions of +miles. That is, it may be thirteen millions of miles more than +its mean, or average, distance, so that at times it is as far +away from the sun as one hundred and fifty-four millions of +miles." + +"My! That's a good ways," observed Mark. + +"Yes," went on Mr. Henderson, "and, in consequence, the light and +heat received by Mars from the sun is a little less than half of +that which our earth receives." + +"Whew! We'll be mighty cold in winter--if we arrive in winter," +said Jack with a shiver. + +"Unless the Martians have a means of making up for this loss of +light and heat," said Mr. Roumann. "I believe they have." + +"I shall be much interested in seeing how the great canals on the +planet are dug," said Professor Henderson. "I have seen a map of +Mars, made by a scientist named Schiaparelli, and he has drawn a +number of large bodies of water, among which are intermeshed +continents and islands. The surface of Mars must be a curious +one." + +"I believe we shall find it so," spoke Mr. Roumann. "Astronomers +tell us that the water on it is never frozen, except near the +poles. There great ice caps are to be found." + +"But what makes the planet so red?" asked Jack. + +"That," said Mr. Roumann quickly, "is what hope to discover and +use for our benefit, but I not wish to discuss it now." + +They talked of Mars for some time further, discussing the many +queer features, and during this time the Annihilator was shooting +through space at terrific speed. Inside the projectile the +adventurers moved about, living and breathing, comfortably as if +they were on earth, for the great tanks of stored air provided +all the oxygen they needed. Nor did they feel either heat or +cold thanks to the marvelous construction of the projectile. + +"Isn't the year on Mars longer than the year on earth?" asked Jack +as he and Mark stood near the entrance to the pilot house, +interested in watching the various indicators record the speed +they acquired, the distance traveled, and the density the +atmosphere. + +"Yes; it is about twice as long," answered Roumann. "But I shall +tell you more about Planet--" + +"If you'll kindly promulgate yo'se'ves in dis disrection yo' will +find sufficient condiments an' disproportionate elements to +induciate a feelin' ob intense satisfactoriousness," exclaimed +Washington White, poking his head in from the sleeping room +compartment. + +"That means dinner is ready," cried Jack. "That's the stuff! +Our first meal on the trip to Mars!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THROUGH THE ETHER + + +"What's that, Washington?" asked Mark, as the colored cook put +something on the lad's plate. "It looks like chicken." + +"It tastes like chicken," added Jack, after making a test. + +"It am chicken," declared Washington. "I roasted some ob mah +fowls, an' put 'em in de cold storage room. I was purty suah dere +warn't any chickens on dat red planet where we're goin'." + +"Probably not," answered Professor Henderson. "It was a good +idea, Washington. Pass me some, please." + +"Ain't Mr. Roumann comin' to dinnah?" + +"Not now," answered the scientist. "He will stay in the pilot +house until I relieve him." + +"It seems mighty queer to be sitting down to a meal, and all the +while we're shooting along at fifty miles a second," remarked +Jack. + +"Yes; it doesn't seem as if we were moving at all," agreed Mark. + +Indeed, the dining-room of the Annihilator was a very comfortable +place, though the space was rather contracted, due to the shape +of the projectile and the necessity for carrying a great quantity +of stores. The living-room served as the place for serving the +meals, which were prepared in a sort of galley or kitchen off the +engine-room. + +"It's like eating in a dining-car on a railroad train," observed +Andy Sudds, "only it is more steady. No curves, and nothing like +that." + +"Do you like it?" inquired Mr. Henderson. + +"Well, it's nice, of course, and there isn't any better cook than +Washington, but, to tell the honest truth, I've eaten with more +satisfaction when I made a fire in the woods and boiled coffee +and fried bacon. I'm sort of hampered for elbow room." + +"Still, it isn't as crowded as when we all got in the cylinder +and were shot up from the center of the earth on the geyser," +commented Jack. + +"That's right," came from Mark. + +Professor Henderson, having finished his meal, went to the pilot +house to relieve Mr. Roumann. + +The latter paid a visit to the engine-room before sitting down. + +"Is everything all right?" asked Jack. + +"The motor is working like a charm," was the reply. "I shall +soon expect you boys to take your turn at guiding the projectile +through space." + +"I want to wait until we get into the ether," said Jack. "We'll +go faster then. It's something wonderful to steer a machine +going a hundred miles a second." + +"I should say so; six thousand miles a minute," observed Mark. +"The fastest automobile would seem like a snail compared to it." + +"Yes, and we are going faster than some stars," added Mr. +Roumann. + +"But there isn't anything to see," objected Andy. "Now, I like +scenery when I travel." + +"Well, it's something to always be in sight of the sun," put in +Mark. + +"Yes, and when we get to Mars there'll be plenty to look at," +suggested Jack. "We can see the rings around it." + +"Mars hasn't any rings around it," retorted Mark, who had a good +memory for scientific facts. "That's Saturn you're thinking of." + +"Oh, yes, so it is. But hasn't Mars got a lot of moons, or +something like that? Seems to me I've heard about 'em." + +"Mars has two moons, or satellites," stated Mr. Roumann, who had +studied much about the red planet, "but they do not amount to +much, compared to our moon. One is about ten thousand miles from +Mars, and is called Deimos, and the other, which is but sixteen +hundred miles from the planet, is called Phobos by astronomers." + +"And how far away is our moon from the earth?" asked Mark. + +"It varies from about two hundred and fifty-two thousand miles to +two hundred and twenty-one thousand miles." + +"Then I should think the people on Mars would get more light from +their two moons, so much closer to them, than we do from our +moon, so far off," remarked Jack. + +"No, they don't, at least as far as we know. The one closest to +them gives about one-sixtieth of our moonlight, and the outer one +about one twelve-hundredth, so you see that's not much. A +peculiar feature of the inner moon is that it makes a revolution +about Mars in seven hours, or more than three times in a day, and +it rises in the west and sets in the east, while the moon +farthest away from the planet rises just as our moon does, in the +east, but it comes up only once in about five days." + +"Golly!" exclaimed Washington, who had been listening. "Dat suah +am a funny place. Two little moons, one shootin' around you +three times a day, an' de odder one circlin' around once in five +days! Land a' massy! I'll git all turned around up dere!" + +"Yes, you'll have to be careful, Wash," cautioned Jack. "If you +go out for a moonlight walk you may have to come home in the +dark." + +"Den I ain't goin'; an' when I do I'll take a lantern." + +Mr. Roumann told the boys much more of interest about Mars, and +then, taking them to the engine-room, he showed them something +about adjusting the motors and other machinery, though he did not +disclose the secret of the power. + +"Now we'll go to the pilot house, and I'll show you some things +there," he concluded. + +They found Professor Henderson at the wheel. + +"Is everything all right?" asked the German. + +"I think so," answered the scientist. "This airship doesn't +behave exactly as the ones I constructed before, but it seems to +be moving along at good speed." + +"Yes, we have increased our rate of progress," stated Mr. +Roumann. "We are now going nearly fifty-five miles a second. At +that rate we shall be beyond the atmosphere sooner than I +expected." + +The remainder of that day they kept on shooting forward toward +Mars, nothing occurring to mark the passage of time, save the +monotonous ticking of various clocks. There was nothing to be +seen, save the glare of sunlight outside. + +"Aren't we ever going to meet with world, or a wandering star, or +something?" asked Jack rather discontentedly. + +"There's no telling when we may pass near one," said Mr. Roumann. + +"S'posin' we hit one?" asked Washington, his eyes becoming large +with fear. + +"There's not much danger. My instruments will warn me when we +approach any of the heavenly bodies, and we can steer clear of +them. The only things we have to fear will be comets, and their +orbits are so irregular that there is no telling when we may get +in the path of one." + +"What will happen when we do?" asked Mark. + +Mr. Roumann shrugged his shoulders. + +"We'll do our best to get out of the way," he said. + +"And if we can't?" + +"Well--I guess that will be the end of us." + +This was a new danger, and one the boys had not thought of +before. But the German scientist did not seem to attach much +importance to the matter. + +They traveled on for two days, nothing of moment occurring. The +Annihilator, true to its name, fairly ate up space, though they +were still far from Mars. + +It was on the morning of the third day. The two boys and +Professor Henderson were in the pilot house, and Mr. Roumann was +in the engine-room, adjusting the Etherium motor, for he expected +to shortly put it in operation. Suddenly Jack, who was looking +at one of the instruments on the front wall, uttered a cry. + +"What's the matter?" asked Mark. + +"We're approaching something!" was the answer. "Some sort of +heavenly body. Look at that indicator!" + +The hand or pointer on a peculiar dial was moving violently to +and fro. + +"Call Mr. Roumann," suggested the professor. "I don't know just +what to do." + +Mr. Roumann hurried into the pilot house, gave a quick glance at +the indicator, and exclaimed: + +"We are nearing a planetoid, or, as some call them, an asteroid!" + +"Is there any danger?" asked Mark. + +"No. Fortunately the instrument gave us timely warning. I shall +simply steer to avoid it. It is a small, unnamed planet flying +around in space. There are many of them." + +"Can we go close enough to it to see it?" asked Jack, who was a +curious lad. + +"I think so. I'll try it, anyhow." + +Mr. Roumann made some adjustments to the levers and wheels +controlling the motor, and, by turning on a little more power on +one side of the projectile, caused it to swerve to one side. A +few minutes later he called out: + +"Look from the window!" + +The boys gazed out. They saw that they were rushing past a dark +mass, that looked as if it was composed of heaped up, black +rocks, piled in fantastic masses, with great chasms here, and +towering peaks there. It seemed to be several miles in diameter, +and looked like a great ball. + +"A small, dead world," remarked Mr. Henderson. "I suppose our +planet will be like that some time." + +"I hope not by the time we get back to it," commented Jack. "I +wonder if we will ever get back to earth again?" + +It was the first time he had expressed any doubt on this score. + +"There's the last of the dead planet!" Mark cried. + +They looked to see the black mass vanish into space. + +"Yes, and we have reached the end of the atmosphere!" suddenly +cried Mr. Roumann as he glanced at a dial. "Now we will begin to +travel through ether." + +He adjusted some levers, turned two wheels, threw over electric +switches, and there came a perceptible jar to the projectile. + +"What was that?" asked Jack. + +"I have disconnected the atmospheric motor," explained the German, +"and the Etherium one is now working. We are shooting along +through ether at the rate of one hundred miles a second." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +A BREAKDOWN + + +After the first trembling, due to the increase of speed, the +sensation of traveling at one hundred miles a second was no +different from that when they had been speeding through the +atmosphere at fifty miles a second. + +"We'll soon be on Mars now," observed Jack. + +"Oh, we'll have to keep going for several days yet," declared Mr. +Roumann. "But I believe we shall eventually reach there. The +Etherium motor is working better than I dared to hope. It is +perfect!" + +As they were constantly in the glare of the sun, there was no +night for those aboard the Annihilator, and they had to select an +arbitrary time for going to bed. When any one wanted to retire, +he went to the bunk-room, which was kept dark, and there +slumbered. + +For two days the Etherium motor kept sending the projectile +through space. The adventurers divided their time in looking +after the machinery, taking scientific observations or reading +the books with which the small library was stocked. Occasionally +Jack or Mark would play the electric piano, getting much +enjoyment from the music. + +"If folks on earth heard these tunes up in the air, I wonder what +they'd think?" asked Jack. + +"Humph! I guess we're too far off for them to hear anything that +goes on inside this projectile," said Mark. "Why, we're nearly +seventeen millions of miles above the earth now." + +"Good land a' massy! Don't say dat!" cried Washington, who was +setting the table for dinner. + +"Why not? It's a fact," declared Mark. + +"I knows it is, but don't keep dwellin' on it. Jest s'posin' we +should fall. Mah gracious! Sebenteen million miles! Why, dat's +a terrible ways to drop--it suah am!" + +"You're right," assented Jack. "But hurry up dinner, Washington. +I'm hungry." + +The two boys were in the midst of the meal when they felt a +curious sensation. Jack jumped up from the table. + +"Do you notice anything queer?" he asked Mark. + +"Yes. It seems as if we were falling down!" + +"Exactly what I thought. I wonder if anything could have +happened?" + + The Annihilator was certainly falling through space, and no +longer shooting forward. This was evident, as the motion was +slower than when the projectile was urged on by the mysterious +force. + +"Let's go tell Mr. Roumann and Professor Henderson," suggested +Mark. + +They started toward the pilot house, but met the two scientists +rushing back toward the engine-room. + +"Has anything happened?" asked Jack. + +"Yes," answered the German. "The Etherium motor has stopped +working!" + +"And are we falling?" asked Mark. + +"Yes, in a sense," answered Mr. Henderson, as the other inventor +hurried on. "The gravitation of the earth no longer attracts us, +but we are not heading in a straight line for Mars. We may be +falling into some other planet, or the sun." + +Then he, too, went to the engine-room, and the boys followed. +They found the place strangely quiet, since the throbbing and +humming of the main motor had ceased. The dynamos that kept the +light aglow and the air and other pumps were in motion, however. + +"What's the matter?" asked Mr. Henderson. + +"There's been a breakdown," was the reply of the German. "And it +looks to me as if some one had been tampering with the motor." + +"Tampering with the motor?" + +"Yes. Some of the plates have been smashed. I believe there is +some one concealed on board--some enemy of mine--who hopes to +destroy us." + +"What can we do?" asked Jack. + +"Nothing, until the motor is repaired," replied the German +scientist. + +"But we are falling--" + +"Yes, I know. But we can't fall with anything like the speed +with which we were traveling, and though we may go downward, +comparatively speaking, for a day or so, we can quickly regain +our former place as soon as the motor is running again." + +"But can you fix it?" + +"Yes, I have some spare plates. But I wish you boys would make a +search through the projectile." + +"What for?" asked Mark. + +"For the person who smashed the plates. I believe some one is +concealed here who seeks to kill, us. We must find him." + +"And I think I know who it is!" exclaimed Jack. + +"Who?" asked Mr. Henderson. + +"The crazy machinist. I believe he sneaked here through that +open port leading into the storeroom." + +"That's it!" cried Mr. Roumann. "He must have done this. See if +you can't find him." + +"Come on, Mark," said Jack. "We'll look for the rascal." + +"And I'll help," added old Andy. "I'm pretty good on the trail. +Maybe I can locate him." + +"Do so, then," advised the German. "The professor and I will +repair the motor." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +A VAIN SEARCH + + +The boys, with the old hunter, immediately began a search. +Washington was needed to aid the two scientific men, who quickly +prepared to substitute new plates for the smashed ones. The +broken plates looked as if they had been struck with a sledge +hammer. + +Once the adventurers got used to the different motion of the +projectile, which was now falling in some unknown direction of +its own weight and not forced onward by the power of the motor, +they did not notice anything strange. + +"Let's begin at the pilot house and work back," proposed Andy. +"If that crazy machinist did the damage, it would be natural for +him to want to get as far away as he could from the engine-room. +That place would be the pilot house." + +So they searched there, but there was no sign of any one. +Indeed, it would have been a pretty small person who could have +concealed himself in the prow of the projectile, occupied as it +was with all sorts of mechanism. + +"Well, he isn't here, that's certain," declared Andy, who had +brought his gun along. "Now for the bunk-room." + +There they had no better luck. They peered under the berths, +above them, and even turned back the sheets and blankets to look +for the intruder. He was not to be found. + +Nor was he in the living-room, which was looked over from top to +bottom, and every corner examined. + +"If he's any place, it must be in the storeroom," declared Jack. + +"Unless he's outside the projectile," suggested Mark. + +"He couldn't live for a minute in a place without atmosphere," +was Jack's opinion. "No, he's in here somewhere, and we must +find him." + +But it was more easily said than done. The storeroom contained +many things, piled together, and it would have been easy for a +person to conceal himself among them. The boys and the old +hunter looked in every possible place, as they supposed, even +taking down many boxes and barrels to peer behind them, but they +did not find the man they sought. + +"I don't believe he's here," said Jack as he paused in the hunt. + +"Say, do you know, I have an idea," said Mark. "Maybe that motor +broke itself." + +"How could it do that?" + +"Well, it might have got to going too fast, and the power may +have broken the plates. Anyhow, we didn't hear any person in the +engine-room, and there doesn't seem to be any one here." + +"That's so." + +"I'll make an affidavit that there ain't a person on this airship +but ourselves," declared Andy. + +"Let's ask Mr. Roumann if it's possible that the motor smashed +itself," proposed Jack, and, having no further place to search, +they went back to where the two scientists and Washington were +busily engaged. + +"Yes," replied Mr. Roumann, after Jack had stated his question. +"It's possible for that to have happened, but not very probable. +I think some person is hiding on board here, and that he did it." + +"But we can't find any one." + +"That may be. He is well concealed. Well you can't do anything +more. Suppose you two boys turn in and help us?" + +Jack and Mark were glad to get busy, and for several hours they +labored in the engine-room, where the two scientists were +toiling. As this rendered it unnecessary for Washington to be +there, the colored man went to his kitchen, while Andy again made +a vain search of the projectile, looking for the crazy man. + +Though Mr. Roumann had provided duplicates of the power plates +for the Etherium motor, it was quite a task to take out the +broken pieces and insert the new ones. + +"Can't you run the atmospheric motor while we're fixing this +one?" asked Jack. "That would prevent us falling, I should +think." + +"No, for the reason that there is no atmosphere for it to work +on," declared Mr. Roumann. "But don't worry. We shall soon be +under way again. We will be somewhat delayed in reaching Mars, +that is all." + +They labored hard all the rest of that day and part of what +corresponded to the night, though of course the daylight outside +never ceased. Little of it could penetrate the projectile, +however, for the big car was all sealed up, save for the +observation window in the pilot house and one on the side. + +"There," announced Mr. Roumann, after inserting the last new +plate. "I think we are all right." + +It had been nearly eighteen hours since the motor had so suddenly +stopped. + +"Will you start it now?" asked Jack. + +"Yes. I wish you and Mark would go to the pilot house and turn +on the power. Do it very slowly. Mr. Henderson and I will stay +here and see how the motor behaves." + +It was an anxious moment when the power was turned on the +repaired machinery, but, to the delight of all, the motor again +began to give out the mysterious force. The projectile ceased to +fall, and once more was hurled onward. + +"That's the stuff!" cried Jack, as he noted the needle of the +indicator moving around, showing that they were again headed for +Mars. + +Once more they were shooting through the ether. The wonderful +motor worked even better with the new plates, and Mr. Roumann +said they had increased their speed about twenty-five percent. + +"So we will soon make up for what we lost," he added. + +They were all tired that night, for the work of making the +repairs had not been easy, and Andy had gone over the whole +projectile many times, looking for the hidden insane man. + +"I don't believe he can be here," was Mr. Henderson's opinion. + +"He certainly is," declared Mr. Roumann, "and we shall have more +trouble from him." + +"I hope not," ventured Professor Henderson. + +It was on the second day after the accident, when the Annihilator +was speeding along, that Jack and Mark, who were in the pilot +house with Mr. Roumann, noticed a peculiar trembling of one of +the needles on a dial designed to indicate the nearness of +heavenly bodies. + +"We're coming close to something," said Jack. + +"We certainly are," admitted the scientist, with an anxious look +at the instrument. + +"Maybe it's Mars," suggested Mark. + +"No, it can't be that planet." + +"What is it?" inquired Jack. "Look, the needle went all the way +around that time." + +Mr. Roumann bent over the gauge. Then he consulted some charts of +the sky, and made a few calculations. + +"Boys, I am afraid we're approaching a large comet," he said +gravely. "And, what is worse, it is attracting us toward itself. +We are in great danger!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +ESCAPING A COMET + + +The two boys looked at the German scientist. He was gazing, as if +fascinated, at the swiftly moving needle of the gage that had +told of the nearness of the comet. + +"How far from it are we?" asked Jack. + +"Many thousands of miles," replied Mr. Roumann. "But that +distance is nothing compared to the rate at which we are +traveling. We are almost certain to crash into it, or the comet +will collide with us." + +"And when it does, what will happen?" inquired Mark quietly. + +"That is hard to say," was the answer of the German. "We know +very little about the composition of comets. They may be +composed merely of flaming gasses, or they may be a train of +burning meteors, held together by attraction. The head may be +some vast, blazing world, as large as our planet. In fact, +comets are very baffling to astronomers." + +"Well, if a comet is nothing but gas, it won't hurt if we run +into it, will it?" inquired Jack. + +"That's just the trouble. We don't know that it is gas," said +Mr. Roumann. "It may be solid, and then to rush into it at +terrific speed would mean that we would be demolished. Also, if +the gas is flaming, you can easily imagine what would happen to +the Annihilator. There would be nothing left of it--or us--in +less than an instant." + +"But isn't there some way of escaping it?" asked Mark. + +"I'm going to try," responded Mr. Roumann. "Jack, ask Professor +Henderson to step here. I wish to consult him." + +Jack delivered the message, and it was overheard by Washington +White. Something in Jack's manner told the colored man that +there was trouble aboard. + +"What's de mattah?" he asked. + +Jack saw no reason for concealing the danger from the cook. + +"We're heading into a comet," he, said. + +"What? One ob dem tings wid long, fiery tails, Massa Jack?" + +The youth nodded. + +"Am we gwine t' hit it?" + +"I'm afraid so." + +"Well, I hopes we does!" exclaimed Washington with great +earnestness. "I hopes we knocks it clean outen de universe, +dat's what I hopes." + +"We're a great deal more likely to be knocked out ourselves, +Wash." + +"No, sah! Don't yo' believe anyt'ing like dat!" exclaimed the +colored man. "I know dis airship. I helped build it, an' it's +de strongest one de perfesser eber made. A comet won't be one, +two, six wid it. We'll jest knock a piece of his tail off, at's +what we'll do. I don't laik comets. Dey allers brings bad luck. +Onct, when I was a young feller, I had a ten-dollar gold piece. +Dat same year a comet was observed, an' de fust t'ing I knowed +somebody done up an' stole mah ten-dollar gold piece. Comets +brings bad luck, an' I knows it; Golly! I want t' see one ob 'em +busted all t' pieces." + +"I guess you don't appreciate the danger," said Jack gravely, as +he followed Professor Henderson back to the pilot room, where the +two scientists began to consult. + +"We have decided on a plan, Mr. Henderson and myself," said Mr. +Roumann. "The fact that so little is certainly known concerning +comets makes it difficult to know what to do. We might keep on +our course and come to no harm, merely pawing through a gaseous +mass which makes up the comet's tail. But there is a danger that +we might strike the solid head of it, for that the head is solid, +and of a glowing, fiery mass, which gives off a train of sparks, +is my belief. To collide with a fiery ball, larger than the sun, +would indeed be terrible. So we have decided to try to pass +through the less dense part the tail of the comet." + +"Can't we steer to one side, or above or below the comet?" asked +Jack. + +"Impossible," replied Mr. Roumann. "We have made some calculations, +and have ascertained that this is Donati's comet--the one of 1858--and +the head of it is two hundred and fifty thousand miles in diameter. +The tail is many millions of miles long, and as many thick. To pass +entirely beyond it would consume much time. In fact, we could not move +quickly enough to escape it, as we are now being attracted out of our +course toward the comet." + +"How far off is it now?" asked Mark. + +"About seven hundred and twenty thousand miles." + +"Then we'll be up to it in about two hours," went on Mark, making +a rapid calculation. + +"I only hope we don't get into it, as well as up to it," +commented Jack. + +"We all do," observed Mr. Henderson. "But now, boys, we are +going to do our best to escape. Mr. Roumann will remain in the +pilot house to steer the projectile, while you and I will attend +to the Etherium, motor." + +"Try and see if you can get any more speed out of it," advised +the German. "Use the accelerator plates, as I instructed you. +Perhaps we can pass so quickly through the gaseous tail, or a +portion of it, that we shall not be harmed." + +"Even if it blazes?" asked Jack. + +"Even if it blazes. The gas between the two shells of our +projectile will absorb an enormous quantity of heat. It is our +only hope." + +Their hearts filled with apprehension, the two boys accompanied +Professor Henderson back to the engine-room. There the scientist +changed the plates on the motor, and made some adjustments, as +suggested by Mr. Roumann, so that more speed would develop. +Anxiously they watched the gages, to see if the motor did work +any faster. + +"It's increasing!" cried Jack, as he watched the needle swing, +until it indicated a rate of one hundred and thirty miles a +second. "We are going faster than we ever went before." + +"And we need to," observed Mr. Henderson. "A comet is a terrible +mass to escape from." + +In spite of the increased speed of the projectile, it could not +be noticed by those within it. For all they could tell they were +stationary, but they were really flying through the ether at +enormous velocity. For over an hour the motor was worked at the +increased rate. Then, leaving the boys in charge for a few +minutes, Mr. Henderson went to the pilot house to ask Mr. Roumann +if there was any chance of escape. He met the German coming +toward the engine-room. + +"Well?" inquired the professor. + +"No, not well--bad," was the gloomy answer. + +"Why so?" + +"I can't force the Annihilator to one side or the other. I have +tried, time and again, to steer it away from the comet's head and +into the less dense part of the tail, but, so far, without +success. The rudder arrangement appears to be affected by the +comet and will not work." + +"What can we do?" + +"Nothing, unless, perhaps, we can get a little more speed out of +the motor. The rudder might work then." + +They tried, but without success. Not a bit more speed could the +Etherium machine be induced to give out. Indeed, Mr. Roumann +admitted that it was working faster than he had ever expected it +would. + +"I'll go back and make one more attempt to steer out of the way," +he said. + +He was gone for perhaps ten minutes. In that time Mr. Henderson, +aided by Jack and Mark, tried to adjust the motor differently, +but unavailingly. Mr. Roumann came hurrying back from the pilot +house. + +"It's of no use!" he exclaimed. "We are heading right toward the +point of the comet. We must prepare for the worst!" + +There was silence for a moment. It was an awful fate to meet, +and they realized it. Then Washington White, looking into the +engine-room from his kitchen, exclaimed: + +"Now, don't yo' all go t' worryin' 'bout dat ole comet. It can't +hurt us, an' we'll knock it into smithereens!" + +"You talk that way because you know nothing of comets," said Mr. +Roumann solemnly. + +"I don't know nuffin' 'bout 'em?" demanded the colored man. "I +knows too much ob 'em, dat's what I does. Didn't I lose mah ten +dollars?" + +He stopped suddenly. From without there came a terrible roaring +sound, that grew louder and louder. + +"The comet!" cried Mr. Roumann. "We are almost upon it. That +roaring is caused by the flaming gases!" + +There was nothing that could be done. There was no place to go--no +place to run to--no place in which to hide. They could only +stand there and wait for total annihilation, which they expected +every moment. + +The roaring grew louder. It was like the howling of a mighty +mind. The projectile seemed to tremble. + +Then there came a brilliant light, rivaling even that of the sun, +in the rays of which they constantly were. The light streamed in +through the plate-glass ports in the engine-room. It showed +violet rays, purple, orange, green, yellow--all the colors of the +rainbow. + +"We'll be consumed in a moment!" murmured Mr. Roumann. "We are +in the midst of the comet!" + +Several seconds passed. There was no increase in temperature. +After all, would the wonderful gas in the space between the two +shells of the projectile absorb the terrific heat? + +The light faded away. Only the glow of the sun remained. The +Annihilator shot onward. + +Mr. Roumann rushed to the pilot house. He uttered a cry. + +"We have escaped the comet!" he called to the boys and Professor +Henderson, who followed him. "We went right through a small +section of the tail. And I was mistaken in thinking it was +composed of flaming gases. It is only nebulous light. There is +no harm in a comet, after all!" + +"Dat's what I said all along," remarked Washington White, as he +went back to his kitchen. "All a comet is good fer is t' bring +bad luck. Look at mah ten dollars. I wish we'd batted dis one +inter pieces!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE MOTOR STOPS + + +They were hardly able to realize their escape. That is, all but +Washington. He took it as a matter of course. + +"How did it come about?" asked Jack. + +"It's hard to say," replied Mr. Roumann. "I couldn't steer away +from the comet, but it's probably just as well that I could not. +It seems that the mass of queer light attracted us to it, but to +a certain section where we came to no harm. And we must have +gone through it at an angle, or we would have been much longer +within its influence." + +"Can we see the comet?" asked Mark. + +"There it is," replied the German. "Only it doesn't look as a +comet does when you view it from the earth. We are too close to +it." + +They looked from the side window of the projectile. Far off +appeared to be a great mass of clouds, except that instead of +being white, the mass was colored with many hues, It was so vast +in extent that they could see neither the beginning nor the +ending of it. + +"Our first comet," remarked Jack. + +"And I hope our last," added Mark. + +"Yes, indeed," interjected Mr. Roumann. "Now I think we will +slow down the motor somewhat. We must save some of the energy +for our return trip, though I have a large surplus. Still, we +cannot be too careful." + +"Are we once more headed for Mars?" asked Mark. + +"Yes, we are pointing directly toward it. Perhaps you boys will +go and slow down the motor, while Professor Henderson and I make +some scientific notes concerning the comet. It will be great +information to the astronomers on earth. Many of their theories +will be changed, I fancy." + +Jack and Mark started for the engine-room. + +They passed through the living or dining-room, where Washington +was setting the table for dinner. + +"What I done tole yo'?" he demanded triumphantly. "I wasn't +skeered ob no ole comet." + +"That's right, Wash," admitted Mark. "You had one on us that +time." + +Andy Sudds was in one corner of the room, oiling his gun. + +"Getting ready to go hunting?" asked Jack. + +"Well, I heard Mr. Roumann say we'd be on Mars in a few days," +replied the old man, "and if there's any game there I want to get +a shot at it." + +"That's right," said Jack. "I guess I'll take--" + +He got no further. From the engine-room there sounded a +tremendous racket, as if some one was pounding on the machinery +with a big hammer. + +"What's that?" cried Mark. + +"Something's happened to the motor!" exclaimed Jack. "Maybe it's +going too fast! Come on!" + +They ran to the engine-room. The sight that met their eyes was a +startling one. + +Standing with his back to them was a strange man. Over his head +he was swinging a sledge hammer, which he brought down with great +force upon the Etherium motor. + +"I'll smash it! I'll stop this machine! I'll send us all to the +bottom of the universe!" the man was muttering. + +"Quit that!" cried Jack, springing forward. + +The man paused and turned. + +"The crazy machinist!" shouted Jack. "Hell break the engine all +to pieces!" + +"That's what I will!" replied the infuriated man. "I'll end this +voyage now!" + +Once more he brought his hammer down on the machine, and the +motor, with a hissing of gas and a shower of sparks, stopped +working. + +Jack and Mark were brave lads. They sprang upon the man, though +he was large and strong, and his strength was added to by his +insane fury. + +In an instant they were in the midst of a fierce fight. The +maniac tossed them aside as if they were mere infants, but they +returned to the attack. They sought to hold his arms to prevent +him from doing any further damage with the hammer. Fortunately +for the lads, the man was forced to drop the weapon, to enable +him to grapple with his two assailants. + +"Can you hold him?" cried Mark. + +"Not very well," panted Jack, as his grip of the man's arms was +broken and he was flung across the room. + +"Help! Help!" suddenly cried Mark. "The crazy machinist is +here!" + +Washington and Andy, in the living-room, heard the yells of the +boys. They rushed to the scene, and, taking in the situation at +a glance, flung themselves upon the unfortunate man, aiding the +boys in holding him. + +Even their strength was not sufficient, and it was not until Mr. +Roumann, leaving Professor Henderson in charge of the pilot +house, had come up, that they were able to secure the maniac. + +He was quickly bound with ropes, and placed in the storeroom as a +prisoner, while the German turned his whole attention to the +motor, a part of which had been broken. Once more the Annihilator +had ceased to advance, and was falling through space. + +"Can you fix it?" anxiously asked Jack, who was panting from the +terrible struggle. + +"Yes," replied Mr. Roumann. "Fortunately he did not smash a +vital part. I will soon have it running again." + +In less than half an hour the motor was repaired, and was +speeding the projectile on its way. It was not set at the +greatest power, however, as Mr. Roumann did not want to put too +much strain upon it. + +"Now I have time to inquire how it happened," he said to the +boys. "Tell me about it." + +They related how they had come upon the crazy machinist. + +"Then he has been hidden on board all the while," commented the +German. "I was not mistaken in thinking some one opened that +port after I closed it. He sneaked in here the night before we +started, and has been waiting his chance to do us some damage. +It was he who smashed the plates." + +"But where could he have concealed himself?" asked Jack. + +"I don't know. We'll see if he will tell us." + +They went to the storeroom, where the maniac was bound. + +"Why did you try to damage my machinery?" asked Mr. Roumann. + +"Because it is an infringement on my patent," was the surprising +answer. "I invented a perpetual motion machine, for making dog +biscuits, and you have used it to make your airship go. +Therefore I smashed it. I have the sole right to make dog +biscuits for the king of the cannibal islands. I'm his private +secretary." + +"He is hopelessly insane," murmured Jack. + +"I fear so," agreed Mr. Roumann. Then he asked: "Where have you +been hiding?" + +"Ah, I fooled you, all right," said the man with a cunning laugh. +"It was just like a game of hide and seek to watch you hunting +for me, and me looking at you all the while. Ha, ha! Oh, I had +a good place." + +"Where was it?" asked Mr. Roumann soothingly. + +"Right up there," answered the machinist, pointing to the roof of +the storeroom. The German made an investigation, and discovered +a small compartment where it had been intended to make a port, +but the idea for which had not been carried out. This left a +space in the wall of the projectile, large enough for a man to +conceal himself in. No one would suspect he was there. + +"I sneaked on board one night," went on the man. "I managed to +open a port into the storeroom. And I lived high, I can tell +you." + +"Golly! He's been at mah kitchen stuff!" exclaimed Washington. + +"Did that other man come aboard with you?" asked Jack. He +referred to the tramp who had peered in the window of the +professor's house. + +"No. He's been elected King of France," was the answer. "He had +to go over there to get his crown fitted on. I'm all alone here. +A few minutes more and I would have smashed that engine." + +"I guess you would," responded Mr. Roumann. "Well, we'll take +good care that you do not get loose again." + +The bonds of the maniac were made more secure, and Washington +White was told to keep, close watch over him. + +It was the day after this occurrence, though Jack and Mark had +not gotten over talking about it, that they were in the pilot +house with Professor Henderson. The projectile was speeding +along rapidly, and from calculations that had been made it was +believed they would arrive at Mars in about two days. + +"I'll be glad of it," said Jack. "I want a chance to stretch my +legs." + +"And grow lighter," added Mark. "You're fatter than ever since +you began this trip." + +"That's because I don't have any exercise. But I'll make up for +it. I understand that on Mars one can jump twice as far as he +can on the earth, due to the less dense atmosphere." + +"Well, we'll soon see," said Mark. + +Mr. Henderson suddenly bent over one of the indicators. He +pressed a lever, turned a wheel, and then exclaimed: + +"The Etherium motor has stopped working 'again! I wonder if the +maniac is loose!" + +"We'll see!" cried Jack, as he and Mark hurried toward the +engine-room. They found Mr. Roumann there. + +"The motor has stopped!" exclaimed Jack. + +"I know it." + +"Has there been an accident?" + +"No." + +"What's the matter, then?" + +"We have completed our journey through the ether. The motor will +only work in that." + +"And that means--" began Mark. + +"That we have reached the atmosphere of Mars!" exclaimed Mr. +Roumann in triumph. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +MARS AT LAST + + +Anticipating, as they had for some time past, such an +announcement, it was none the less startling to the boys. + +"Then we are really nearing Mars?" exclaimed Jack. + +"Not only nearing it, but we will be there within twenty-four +hours," answered the German scientist. "I was looking for this. +I expected the Etherium motor to stop as soon as it reached the +atmosphere of the planet, and it has done so. We will not have +to start it again until we make the return trip. I will now +again put into operation the atmospheric motor, and we will see +how it behaves. Kindly inform Mr. Henderson, so he will +understand what is taking place." + +Mark hastened to the pilot house with this message, and then +returned to watch Mr. Roumann, the professor agreeing to remain +at the steering wheel until relieved by his friend. + +Mr. Roumann began adjusting the second motor. It had been kept +in readiness for instant service, and did not require much +attention. + +"I don't see why we have to use it at all," said Jack. + +"Why shouldn't we?" Mark wanted to know. + +"Because if we are near Mars it ought to attract us, just as if +we were near the earth. We ought to fall right into it." + +"That is just the danger," commented Mr. Roumann. "We don't want +to fall. We want our projectile under perfect control, and I can +only attain that end by using the motor. Besides, we are not +near enough to Mars to be attracted by its force of gravitation, +even supposing it is the same as that of our earth. We might not +be attracted at all, and if we did not use the motor we might +float around the planet as if we were a moon. No, if we wish to +reach Mars we must use the atmospheric motor." + +A few minutes later it was started, and the Annihilator was once +more speeding along, this time under new power, and not quite so +fast. All on board the projectile found themselves anticipating +what they would see on the new and wonderful planet they were +soon to visit. + +"It hardly seems possible," murmured Jack, "that we have made +such a journey--the longest on record." + +"It will be more wonderful if we get back to earth," spoke Mark. + +"Oh, I don't know," went on his chum. "We may like it so on +Mars, that we'll want to stay. And there isn't any reason why we +shouldn't, provided we find nice people there. We haven't many +friends, Mark. Our best ones are right here with us. We could +just as well stay as not." + +"Yes, provided, as you say, that the Martians are nice people. +But you must remember that we're going to be strangers in a +strange land." + +"Well, one always treats strangers politely," declared Jack. "I +guess we'll get along all right. Anyhow, I'm glad we're near +there." + +"So am I," declared Mr. Henderson. "I will be able to make some +scientific observations, and, perhaps, write a book about them +when I get back to earth. I might make some money out of it." + +"You won't need to make money, if what I suspect is true," said +Mr. Roumann. + +"What is that?" + +"Well, I can't go into details now, but I hope to secure +something that will make our fortunes. There is only one thing I +fear." + +"What is that?" + +"The Martians may prevent me taking any of it away. But I am not +going to borrow trouble. Let us see how the motor is working." + +They had all gone, with the exception of Andy and Washington, to +the pilot house, and they now returned to the engine-room. + +"Ha! That is rather strange!" exclaimed Mr. Roumann as he looked +at the buzzing machinery. + +"What's the matter?" asked Mark. + +"The atmospheric motor is running much faster than I ever saw it +go before. I wonder if that crazy machinist could have gotten +loose and meddled with it?" + +"I'll look," volunteered Jack, but he soon ascertained that the +man was still securely bound. + +The motor was humming and snapping away, and a gage connected +with it showed that it was forcing the Annihilator along at the +rate of two hundred miles a second. + +"That is faster even than we moved when the Etherium machine was +working at its best," said Mr. Roumann with a puzzled look. "Can +I have made a mistake in my calculations? I hardly think so." + +"Jack, run to the pilot house, and see if the automatic steering +apparatus is all right. Also see what the speed gage there +indicates." Jack hurried off, and soon returned. + +"We're heading right for Mars, as indicated on the chart," he +said, for there was an arrangement whereby the projectile could +be automatically steered. + +"What speed does the gage there show?" asked the German +scientist. + +"Two hundred miles a second." + +"The same as here," murmured Mr. Roumann. "I wonder what can +cause it?" + +He leaned over the motor, and made some calculations. Then he +exclaimed: + +"I have it!" + +"What is the reason?" inquired the professor. + +"It is because we are speeding through an atmosphere much less +dense than that of our earth. There the motor would only work at +a certain speed. Here, in the atmosphere of Mars, it goes more +than twice as fast, because there is less resistance." + +"Is that good or bad?" asked Jack. + +"Good. We shall reach the planet all the sooner now. Boys, get +ready to land on Mars in a few hours!" + +The news was startling in itself, but so many strange things had +happened on the trip that this only produced a momentary +impression. + +"Yo' say dat we am shortly goin' t' promulgate eurseves inter +conjunctionary juxtaposition wid de exterior circumference an' +surface ob de planetary sphere commonly called Mars?" asked +Washington White. + +"If you mean whether or not we are near Mars, why, we are," +answered Jack with a laugh. "But, Wash, if you use such language +as that I don't know what the Martians will think of you." + +"I knows," answered the colored man with great dignity. "Dey'll +take me fo' jest what I am--a mostest profundity educationalized +specimen ob de human fambly. But I'se glad we's so neah Mars." + +"Why? Are you tired of being cooped up here?" asked Mark. + +"Not prexactly, but mah Shanghai rooster am. He's dat lonesome +dat's he's homesick for t' git out an' do a bit ob scratchin' on +de ground." + +"Look out that he doesn't fly away when he gets on Mars," +cautioned Jack. "Things there are twice as light as they are on +the earth, and he'll only weigh a pound or so, instead of two or +three." + +Washington grunted, but said nothing. He served a meal, probably +the last one that would be eaten before their arrival. + +"We have been just twelve days, so far, on our journey," declared +Mr. Roumann. "That is a little longer than I calculated, but it +was due to unexpected troubles." + +"Well, we've been very comfortable here," commented Mr. +Henderson. + +And indeed they had. Except for the rather cramped quarters, and +the absence of scenery, they had lived as well as they could have +done at home. They had plenty to eat and drink during their +marvelous trip through space, they had enjoyed the reading of +books, had listened to fine music, and had been traveling in +perpetual sunlight. + +What was before them? Every one asked himself that question. + +On and on the projectile sped. Mr. Roumann, who had taken charge +of the steering wheel called the attention of the boys to a +small, dark object off to the right. + +"What is it?" asked Jack. "It looks like a bright ball of fire." + +"One of the moons of Mars," was the answer. "That is Deimos, and +we are now but ten thousand miles from the planet, for that is +the moon distance from Mars." + +"How small it is!" commented Mark. + +"Yes, it isn't much like our moon, but I suppose it answers for +the Martians." + +"But if we're only ten thousand miles away from Mars, and are +traveling at two hundred miles a second, we'll be there in less +than a minute!" cried Jack. + +"We would, only I have shut down the motor. We are now +approaching only from the force of the attraction of gravitation, +and that, I find, is much less than on our earth. At the proper +time I will reverse the motor, to make our landing easy." + +The indicators showed that the Annihilator was now traveling +along at about the rate of a fast automobile. + +"We're almost there!" cried Mark. + +Mr. Roumann adjusted the machinery. Sometimes he speeded it up, +and again he slowed it down. He found he had the projectile +under perfect control. Once again he set the motor in motion, +approaching Mars at a fast rate. + +They shot past another shining body. + +"The second moon!" he called to the boys. "We are but sixteen +hundred miles away now." + +"Get ready to land!" cried Jack. "All ashore that's going +ashore!" + +"Maybe we'll land in the water," spoke Mark. + +"No, I can so regulate the projectile that such a thing won't +happen," declared Mr. Roumann. + +"I will send it ahead for a few seconds, and then see what +happens." + +They sped forward. Suddenly there loomed up before them a great +mass. It seemed to be rushing to meet them. It looked something +like the earth, as seen from a balloon at a great height. + +"Mars!" cried Mr. Roumann. "There is the planet we aimed for! +Mars at last!" + +He reversed the motor. The motion of the projectile became less. +Nearer and nearer it approached the wonderful planet on which all +their thoughts were centered. + +"But it isn't red!" objected Jack. + +"Wait until night," said the German. "We are approaching it from +the daylight side." + +"Am we goin' t' ram it hard?" asked Washington. + +"I trust not," was Mr. Roumann's reply. + +He reversed the atmospheric motor still more. They were so near +the planet now that they could distinguish land and water, great +buildings, patches of woodland and open spaces. + +"There are people there! I see people!" cried Jack. + +Indeed, there did seem to be a mass of beings looking up at the +approaching projectile. + +Very gently the Annihilator came nearer and nearer. There was no +doubt now but that Mars was inhabited--but by what a strange +race! Before those in the projectile had time to wonder at the +inhabitants, they felt a sudden jar. The Annihilator came to +rest. It had landed in a soft bed of sand. + +"Welcome to Mars!" cried Mr. Roumann, opening a door in the side +of the craft and stepping out, followed by his companions. They +were at once surrounded by a throng of the queerest people that +they had ever imagined. + +A great shout arose, and as the adventurers stood in a group near +their craft, they suddenly found themselves being moved forward +toward the crowd by some strange, mysterious force. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +QUEER PEOPLE + + +"Hear! Hold on! Quit shovin' me!" cried Washington White. +"Stop, Massa Jack!" + +"I'm not pushing you," replied the boy, who, with the others, was +being moved forward against his will. "I can't seem to stop!" + +Nor could the rest of them. It was just as if some one had +commanded them to walk forward toward the crowd that stood +waiting for them, and they could no more avoid obeying than they +could had they been pulled by wire cables. + +"What can it be?" murmured Mr. Roumann. "Hold back, all of you. +They must have attached invisible wires to us, and are going to +make prisoners of us!" + +"There are no wires on me," observed Mark, carefully feeling +about him. + +"Nor me, either," added Jack. + +"I'll soon make 'em stop!" exclaimed Andy Sudds, and raising his +gun to his shoulder, he fired over the heads of the Martians, +intending to frighten them. + +To the surprise of the adventurers the gun only made a faint +sound, about half as loud as it usually did, and they saw +something small and black pop out of the muzzle, and sail lazily +through the air for a short distance, then fall. + +"Would you look at that!" exclaimed the hunter in great disgust. +"Look how my bullet flew! First time I ever saw a bullet come +from a gun! We're in a strange land, friends!" + +"I have it!" cried Professor Henderson. "The attraction of +gravitation on Mars is a third of that on the earth. The +atmosphere is also less dense. Your gun only makes half the +noise, Andy, and the bullet doesn't go nearly as fast, nor with +nearly so much force. That's why you could see the bullet. It +went very slowly. Your gun is of no use here." + +"And is that what makes us move?" asked Jack. "Because we're so +light?" + +For they continued to advance toward the crowd, which seemed to +be anxiously awaiting them. + +"That's partly the reason, I guess," replied the professor. "The +other part is that they are exerting some strange force upon us. +We'll find out later what it is." + +"I wish dey'd let me be!" exclaimed Washington, vainly struggling +to hold himself back. + +"What queer people!" exclaimed Jack. "Look at what large heads +they have!" + +"And what small bodies!" added Mark. + +It was indeed so. They found Mars, at least the portion where +they had landed, to be inhabited with a strange race of beings. + +There were men and boys and a few women in the crowd, but they +were unlike any men, boys or women they had ever seen. Their +heads were about three times as large as those of the ordinary +person, and the eyes, ears and nose were of extraordinary size. +Indeed, the eyes bulged out in quite an unpleasant fashion, and +the ears of the Martians were not unlike those of an elephant in +proportion, though they were shaped more like those of a human +being. As for a Martian nose, it was elongated, and capable of +being moved in any direction, as were also the ears. + +As the adventurers felt themselves being urged forward, by what +means they knew not, they noted that the Martians were staring at +them with their great, protruding eyes, that they were listening +to their talk with their great ears thrust forward, and were +lifting their flexible noses toward the travelers as if to get +wind of them, as wild beasts do. + + "They're certainly sizing us up in great shape," observed Jack. +"But whatever kind of clothes have they got on?" + +Well might he ask, for the Martians seemed to be covered with a +combination of fur and feathers. They wore no garments that +could be put on or taken off, but seemed to be provided by either +Nature or skill with suits that were a part of themselves. Men, +women and children were all attired alike. + +Suddenly the travelers felt themselves come to a stop. A murmur +arose from the crowd, and from the midst of the assemblage there +stepped forth a man, who seemed to be a sort of leader. On his +head was a golden band, and attached to it was a small, +glittering triangle. He approached quite close to the little +party, and the boys noticed that he seemed to float along, rather +than to walk, and that his progress was very swift. He looked +searchingly at the strangers with his big eyes, and then +addressed them in a queer language. By the tones of his voice it +was easily guessed that he was asking them questions, and it did +not take much of an imagination to guess that he was inquiring +whence they came, how they had arrived, and what they wanted. + +"I can't understand his language," remarked Mr. Henderson, +turning to his friends. "Can any of you?" + +They all shook their heads. + +"Let me try him in German," suggested Mr. Roumann, and he gave a +brief explanation, in that language, of their trip from the +earth. The man with the glittering triangle on his head did not +comprehend. + +"I can speak several languages," remarked Amos Henderson. "Let +me tackle him." + +Accordingly, the professor spoke in several languages, including +the Esquimau, which he had picked up on his journey north, and in +the language used by the inhabitants in the center of the earth. +But to all these the leader only shook his head. + +"Suppose we try Latin?" suggested Mark, who was a proficient +pupil in that language. "Latin is a very old language. Maybe he +understands that." + +"Go ahead," said Jack. + +Mark accordingly began to recite part of the first book of +Caesar, beginning: "All Gaul is divided into three parts," which +every schoolboy knows. But this was no better. + +"Let me try a bit of Greek on him," said Mr. Roumann. "I used to +be a pretty good Greek scholar."' + +But Greek appeared to be an unknown tongue to Mars. The leader, +however, seeing that the strangers had arrived at the end of +their resources, called to some persons in the crowd, and these, +coming forward, addressed the world-dwellers in different +dialects. But they were no more understandable than had been the +first speech of the man with the glittering triangle. + +"Guess we'll have to resort to first principles, and draw +pictures for them," said Mark. + +Just then Jack uttered an exclamation, and pointed to the head of +the leader. + +"What's he doing? Making faces at you?" asked Mark. + +"No; but look at that triangle!" exclaimed Jack. "It's a +right-angled one." + +"Well, what of it?" + +"This: If they understand triangles, they must know something +about mathematics and geometry. Suppose we draw for them that +problem in geometry which states that the sums of the squares +constructed on the base and altitude of a right-angled triangle +is equal to the square constructed on the hypotenuse? If he +knows that, maybe we can get to some understanding with him." + +"Go ahead and try," assented Mr. Henderson. + +Jack accordingly took up a stick, and drew in the sand the +geometrical problem of which he had spoken. It is one of the +simplest. No sooner had he done so than the Martians set up a +cry. + +"What's the matter?" asked Jack. "I hope I haven't made them +mad." + +"No; they appear to be delighted," said Mr. Roumann. And sure +enough, the Martians showed evidences of pleasure. They pointed +to the triangle on the head of their leader, and then to the one +Jack had drawn. + +Then, from somewhere in the rear of the crowd, there came another +man. He was slightly larger than his companions, but that was +not saying much, for, aside from their great heads, the Martians +were all little people, not much more than up to Andy's shoulder, +and Andy was not much over five feet in height. + +But it was not the size of the newcomer that attracted the +attention of the travelers so much as it was the device he had in +the golden circle on his head. For this device was exactly the +same as the one Jack had drawn in the sand to illustrate the +problem. It was a triangle, with squares drawn out from the +three sides. He looked at the drawing in the sand, and made a +low bow to the newcomers. + +"Well, that appears to have taken their fancy," said Mark. "I +can't understand it." + +"I can," spoke the professor quickly. "The Martians are a very +learned people. That's why their heads are so large and their +bodies so small. They make a special study of the sciences, and +geometry and mathematics probably are their favorites. That is +why they understand Jack's problem. Science is the same +throughout the universe, though conditions may differ on +different planets. I think we have arrived at a means of +communicating with the Martians, at least until we have learned +their language." + +The Martian with the triangle and squares on his circlet of gold +appeared to be a grade higher in authority than the one with the +simple triangle. He now addressed the travelers, but they could +not understand him. + +Seeing this, he stooped and drew in the sand another geometrical +problem, leaving it half completed. + +"You finish it, Mark," said Jack, and the boy did so, much to the +delight of the crowd. + +"They all are well up in geometry," declared Mr. Roumann. + +"But I'd like to understand what force it was that made us move?" +spoke Jack. + +"I'll see if I can find out," said Mr. Henderson, and he made +motions to indicate that they would like to know what power it +was that moved them away from the projectile. + +A smile came to the face of the leading Martian. He pointed to +his big head, and then to the travelers. Then he fixed his great +eyes on them. + +Instantly they felt themselves being moved backward to the +projectile. They went a few feet, then were moved forward toward +the crowd again. Then they found themselves stationary. + +"It's thought force!" cried Jack. "That's what it is. They +simply will for a thing to be done, and it is done--at least with +persons from another planet. They have the power to make us move +by merely wishing it." + +"Then they ought to be able to read our thoughts," spoke Mark. + +"Maybe their power extends only to motion," suggested Mr. +Henderson. + +The chief leader spoke again, and it was evident that he was +asking if the explanation and demonstration he had given was +satisfactory. The professor nodded his head to indicate that it +was. + +The leader addressed the throng of people, and they turned and +started away. The leader remained, and turning to the adventurers +he pointed off toward a distant city, and indicated that they were +to go there. + +"And leave our projectile behind!" exclaimed Jack. "We don't +want to do that." + +This did not meet with the approval of the others. They were in +a strange land, and the Annihilator might be the means of saving +their lives. If they left it there was no telling whether or not +they would ever see it again. + +As well as he could Mr. Henderson made motions that they did not +like to leave their craft behind. But the Martian, with a frank +smile, seemed to say that it would be safe. + +"Guess we can't help ourselves," remarked Mr. Roumann. "If we +don't go they'll make us. Better go willingly. Besides, I want +to see their city." + +"But what about our prisoner--the crazy machinist?" asked Jack. + +"Oh, I guess he will be all right. He had a good meal just +before we landed, and he was asleep. We'll go with these queer +people, and come back to-night to the projectile," said Mr. +Roumann. "Come on." + +They started to follow the leader, who beckoned them forward. He +went off at a rapid pace, and the travelers found themselves +being urged on just as speedily by that mysterious thought force. + +"This is a great way of traveling," observed Jack. + +"It suah does beat walkin'," commented Washington White, who, +after his first fright, appeared to take it all as a matter of +course. "But I hopes dat dey's got suffin' t' placate mah inner +conscientiousness wid, 'case I'se gittin' mighty hungry." + +"Oh, I guess these people have to eat, even if they are mostly +brains," suggested Jack. "Anyhow, we've got plenty in the +projectile." + +"If dat air crazy man don't git loose an' cat it all up," added +Washington. "I shorely hopes dat he doesn't hurt mah Shanghai +rooster." + +"Never mind about him. Look what a wonderful country we're in," +said Mark. + +And indeed they were in a strange land. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE RED LIGHT + + +At first glance Mars had not seemed to be much different from the +earth they had left, but when the travelers had gotten over their +first astonishment at seeing the strange people, they saw that +there were many points of dissimilarity. + +In the first place, there appeared to be a great deal of water +about them. There were canals or broad rivers on every side, +with only narrow strips of land dividing them. The Annihilator +had landed on a broad, sandy plain, one of the largest on the +planet, as it afterward developed, and so gentle had been the +descent, that the projectile was not injured in the least. But +leaving that vicinity, and following their guide, the travelers +found themselves in the midst of a network of waterways. + +"These must be some of the canals the astronomers see," observed +Jack. + +"Yes," assented Mark. "There isn't much land to spare. I should +think the Martians would be a sort of water race. But they don't +appear to have any boats." + +"Yes, they do," put in Mr. Roumann. "Here comes one now." + +Sure enough, there suddenly appeared on a broad river or canal, +along which they were being moved by that mysterious force, a +large open boat, in which were several Martians. + +"Well, I wonder how that moves?" said Jack. "They're not rowing, +they have no sail, and I can't see any engine." + +"Maybe thought power moves the boat, too," suggested Mark. + +"It certainly seems so," rejoined Mr. Henderson. + +The travelers found themselves stopping, and their leader, +turning, said something to the persons in the boat. There was a +brief conversation in the strange language, and the adventurers +found themselves moving into the craft, which stopped close to +the bank of the canal. When they were seated the boat started +off again, and though Jack and Mark, as well as the two men, +looked closely to ascertain what was the motive power, they could +not discover it. + +"Unless it's in that small box," said Jack, pointing to one made +of some shining metal, in the stern of the boat. + +"Perhaps it is," assented Mr. Roumann. Then he made some +motions to the guide, asking whether or not the substance in the +box contained the motive power. + +The man with the squared triangle on his head seemed to hesitate +a moment, and then, with a motion to the Martian in charge of the +boat, he said something, and the latter opened the box. Mr. +Roumann looked eagerly into it, as did the others, and the +German uttered a cry of surprise. + +And well he might, for all the box contained was a lump of what +seemed to be red clay. There were no wheels, no machinery of any +kind, and there appeared to be no propeller on the boat with +which the box was connected. Nevertheless, the craft continued +to move along swiftly, and the Martian had indicated that the +object in the box made it go. + +"The red substance!" exclaimed Mr. Roumann in a low voice. "I +wonder if this can be what I seek?" + +Once more he looked at the crimson mass in the metal box. He +reached forward his finger as if to touch it, but the chief +Martian, with a warning cry, suddenly dosed down the lid. + +"Humph! I guess they're afraid we'll steal it," exclaimed Jack. + +"Maybe it's dangerous to touch," added Mark. + +The Martians conversed among themselves in low voices, and from +the glances they cast at the travelers every now and then, from +their great, protruding eyes, it was evident that the little men +were discussing the strangers. + +"Has yo' folks any adequate perceptionability ob de exteriorness +in de inverse ratio ob de objectiveness ob de transportation +projection ob our destination?" asked Washington White, breaking +a rather lengthy silence. + +"Do you mean where are we going?" inquired jack. + +"Dat's what I done axed yo'." + +"Well, we don't know," went on the lad. "But we seem to be +approaching some big city." + +Off in the distance, on the side of a hill, which rose from the +midst of a great lake or canal, were many glittering buildings. +It was a city of large size. + +"The question is, what are they going to do with us when they get +us there?" spoke Mark. "Maybe they're cannibals." + +"They are too highly an educated race for that," replied Mr. +Roumann. "No, I fancy they will treat us well. They will want +to know about the planet we came from, as well as we want to know +about them. I think they will treat us with respect." + +"They certainly have, so far," remarked Mr. Henderson. "I only +hope none of them meddle with our projectile." + +"I'm a little apprehensive about that myself," added Mr. Roumann. +"And I trust that crazy man does not get loose. But we can't +help ourselves, and we'll hope for the best." + +They were now close to the water-front of the city, and they saw +the shore lined with a great throng. Evidently their approach +had been heralded, and they were being eagerly awaited. + +"Looks as if we were going to have quite a reception," remarked +Jack. "I hope it's a pleasant one." + +"If it isn't, we can't help ourselves," went on Andy. "I can't +use my gun in a land where the bullet has about as much force as +a pea in a putty shooter. But if they attack us we can pick up +stones and fire at them." + +"Stones won't be much more effective than the bullets," said Mr. +Roumann. + +"Why not?" + +"Because they'll be light, too. Things here will weigh only +about a third as much as they do on earth. In fact, that is one +reason why we are moved about so easily by their thought power. +We are only a third as heavy as we were on earth, though we weigh +more than the Martians, for all that." + +By this time they were at the dock, and they found themselves +being moved out of the boat, and up to the pier, through the +crowd of people. + +Their guide--the Martian with the squared triangle--called out an +order, and the crowd opened up a living lane, through which the +adventurers passed. They could not help noticing how polite the +Martian inhabitants were, for there were no idle remarks on the +appearance of the strangers, such as would have taken place under +similar circumstances on earth. But the Martians made up for it +by staring with their great eyes, listening with their great +ears, and sniffing, the air with their long noses, though they +kept a profound silence. + +At the end of the pier the travelers found some queer carriages +waiting for them. They were boxes, fitted up with soft cushions, +and were on runners, like those of a sled. Jack looked and saw +that the street was paved with a substance like glass, very +slippery. + +"We're going to have a sleigh ride!" he exclaimed; "but I don't +see any horses to pull us." + +"Maybe these are automobile sleds," suggested Mark. + +"If they are, there's no motor in them," declared Jack, making a +careful examination. + +"Then they move by the same power as do the boats," was his +chum's opinion. "Yes, see the metal box?" and he pointed to one +in each vehicle. + +The leading Martian motioned for Jack and Mark to get in one +sled, Mr. Roumann and Professor Henderson were assigned to +another, and Washington and Andy to a third. The leading Martian +took his place in the vehicle with the two men, while two others +of the queer people got in the remaining two sleds, which the +boys dubbed the vehicles. No sooner had they done so than they +started off as if by magic, sliding over the smooth, glass-like +streets. + +"Well, they certainly have the transportation problem down to a +science," remarked Jack. "This beats a taxicab all to pieces." + +"That's right," agreed Mark. "But say, this is a mighty fine +city." + +The boys looked on either side of them. The street, which was +thronged with the queer feather and fur covered inhabitants, led +between rows of stately buildings, all built of some light-colored +substance. The designs were like those usually seen in fantastic +fairy pictures--beautiful in the extreme. + +The street led to a great public square, and as the vehicles +swung into it, the boys could not repress a murmur of delight. +For, at the head of the square was a great palace of glass, its +walls so transparent that everything going on within could be +seen from without. + +"This must be their city hall, the palace of justice, the main +administration building, or whatever they call it," said Jack. +"Evidently the Martians don't believe in conducting politics in +the dark." + +"Well, it's going to be dark pretty soon," observed Mark, "for +the sun is setting." + +"And look at what a small sun it is," added Jack. + +For the first time they noticed that the great luminary was much +smaller than it appeared to them on the earth. It was about half +the size, but, though Mars must have received considerably less +heat from it than did the earth, it was not at all chilly, but, +on the contrary, warmer than on the earth at the same time of +year. + +The little sun slowly sank down behind the distant hills, and +when the sleds came to a stop in front of the glass palace, the +boys and others found themselves being moved up the broad steps. + +"Evidently there's going to be an inquiry concerning us," +commented Jack. + +They were taken into a vast audience chamber. At one end was a +raised platform, upon which were seated a number of Martians. +Each one had a golden circlet on his head, and in the center of +each band was some geometrical figure. + +In the middle of the throng on the platform was a Martian attired +in a golden, shimmering robe. And on his head was a small +circlet, made apparently of diamonds. + +"He must be the high muck-a-muck," said Jack in a whisper. + +"Hush!" cautioned Mark. + +As the adventurers felt themselves advancing toward the raised +platform, there came a shout from the throng. And the words +sounded like: + +"Silex Corundum!" + +At this the Martian with the diamond circle on his head arose and +bowed. + +"That must be his name," whispered jack. + +"Hush!" spoke Mark again, and he who appeared to be a sort of +chief or king began to speak. + +He made quite a lengthy address, and as he went on it grew +darker, with the approach of evening. + +Suddenly, from various points in the great room, there glowed a +red light, until the apartment was as bright as day. And the +boys, looking up, saw that the light streamed from the sides of +small metal boxes fastened to the glass walls. + +"The mysterious red substance!" murmured Mr. Roumann. "It is a +source of power, it gives forth light, and what will it not do? +I must certainly secure some of it!" + +The red glow increased as it grew darker outside, and, looking +through the glass sides of the palace, the boys saw that the +palace was surrounded by a great crowd of Martians, who were +watching what went on within. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +A MARVELOUS SUBSTANCE + + +"Say, that's a good way to have a building," observed Jack in a +low voice to his chum. "Those who can't get in can see just as +well what's going on as if they were here. But I wonder what +he's saying?" + +"Probably telling his people about us," replied Mark, and this +seemed to be so, for Silex Corundum, as they later learned was +the name of the ruler of Mars, frequently motioned toward the +adventurers, who stood in a group in front of the platform. + +Much interest was manifested by the throng, and even those on the +platform, who seemed to be members of a sort of council or +governing body, could not restrain their interest. + +When the chief ruler had ceased speaking the Martian with the +triangle on his head--the one who had first greeted the world +travelers, stepped forward, and made an address. + +"He's telling 'em how we got here," was Mark's opinion, and Jack +nodded. + +When this one had finished, the guide who had conducted them to +the palace had his turn, and at greater length he described the +strangers, the curious craft in which they had arrived on the +planet, and many other details, which, of course, our friends +could not comprehend. + +This done, Silex Corundum made another address, and at its close +a great blackboard was brought forward, some pieces of chalk were +handed to Mr. Roumann and to Professor Henderson, and by signs +they were invited to illustrate something of themselves and their +wonderful journey. + +"What shall we draw?" asked Mr. Henderson. + +"First see if you can make them understand something of the earth +where we came from," suggested Mr. Roumann; and the professor, +who was a good draughtsman, soon placed on the board a sort of +map of the universe, indicating the position of Mars, the sun, +the other planets and the earth. To his surprise a delighted +shout told him that he was understood. The chief ruler, with a +rapid motion, pointed to a great telescope, located in one corner +of the big audience chamber. He motioned for the travelers to +look through it, and after it was adjusted he pointed to the +drawing of the earth on the board, and indicated that the +adventurers could see their own planet through the telescope. + +Mr. Roumann looked first. Then he uttered an exclamation. + +"Can you really see our earth?" asked Jack. + +"I can! Look for yourself! This is a marvelous telescope! No +wonder the Martians understand something about us. They can +clearly make out the shapes of our continents." + +Jack peered through the eyepiece. There, far off, shining in the +light of the distant sun, which was now on the other side of +Mars, he saw the earth they had left about two weeks ago. It was +like looking at some map in a geography, and he could clearly +make out the shapes of North and South America. + +"Take a look, Mark!" he cried. "I almost thought I could make +out the place where we live, and where we built the Annihilator!" + +In turn they all gazed at the earth, distant thirty five millions +of miles, but which was made very plain to them through the +powerful glass. + +Silex Corundum made a motion as of some body flying through +space, and looked inquiringly at the travelers. + +"He wants to know how we got here," interpreted Mark. + +"I'll draw a picture of the projectile,"' said Mr. Roumann, and +he put on the board one containing many details. So interested +was the chief ruler and his cabinet, that they all came down off +the platform to examine it more closely. They appeared to +understand everything but the Etherium motor, but Mr. Roumann +illustrated the force by which it was worked, by pointing to the +metal boxes containing the red substance, which gave out light as +well as power, indicating that some force like that worked the +motor. + +This appeared to satisfy the questioners, and after some talk +among themselves they motioned that the travelers would be given +a place to sleep. + +"I'd a heap sight radder hab soffin' t' eat," said Washington, +when it was made known that they were to retire. "I'd jest like +to git back t' mah kitchen. I jest know mah Shanghai rooster +needs some corn, an' as for dat crazy man, maybe he's broken +loose." + +"That's so," agreed Mr. Roumann. "If we don't get back, we can't +give him anything to eat." + +"Let's try to make them understand," suggested the professor, +and, accordingly, with chalk, they pictured that they had left +behind them, in the projectile, an enemy of theirs, who was bound +and helpless. Silex Corundum appeared to understand, and he +indicated that the unfortunate man would receive attention. + +The travelers were then led out of the palace. They found +instead of being urged along by the thought power, however, that +they were now allowed to walk. And they also noticed that they +could go very rapidly, with little exertion, due to the fact that +they only tipped the scales at about a third of their usual +weight. + +"This is better," observed Jack. "I'd rather walk than be +floating along the way we were." + +"Yes, I guess they were so anxious to question us that they +couldn't wait for the ordinary forms of locomotion," said the +professor. "Now that they know something about us they will let +us do as we please for a while." + +One of the Martians, who seemed to be a minor official, led them +out into the street. They found that it was lighted by means of +the same metal boxes that were in the palace. + +Overhead were the two tiny moons of Mars, but they gave but +little light, and had it not been for the wonderful red substance +the streets would have been quite dark. + +"This stuff is what makes Mars seem so I red when we look at it +with telescopes from our earth," observed Mr. Roumann. "It is a +very marvelous chemical. I must get some to examine." + +"I wonder where they'll put us?" asked Jack, but his question was +answered a few moments later, when they were ushered into a +finely built house of generous size, and by signs their guide +indicated that they were to make this their home. It was nicely +furnished, though in a different manner from houses in the world, +and there were many scientific books and instruments in it. + +"The Martians must study all the while," observed Mr. Henderson. +"No wonder they have such big heads. All their intellectual +faculties are wonderfully developed." + +"At the expense of their arms, legs and bodies," said Jack. "I +fancy I could fight half a dozen of their biggest men." + +"But we're not going to," said Mr. Roumann. "At least, not as +long as they treat us decently." + +"And now for something to eat," added Henderson. + +Their guide showed them a dining-room, where they found a table +filled with food that looked very appetizing. The Martian +motioned for them to eat. + +"I want t' find where mah kitchen is goin' t' be," declared +Washington. "If I'm goin' t' cook heah, I want t' see how I'm +goin' t' do it." + +The Martian seemed to understand what was wanted, for he led the +way to another apartment, where it was evident that cooking was +done, as there were pots, pans and what looked like a stove in +it. + +"But I don't see no coal," objected the colored man. "How I +gwine t' cook without coal t' make a fire?" + +The Martian opened the square iron box that seemed to be the +stove. Inside was a small metal box, which he also opened, +disclosing a lump of the red substance. + +"They cook with it, too!" exclaimed Mr. Roumann. "And I have no +doubt that they warm their houses with it in winter. A wonderful +substance--most marvelous! It exceeds my wildest dreams--light, +heat and power! Our fortunes are made! It is good that we came +to Mars!" + +"And it's a good thing they've got something to eat!" remarked +Jack. "Come on, I'm half starved." + +"I'll wait on table fo' yo'," said Washington, as they went back +to the dining-room, and the Martian left. They sat down, and the +colored man was about to pass the victuals, when, to the surprise +of all, the center of the table began to revolve, and the dishes +of food went with it, passing slowly in front of each one in +turn. + +"Good land a' massy!" cried Washington. "It's bewitched! Look at +de table movin'!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +SEEKING THE TREASURE + + +They all stared at the strange sight. It was rather odd to see +the entire middle portion of the table going around, while the +outer part, at which the adventurers sat, was stationary. But +the boys and men, with the exception of Washington, recognized it +as very convenient. + +"What are you frightened at, Wash?" asked Jack. + +"At dat table, dat's what! It's a ghostest table." + +"A ghost table?" + +"Yep! Spirits am workin' on it! I ain't goin' t' stay heah. +I'se goin' back t' de ship, where I kin move t'ings fo' mahself." + +"Don't be alarmed," said Mr. Henderson. "It's all right, +Washington. The table moves by some hidden mechanism, which +doubtless was set in motion by the Martian who were just here, or +the mere sitting down to our places may have started it." + +They all got up to make an examination, and the table center at +once ceased revolving, proving that some, connection existed +between it and the chairs. But they could not discover the +machinery. There was a small metal box underneath the table, but +that was all. + +"That must contain some of that marvelous red substance which +gives light, heat and power," declared Mr. Roumann. "I must +certainly get a supply of it. In fact, that is what I came to +Mars for. That is the object of my trip, and if we can get a +sufficient quantity of it, our fortunes are made." + +"Is it so valuable?" asked Mark. + +"It is the most valuable treasure in the universe," replied the +German. "Long ago I suspected some such thing must exist on +Mars, or else how, receiving only half the light and heat from +the sun that we receive, can the inhabitants exist? And that +they do live, and live well, we have seen. It must be due to the +red substance, and if we could only get some back to earth it +would be worth millions. Think of simply putting a bit of it in +a stove and having heat, or hanging up some in a room and getting +light from it. But, more than this, think of having it move +machinery, I would not be surprised but what I could transform +it into energy that would operate the motors of the Annihilator." + +"But wouldn't you need a new supply every once in a while?" asked +Jack. + +"I think not. I believe it is like radium, and will last +forever. In fact, you notice that the metal boxes it is +contained in, except the ones in the boats, are securely sealed. +If they had to be putting in a fresh supply every so often, they +would make the boxes so they would open more easily. We must get +some of that treasure." + +"But how?" inquired Mr. Henderson. + +"I don't know, but I will find out a way. When we have been here +a few weeks we will be better acquainted with the Martians and +their language, and can make a search." + +"Well, if you folks is done talkin' about treasure, I'm goin' to +eat," observed old Andy. "I'm hungry!" + +"So am I," added Jack, and as they all sat down again the table +began revolving. They found it a convenient arrangement once the +novelty had worn off, and they were soon eagerly talking, over +the meal, of the wonders they had seen, and speculating on what +might be before them. Washington, having nothing to do, went to +see about beds for the night, as the travelers were tired. + +"Well, Wash," asked Jack, as the colored man returned, "did you +find the beds making themselves, or waltzing around the room?" + +"Nope, dey seemed t' be ordinary, respectable beds. But I ain't +goin' t' take no chances in 'em. I'se goin' t' sleep on de flo'." + +"Why?" + +"'Cause I don't want t' wake up in de middle ob de night an' +find mahself squashed inter a jellyfish. I believe de beds am +bewitched same as de table is." + +"Nonsense," said Jack. "They're all right. This is a fine +place to live." + +They found the beds good to sleep in, and nothing disturbed them. +Washington, however, stretched out on the floor, and he arose +early to prepare breakfast on the stove, which never needed to +have a fire built in it, because of the marvelous red substance. +By an arrangement of levers and valves the heat could be +increased or diminished at pleasure. + +The same Martian who had conducted the travelers to the house +returned soon after breakfast, and by signs and motions indicated +to them that the crazy machinist left in the projectile had been +properly cared for. The Martian also indicated to the world-dwellers +that they were free to go where they pleased about the city, which +they learned was called Martopolis, and was the largest city on the +planet. + +"We'll take a walk," suggested Mr. Roumann, "and maybe we can +find where they keep the red stuff, or where they get it from." + +They strolled about the streets of Martopolis, noting many +strange sights. The queer little people were hurrying to and +fro, with a peculiar gliding motion, much faster than the +ordinary walk, yet it was not a run. The peculiar lightness in +weight of everything on Mars probably accounted for this, as the +travelers themselves found they could move about very swiftly, +and with little fatigue. + +Nor did the world-dwellers attract as much attention as they +expected they would. The Martians appeared to have satisfied +their curiosity regarding the strangers the previous night, and +now gave them but passing glances. Even the boys did not follow +them. + +Every one seemed to be busy, and the travelers noted many +schools, in which the children were industriously studying, +though it was early morning. Observatories, with great +telescopes, were numerous, and astronomers were gazing at the sun +or different parts of the heavens, even in daylight. + +"They are a very learned people, and they never seem to cease +from acquiring information," commented Mr. Henderson. + +"Well, I'd like to acquire some information about where that red +stuff is," said the German. "There is one of the metal boxes +that contain some, up on that pole." + +He pointed to one that evidently served as a street lamp at +night. + +"And there's a policeman near it," said Jack. "Ask him." + +A Martian stood leaning against the light-pole, much as does an +officer of the law on earth. That he was some sort of an +official was evidenced by the uniform he wore. + +Mr. Roumann approached the Martian, and made signs that he would +like to see the light box. The officer shook his head vigorously, +and said something rapidly. + +"I guess they don't allow strangers to touch it," observed Jack. + +"Evidently not," admitted Mr. Roumann. "I wonder if he knows +where it comes from?" + +He made more signs, asking, as well as he could, where the +substance in the box was obtained. The officer pointed to the +distant hills, but again shook his head in protest, and spoke for +tome time very earnestly, as if warning his questioner not to +venture after it. + +"Guess they must guard it pretty closely," said Mark. + +"Well, I'm going to have some, anyhow," declared the German. +"We'll take a stroll over toward the hills." + +They passed through the city, no one offering to stop them. On +every side they observed something new or strange, and they were +particularly struck by the absence of all noise. Everything was +done silently. There were no trolley cars, no wagons or trucks, +no puffing automobiles, and no confusion. + +The Martians moved noiselessly about, and the sleds, with their +queer motive power, made no sound. They seemed to be the only +vehicles in use, save the boats, and these sleds were of many +sizes, some as large as big trucks. + +"Do you think it will be safe to leave the projectile so long?" +asked Jack. + +"I think so," replied Mr. Roumann. "These people will not +bother with it. In fact, they all seem too busy. I want to get +some of that valuable red stuff." + +They kept on, until they found themselves out of the city and +into the country districts. Here there was more water than land, +great canals and lakes being scattered here and there, with +narrow paths or roads winding in and out among them. + +"It's always flood time here," observed Jack. "We must get one +of those boats." + +They approached the hills, which seemed to rise out of a great +lake. + +"There is where the treasure is--in those hills," said Mr. +Roumann. "They're not more than a mile off. Let's hurry there +and get some." + +They came to a narrow strip of land connecting two lakes, and as +they were crossing it, there suddenly appeared from a little hut, +about half way over, several Martians, who opposed their +progress. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +IN PERIL + + +"Well, I wonder if we can't go any farther?" asked Mr. Roumann, +as he and his companions came to a halt, and noticed that the +little men held what looked like small sticks in their hands. + +"It seems as if they didn't want us to," observed Mr. Henderson. +"Looks as if they were on guard." + +"Let me get at 'em with my gun," spoke Andy. "I'll soon show +'em--" + +Then he stopped suddenly, as he recalled how useless his firearm +was on Mars. + +"You'll have to get some stronger powder, and heavier bullets, to +hunt here, Andy," said Jack. + +"I wonder if they have guns?" came from Mark. + +"They only look like sticks," said Jack. + +Mr. Roumann, by signs and motions, indicated that he and his +companions would like to travel along the narrow path to the +hills. The leading Martian, who was dressed like the officer at +the lamp-post, while the others were less elaborately arrayed, +shook his head. His big mouth broke into a smile, however, as if +he wanted to be good-natured about it. + +"He doesn't want us to go," said the professor. + +"Evidently not, but we're going just the same," retorted Mr. +Roumann. "We're more than a match for twenty of these little +creatures, and there are only ten here. Come on." + +"Do you think it will be safe?" inquired Mr. Henderson. + +"Of course. They can't harm us." + +The German scientist took a step forward. The others were about +to follow him when the leading Martian uttered a command, and his +men pointed their sticks at the travelers. + +"Look out! Dey's goin' t' shoot!" exclaimed Washington, stooping +down. + +"They can't shoot with those things," declared Mr. Roumann, for +there seemed to be no mechanism about the sticks. + +They all pressed forward, but to their surprise it was just as if +they had met with an invisible stone wall. They could not +advance a step farther. They were halted by some strange power, +and it appeared to come from the sticks, which the Martians kept +pointed at the strangers. + +"Why--why! I can't seem to move!" cried Jack, pushing with all +his might. But, though nothing could be seen in front of him or +the others, they might just as well have tried to push over the +glass castle in the public square. + +"We can't go on," called Mr. Roumann. + +The Martian officer said something to his men, and they lowered +their wands. Instantly it was as if a stone wall had been taken +down from in front of the world-dwellers. They were able to +advance a few steps, and then, when at a command the wands were +again pointed at them, they had to stop. + +"It's those sticks!" cried Jack. "They contain some strange +power. That's the queerest kind of a policeman's club I ever +heard of. It would keep back any mob!" + +Try as they did, they could not pass the invisible barrier, and +they were forced to give it up. Seeing that the strangers +realized that they could not pass, the Martian officer and his +men lowered their sticks. He spoke to the travelers, and, though +they could not understand what he said, it was evident from his +gestures that he was advising them to return to the city. + +"I think we'd better," said Mr. Henderson. "The red substance is +too well guarded for us to get any of it. Evidently they don't +want any of it taken away." + +"I must get it!" insisted Mr. Roumann. "If not now, then later." + +There was nothing for them to do save turn back, and the Martians +tried to smile pleasantly at them, as if sorry for what they were +obliged to do. + +"We'll go back to the projectile," decided Mr. Henderson. "I am +a little anxious to see that it is all right." + +They found that it was, though quite a throng had gathered about +to inspect it. + +"Are we going to stay here, or go back to the house they let us +have?" asked Mark. + +"I think we will live in the city," decided Mr. Roumann. "We can +learn more about the Martians there, begin to understand +something of their language, and be in a better position to get +some of that red stuff, than if we were out here. But we'll go +inside and see about the crazy man, and also how the machinery +is. I want to fix the motors so that if any one meddles with +them no damage will be done." + +It took some little time to adjust the machinery, and then the +travelers took from their supplies some personal belongings, +which they wished to have with them. + +"Now to see to that crazy machinist," said Mr. Henderson, when +they were ready to leave the projectile again. "I wish we could +get rid of him. He's a nuisance." + +They went to the storeroom, where he had been confined, but the +man was not there. + +"He's hiding again," declared Jack. + +"No; he's got away!" exclaimed Mr. Roumann. "See, the ropes with +which we bound him have been broken. When the Martians came out +to feed him last night they could not have fastened them +securely. Well, he's gone, and I don't know but what I'm glad of +it." + +But there came a time when they were all very sorry that the +insane man had escaped, for he caused them much trouble. + +As they left the projectile to go to the house provided for them +in Martopolis, Mr. Roumann took with him several small iron +boxes. + +"What are those for?" asked Jack. + +"To put that red stuff in," replied the scientist. + +"I am going to make another try for some, but I'll take a +different road this time." + +For a week or more the travelers lived in their house in +Martopolis. They were courteously treated by the Martians, and +soon began to pick up the language, which was very simple when +once the principles of it were understood. + +Several times the travelers were taken before the Great Council, +as it was called, and asked in regard to matters on the world +they had left. In turn the adventurers learned much about Mars. +Though it was much smaller than our earth, it was superior to it +in many ways. One was the simplicity of life. The Martians +never had any need of clothes, for they were born with fur and +feathers, which were renewed by Nature from time to time. They +had to contend with a large quantity of water, which covered most +of the surface of their planet, but by ingenious means they got +along nearly as well as if there was more land. In science they +were far ahead of scientists of the earth, and they were +fortunate in possessing the red substance, which they called +Cardite, and which was their only source of light, heat and +power. With it they accomplished much that the world-dwellers +have to bring about by great labor. + +By inquiry, after they had learned the language, the travelers +found out that Cardite was regarded with much reverence, and +there was a tradition that if any of it was taken away from Mars, +the planet would disappear. + +"No wonder they didn't want us to get any," said Mr. Roumann. +"But I'm going to have some, for all that. It's all nonsense to +think any harm can come from taking it. It will not injure their +planet, and it will be a fortune to us. They must have a lot of +it, for they told us that all the cities on Mars, and there are +several of them, are lighted and heated by it." + +"But how are you going to get it." asked Mark. + +"By going a different route. I'm going to get a boat, and go by +water. I've found out how to run one of their boats by means of +the red substance, and some day we'll sail over the lake to the +hills and get some Cardite." + +They waited another week, and, as they found less and less +attention was paid to them from day to day, they decided to make +an attempt to get some of the treasure. + +They started one morning in a large boat, which Silex Corundum, +the ruler of Mars, had placed at their disposal, and in a short +time were approaching the distant hills, at the foot of which was +the great lake. The boat moved swiftly, the controlling +mechanism consisting of three little knobs on the outside of the +box containing the Cardite. One sent the craft forward, one +reversed it, and the other stopped it. + +"We're almost there," said Mr. Roumann, after about an hour's +sail. "There are no guards this way, just as I hoped. We shall +soon be enormously wealthy." + +Nearer and nearer came the boat to the hills. When they were +within a half mile of them Jack, who was in the bow, uttered a +cry. + +"A whirlpool! A whirlpool!" he shouted. "We're heading right +into it!" + +Mr. Roumann, who was steering, tried to turn the boat to one +side, but the craft would not answer the helm. + +"Shut off the power and reverse!" exclaimed Mr. Henderson, when +he saw that the boat was still rushing into the dangerous swirl +of water. + +Mark, who was near the metal box, did so. But even the power of +Cardite was of no avail against the awful suction of the +whirlpool. The boat began to go around in a great circle, ever +coming nearer and nearer to the black, swirling center. + +"No wonder they needed no guards on the water side," gloomily +observed Mr. Roumann as he stood up and looked at the hills. +"The whirlpool is the best protector they could have." + +In deadly peril, the adventurers watched their boat coming nearer +and nearer to the terrible center of the angry waters. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +GETTING THE CARDITE + + +"Isn't there any way of escape?" asked Jack in a low voice, as he +crouched in the bow and peered into the whirlpool, on the edge of +which they were circling. + +"I don't see any," replied Mr. Roumann. "I am very sorry I got +you into this trouble. If I had not insisted on coming for the +red substance we would not be in this danger." + +"It's as much our fault as yours," declared the professor. "We +were anxious to get some of the treasure also." + +"And now none of us will have any use for it," observed Andy +dryly. "When we slide down into that hole it will be all up with +us." + +They all shuddered as they saw the black hole, around which the +waters raced in a circle. + +"I wonder what's down there?" asked Mark. + +"It isn't a good thing to think about," responded Jack. "I +always was afraid of whirlpools." + +The boat was now beginning to go around faster. The occupants +were getting dizzy with the motion. They could hear a distant +roar, and knew that it came from the water falling down some +great depth, into which they seemed fated to be dashed. + +"Did you turn on all the power of the boat?" asked Jack after a +period of silence. "Seems to me we didn't come along very fast +in this craft. The one we were in first went at a great rate. +Maybe we don't understand how to make it go at top speed." + +"I turned the knobs every way I could think of," replied Mr. +Roumann. "But it would take terrific speed and power to free us +from the suction of the whirlpool." + +Jack moved back to the stern, where the box was, containing the +red substance that furnished power to move the boat. He looked +closely at it. + +Meanwhile the boat was moving around in ever-narrowing circles, +faster and faster. Jack noticed that twice in each revolution it +went respectively lower and higher on the course, and always at +the same places. That is to say, the whirlpool was on what might +be termed a slant. At one time the boat would be at the lowest +point, and at another at the highest point. At the low point the +occupants of the craft were out of sight of everything, as when a +ship is in the hollow of the sea. A little later they would be +raised up on a crest of water so that they could look to the +distant hills. + +"If we could only get power enough to shoot the boat out at an +angle when it gets to the high point, we could escape," thought +Jack. + +But how could he obtain this power? The mechanism seemed to be +working at the greatest force, for, after an attempt had been +made to stay the progress of the boat by reversing it, Mr. +Roumann had again put on full speed ahead. + +But was it full speed? That was what Jack wanted to know. + +He examined every inch of the box. At first he saw nothing but +the three knobs that had been used. Then, all at once, down +underneath, he saw a small pin. It looked as if it could be +moved. He took hold of it. + +"I wonder what will happen if I pull it out or push it in?" he +asked himself. Then he happened to remember that in an electric +battery, to obtain more power, you must pull out a certain pin. + +"Perhaps this works like an electric battery," he said. "I'll +pull it out." + +He did so, and a surprising thing happened. The boat shot +forward at enormous speed, and as Jack happened to pull the pin +out at a time when the craft was high up, it began to shoot +across the water at an angle to the whirlpool. He had solved the +problem of how to escape. As he afterward learned, the pin was +just for the purpose for which he used it--to cause a sudden +increase in speed. + +The whirlpool did not give up without a struggle, but the boat +was finally successful, and fought its way out to calm water. + +"How did you do it?" asked Mark, and Jack told them. + +"Well, we'd better start back for the city," proposed Mr. +Roumann. "I guess we've had enough for one day. We'll try +again, and take some other route." + +"There's no need of that," declared Professor Henderson. "See, we +are close to the hills now. We have crossed the whirlpool. Why +not go on, and see if we can't find some Cardite? Going back now +will be no easier than after we have made an examination. Let's +explore the hills." + +The boat had shot out on the farther side of the whirlpool, and +there was nothing now between it and the shore. After a +consultation it was decided to land. + +"We can be more careful coming back," said Jack. + +Half an hour later they had landed and started up the hills +toward the summit. The place seemed to be deserted, but there +were evidences that some sort of mining had been going on there, +for great holes and shafts were dug in the ground, and there were +remains of machinery. + +"They must have dug up all the Cardite in this locality," said +Professor Henderson, "and they've gone to a new place." + +"Which we wish to find," added Mr. Roumann, "and that without +being discovered. From the way in which the Martians guard this, +it will go hard with us if they see us taking any." + +They toiled up to the top of some of the lowest hills. There did +not seem to be any of the treasure there, and they went farther. +They were getting tired and hungry, and they sat down to rest and +eat some food which they had brought with them. + +"Let's try that hill," proposed Mark, pointing to a high one +about a mile away. "It looks red from here." + +There was a rosy hue about the little mountain, and after a brief +rest they headed for the spot. + +"There's nothing here!" exclaimed Jack in disgust, as he and +Mark, in a final spurt, reached the base of it. "Nothing but +ordinary dirt." + +Mark looked down. He dug his heel into the sod. Then he uttered a +cry of triumph. + +"Here it is! Here it is!" he cried. "It's under the grass! +We've got to dig it up!" + +He knelt down, and began to tear away the sod with his hands. +Jack did the same, and when they had lifted aside the tangle of +roots and grass, they saw beneath it a dull gleaming red +substance, like clay. + +"That's it! That's it!" shouted Mr. Roumann. "We've found it!" + +He stooped over, and with his knife began digging some up. + +"It's neither warm, nor does it give any light," said Mr. +Henderson in disappointed tones. + +"No; it requires special electrical treatment," replied Mr. +Roumann. "I know how to do it, though. Now we shall all be +millionaires! There is enough here to make us wealthy for life!" + +He began filling his iron boxes, the rest helping him. They were +engaged in getting out the Cardite, all working with feverish +haste, when Jack, looking up, saw a Martian officer regarding the +actions of the world-dwellers with his great, bulging eyes. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +THE ATTACK + + +"They've discovered us!" exclaimed Jack, as he stood up and +watched the Martian. + +"What?" cried Mr. Roumann. "Oh, it's only one of them," he +added, "and he hasn't any of those electrical sticks. Go ahead +and take some more of the Cardite." + +But the Martian advanced on the travelers, and, by his voice and +gestures, seemed to be warning them to stop taking the red +material. + +"Maybe he's a guard," suggested Mark. + +"Very likely," assented Professor Henderson. + +"I'll see if I can't scare him with my gun," remarked Andy. +"I've put in more powder, and a heavier bullet." + +He fired in the air, over the Martian's head, but to the surprise +of the adventurers the weapon only gave a faint sound, like that +of a pop gun, while the bullet rolled from the barrel and dropped +at Andy's feet. + +"Why, that's worse than ever!" he exclaimed. "I guess the red +stuff must have taken all the power out of your gun, Andy," said +Mark. + +The Martian stood still for a moment. Then he spoke again, more +earnestly than before, and waved the strangers away from the red +hill. + +"We're not going," said Mr. Roumann, and he added a few of the +Martian words he had learned, endeavoring to state that they were +going to take only a little of the Cardite. + +The officer, with a last warning shake of his big head, suddenly +turned and ran away. + +"I guess he's gone for reinforcements," said Jack. + +"No matter," spoke Mr. Roumann. "We'll soon have all we can +carry, and then we'll hurry back to the projectile. When we get +there we can defy them." + +They continued to fill the boxes with the Cardite, and soon had a +good supply. Then, taking a look to see if the Martian had +summoned any guards, but finding that none was in sight, the +adventurers made their way back to their boat, and set it in +motion. + +"How are we going to escape the whirlpool?" asked Mark. + +"I think if we skirt down the shores of the lake for some +distance, and then strike across to the city, we'll avoid it," +replied Professor Henderson. "The pool is not very large, and +seems to be only, directly in front of the red hill." + +This they found to be the case, and they were soon safely beyond +the swirling waters, and on their way back to Martopolis. + +"We had better not land at a public dock," suggested Professor +Henderson. + +"Why not?" asked the German. + +"Because the Martians may see that we have some of the Cardite, +and take it from us." + +"What would you suggest?" + +"Why, there is a landing place farther down, and we might go +there and make our way from it to the projectile unobserved." + +This was voted a good plan, and was successfully carried out. +Though quite a few Martians saw the adventurers land, they +evinced no curiosity in what they carried, and that evening the +little party was back in the Annihilator, where they determined +to stay all night. + +Mr. Roumann tested some of the red matter, and found, when he +applied the proper electrical treatment, that it gave off light, +heat or power, according to the adjustments. + +"This is the most wonderful material in the world!" he exclaimed. +"Yes, or in the whole universe. It is better than perpetual +motion, for it is not only that, but perpetual light and heat. I +believe I can use it in the Etherium motor in place of the force +I ordinarily employ." + +He made some experiments, and found that this could be done. + +"I wonder what's become of the crazy machinist?" asked Jack. + +"Oh, maybe he's made friends with the Martians," said Mark, "and +has told them he's a king, or something like that, and they're +treating him with royal honors." + +"More likely he's plotting mischief," declared old Andy. "I wish +my gun was in working order. Somehow I don't like the way that +fellow acted on the red hill." + +"Why, you're not afraid, are you?" asked Professor Henderson. + +"No, not exactly, but I was just thinking how we could defend +ourselves in case they attacked us. My gun is no good." + +"You forget that we have electrical cannons," said Jack. + +"That's so," added Mr. Henderson. "And it might not be a bad +plan to get, them in working order." + +"Nonsense!" exclaimed the German scientist. "The Martians will +never bother us. They are thinking too much about the stars, the +sun, moons and other planets--they are too intent on studying to +bother us. That is all they do--study. That's what makes their +ears, eyes, nose and mouth so big. They use them to listen to +scientific sounds, to look at scientific objects, smell +scientific odors, and talk of scientific things. They'll never +bother us." + +"Maybe not, but perhaps the crazy machinist will," suggested +Mark. + +"I'll make some inquiries to-morrow, and see if the Martians know +anything of him," promised Mr. Henderson. + +But if the Martians knew anything of the insane man, they would +not tell. When the adventurers made cautious inquiries on the +morrow, they were only met with vacant stares from the big eyes. + +The boys and their friends made several excursions about +Martopolis in the next week, and even traveled in the big sleds +to distant cities, which they found much the same as the one they +were in. + +They saw no signs of the crazy machinist, and began to believe +that he had disappeared for good. They were making progress in +the Martian language, and could converse with the people. No +longer did the Martians cause the travelers to move about by the +thought force, and our friends were allowed to go here and there +as they pleased. They found traveling exceedingly easy, as their +bodies were so light. + +They had again taken up their residence in the house in the city, +paying occasional visits to the projectile, which remained on the +soft sand where it had landed, but tilted upward, ready for a +flight. + +One afternoon Jack and Mark, who had been out taking a walk, came +back rather hurriedly. They found Professor Henderson and Mr. +Roumann doing some scientific work, while Washington and Andy +were discussing the many strange things on Mars. + +"Professor," said Jack, "I think something is up." + +"What do you mean?" + +"Well, there's something unusual going on. The Martians are +acting very queerly. There's a big meeting in the glass palace, +and when we tried to go in we were stopped. Crowds in the street +kept following us, and they haven't done that since we first +landed." + +"Yes," added Mark, "and I think I saw that same man who watched +us taking the Cardite with a lot of other officers, following us, +too. And, besides, no persons here seem as friendly as they used +to. Did they, Jack?" + +"No, indeed. I think they have discovered that we have taken some +of the red stuff, and they don't like it." + +Professor Henderson and Mr. Roumann looked grave. If this was +the case, it might mean serious trouble for them all. + +"But they're a long while finding out that we took the stuff," +said Andy, who listened intently to what the boys said. + +"Maybe they knew it all the while," suggested Jack; "but they are +so interested in scientific matters that they didn't want to take +any action on it until now." + +"Well," remarked Mr. Roumann, "whatever it is, I think we will be +safer in the projectile. Come, we will all go out there and +spend the night. We can defend ourselves in case anything +happens, though I don't believe it will." + +They started at once, and there was a feeling of security when +they had clamped fast the great steel doors in the side of the +Annihilator. + +Contrary to their fears, the night passed without incident. They +were all at breakfast the next morning, when Mark, happening to +look through a heavy plate-glass window in the living-room, +called out: + +"Look what's coming!" + +They saw a vast throng of Martians advancing toward the +projectile. + +"See who's leading them!" called Jack. "The crazy machinist!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +THE REPULSE + + +"Do you suppose they're going to attack us?"' asked Mr. Roumann. + +"It looks very much like it," answered Professor Henderson. "But +we will wait and see. Are the electric cannons in shape?" + +"Yes, they are all ready to work. All that is necessary is to +open the ports and fire them. They will not kill, but they will +disable the Martians for a time, in case we have to use them." + +"I hope we'll not have to," said Jack. "They have been very good +to us, and I shouldn't want to harm them." + +"There's a big crowd of them," added Mark. "I wonder how that +crazy man came to be with them?" + +"He must be leading them against us out of revenge," was Mr. +Henderson's opinion. "He may have induced them to try to kill +us, and they may be very willing to do so, because we have taken +some of the Cardite." + +"I hope not," murmured Mr. Roumann. + +The throng approached nearer. In front was the insane machinist, +who was leaping about, running to and fro, and shouting at the +top of his voice. His words came faintly to those in the +projectile. + +"They seem to have a new leader," remarked Jack. "I understood +that the ruler, Silex Corundum, always went at the head of the +troops when there was to be a battle, but there's a different +person now." + +A little in the rear of the crazy machinist was a Martian +enveloped in a scarlet cloak, which hung from his shoulders to +the ground. And fastened on his head to the golden circlet, +which seemed to be a common badge of office for all leading +Martians, was a small metal box. + +"I believe that box has Cardite in it," said Jack. "Maybe he's +the keeper of all the Cardite on this planet, and he and his +soldiers have come to get it back." + +"They don't look like soldiers," commented Mark. + +"No; but they all have some sort of weapons," said Jack. "They +look like sticks with small boxes of Cardite on the end of them. +They must be a new kind of gun." + +"And probably very effective, too," commented the professor. +"But they are evidently going to hold a parley with us. The +machinist and the Martian in the scarlet cloak are advancing +alone." + +The main body of Martians had come to a halt a short distance +away from the projectile, while the two strange figures, so +greatly contrasted--that of the insane man and the little +officer-advanced together. + +"Open the window to hear what they say," suggested Mr. Henderson, +and the German scientist did so. + +"Hello, you in there!" called the machinist. + +"Well, what do you want?" asked Mr. Henderson. + +"We want you to come out and be killed. I'm going to pay you +back for all the trouble you caused me. I couldn't wreck your +airship that you stole from me, but I'll have my revenge now. +These little fellows will do whatever I say, and I want you to +come out and be killed." + +"Suppose we refuse?" + +"Then we'll make you! Oh, they've got the power to, all right. +I'm going to be their king next week, and they'll do anything I +say. Come on out!" + +"I'm afraid we shall have to decline," answered the professor. + +The machinist began a rambling talk, and the scarlet-cloaked +figure stepped forward. He spoke slowly, using simple words in +the Martian tongue, such as he knew the travelers could +understand. + +"My name is Zun Flor," he began. "I am the keeper of the +Cardite, and I am told by one of my assistants that you have +taken some." + +"Well?" asked Mr. Roumann. + +"You must return it at once. It is against our laws for +strangers to have any of the Cardite." + +"But we came here to get it. We only took a little, and you have +so much." + +"That makes no difference. You must return it at once, and then +you must go away. We do not want you here." + +"Suppose we refuse?" + +"Then you will perish! Be warned in time. Give up the Cardite, +and take your departure." + +"What will happen if we do not?" + +"You and your machine shall vanish from this planet and never +more be seen. We cannot have any of our precious Cardite taken +away to another world." + +"We have only taken a little," repeated Mr. Roumann. "We desire +it for scientific purposes, and as you are so fond of science, +you ought to let us keep it." + +"Give it back!" exclaimed Zun Flor, and he seemed to be very +angry. His big, bulging eyes flashed. "Return it to me, and all +will be forgiven." + +"We will not!" declared Mr. Roumann firmly. + +"Then we shall attack you!" + +"And we shall defend ourselves. Now, let me warn you. We have +powerful forces within this projectile. We will use them against +you and your men." + +"You cannot harm us," insisted the Martian in the red cloak. +"Your machines of war will be powerless against those we have. +Be warned in time. You must choose between the Cardite and +death!" + +"We will keep the Cardite, and we will also keep our lives!" +retorted the German. + +He slammed the glass window shut with a bang, and locked it. +Then he closed an inner shutter of steel over it. + +"We, can't see what's going on, and what they do," objected Jack. + +"Yes, we can," said Mr. Roumann. + +He pressed a lever, and a shutter made of strong steel slats, +that was on the plate-glass window of the projectile, opened. +This gave a view all about the Annihilator. + +This done, the ports covering the muzzles of the electric cannons +were let down, and four guns, two on either side, were aimed at +the throng of Martians. + +"They are going to fire, or something!" exclaimed Jack, as he +looked outside. "They are pointing those sticks at us!" + +Instantly every one in the projectile felt as if a thousand pins +and needles were sticking into him. + +"They're discharging an electric current, or something like it, +at us!" cried Professor Henderson. + +A moment later every one felt himself drawn against one side or +the other of the projectile, just as a magnet draws steel filings +to itself through a piece of cardboard. + +"They're trying to pull us through the steel sides!" cried Mark. +"I can't move." + +Neither could any one else. They were stuck there like flies on +the wall. + +"Maybe they are going to keep us here forever!" cried old Andy, +while Washington was too frightened to use any big words. + +Mr. Roumann was near some levers. He managed to pull one, and +instantly those in the projectile felt themselves free. + +"How did you do that?" asked Mr. Henderson. + +"I neutralized the electric current," explained the German. "I +anticipated that in our flight through space we might meet with +electric storms. I provided so that in such a case I could throw +a counter current of electricity all about the projectile. That +is what happened just now, though not exactly as I expected it. +I have rendered their weapons useless--at least, for the time +being." + +"And we can now try ours on them!" cried Jack. + +"Exactly! Get ready to fire the electric cannons!" called Mr. +Roumann. + +The Martians seemed to understand that something had gone wrong. +They were running about, consulting among themselves, and +pointing to the projectile. The figure in red and the machinist +were talking earnestly together. + +"He's probably telling them something about the machinery," said +Jack. + +"Man the guns!" cried Mr. Henderson. + +He and the German were at the cannon on one side, and Jack and +Mark on the other. + +"Fire!" shouted Mr. Roumann, pulling the lever that worked the +weapon. The others did likewise. There was a flash of sparks +from the muzzles of the guns, and a powerful and disabling, +though not deadly, current of electricity shot toward the +Martians. + +Score after score of the queer creatures went down, among the +first to fall being the machinist and Zun Flor. + +"Once more!" cried Mr. Roumann, and another volley was sent out, +stunning hundreds. + +Then came a third one, but this was enough. The remaining +Martians, leaving their helpless comrades on the ground, turned +and fled. + +"We've driven them away!" cried Jack. + +"For a time, at least," answered Professor Henderson gravely. +"But I think they will come back." + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +THE ESCAPE--CONCLUSION + + +Nor was the professor mistaken. In less than an hour the +Martians returned, in larger numbers than before, and, while the +first throng had seemed to consist of only soldiers or police, +the next attack was made by thousands of men, women and children. +They all seemed anxious to destroy, the strangers. + +Those who had been disabled by the electric guns revived, and +were able to crawl away, but they were too weak to resume the +attack. + +"Well, we'll have to shoot at them again," observed Jack, as he +and the others noted that the attack was to be resumed. + +"Let 'em have it!" cried Mr. Roumann. + +Once more the electric cannons were fired, and thousands fell at +each discharge of the powerful current. + +But, in their turn, the Martians brought into use new weapons. +First they hurled great rocks and chunks of lead at the +projectile, but, as the missiles weighed only a third as much as +they would have done on the earth, they only dented the heavy +steel sides. + +Finding that this would not answer, the little people created +clouds of noxious gases, that swirled around the projectile like +a fog. But this was harmless, as the adventurers could shut +themselves in tightly, and breathe air of their own making. The +gases had no more effect on them than did the ether through which +they had traveled through space. + +Meanwhile, the electric cannons were constantly being fired, and +the ranks of the attackers were constantly being thinned. But, +ever as the Martians fell, new ones arrived to take their places. +They seemed determined to drive the newcomers off the planet or +destroy them. + +There was a lull in the fighting. The Martians seemed to be +waiting for something. At last a large crowd was observed coming +from the direction of the city. They carried great bundles of +wood and torches. + +"They're going to try to burn us out!" cried Jack. + +"Good land a' massy!" yelled Washington. "Let me go! I ain't +ready t' burn yet! No, indeedy!" + +With shouts the Martians piled fuel all about the projectile. +Then they set fire to it, and tongues of flame leaped up. + +"Don't be alarmed," said Mr. Roumann. "We have passed safely +through greater heat than they can produce. The gas in the +projectile will absorb all the heat." + +And this was exactly what happened. The flames had no effect on +the Annihilator, whereas the electric cannons continued to mow +down the Martians. + +The day was now well advanced, and the defenders were getting +tired and hungry, as well as apprehensive, for there seemed to be +no limit to the fury of the little people, and their scientific +knowledge was such that it was probably only a matter of time +before they would find a way to destroy the projectile. + +During a lull in the fighting, when the fire that had been +kindled died away, Washington White came around with some food he +had prepared. + +They felt better after the meal, but immediately there came a new +apprehension, for they saw that the Martians were digging a great +hole to one side of the projectile. + +"What can they be doing that for?" asked Andy. "Maybe they're +going to roll us into it," said Mark. + +"No," spoke Mr. Roumann, after watching the crowd at work, "I'm +inclined to think they're laying a mine, and are going to blow us +up." + +"Blow us up?" + +"Yes. They evidently have some explosive over there, to judge by +the manner in which they guard it." + +"Can we stand being blown up?" asked Jack. + +"I hardly think so. The projectile itself might not be harmed, +as it is very strong, but the machinery and motors would probably +be damaged." + +"Then what can we do?" + +"The only thing left for us to do is to escape." + +"Escape? You mean leave the projectile?" asked Mr. Henderson. + +"No, I mean escape in the Annihilator. There is no reason why we +should stay here any longer. We have what we came to seek, and +though I should like to make some further scientific observations, +we will have to forego them. We will start the atmospheric motor, +and leave Mars." + +"That's the stuff!" cried Jack. "Back to earth for ours! It's +nice up here, when you don't do something they don't like, but +the earth is good enough for me!" + +"That's what I say," added Mark. + +The Martians were hurrying their preparations to blow up the +projectile. Perhaps they guessed that they must act promptly, or +they may have had an intimation that something was going to +happen, when the ports of the electric cannons were closed. + +The shutter of the observation tower was sealed, all openings +were well fastened, and, just as the mine was completed and the +explosive was about to be put in, Mr. Roumann started the +atmospheric motor, and the projectile left Mars with a rush. + +Of course, the travelers could not see the blank looks of +astonishment on the great faces of the Martians, but they could +imagine them, as they shot away from the queer little planet at +the rate of sixty miles a second. + +"Well," remarked Mr. Roumann as he went to the pilot house, after +seeing that the motor was working well, "we got to the place we +set out for, and we secured some Cardite, which is what I wanted. +I am now able to repay you for building this projectile, +Professor Henderson, you need never worry about money again." + +"I'm glad of it, as I shall devote the remainder of my life to +science, and I may write a book about Mars." + +"Well, ob all de transmigatoriousness dat I eber seed," exclaimed +Washington, "de continual exteriorosity ob de inhabitants ob dat +planetary sphere am de mostest indisputatious!" Though what he +meant by that no one knew. But it seemed to give the colored man +great satisfaction. + +In due time they passed beyond the limits of the atmosphere of +Mars, and again were sailing through space, the Etherium motor +doing good work. Mr. Roumann tried some Cardite in it, and their +speed was increased by half, so they reached the atmosphere of +the earth in much shorter time than they calculated. + +They met with no mishaps, though they narrowly escaped collision +with a great meteorite that was rushing through space, white hot. + +"Well, in a few days we will be at home," remarked Mr. Roumann +one night, as he set the atmospheric motor in operation. "And I +must say I have greatly enjoyed the trip." + +"So have I," admitted Jack, and Mark agreed with him. + +"Maybe mah Shanghai rooster won't be glad t' git on terra cotta +again," spoke Washington. "I'se glad I didn't let him out on +Mars. Dem funny fellers might 'a' eat him up." + +The rooster crowed as if glad to be nearing the earth. + +Three days later they came in sight of their own planet, but as +night came on, and they did not want to land in the dark, the +projectile was kept up above until daylight, and a day later a +landing was made near the machine shed where the Annihilator had +been built. + +"Well, here we are, safe home again," said Mark. + +"All but the crazy machinist," added Jack. "I hope he likes it +up there among the Martians." + +"I wonder if we'll ever take another trip like this?" asked Andy. + +"Perhaps, some day," replied Mr. Roumann. + +"I have some other ideas regarding distant planets that I would +like to prove. But we'll take a rest, and see what use we can +make of the Cardite. I would also like to learn if my enemy, +Forker, sent that crazy machinist to bother me," but he never +found out. + +As the German had predicted, the red material brought back was +enormously valuable, and the projectile was more than paid for by +a small part of it. The boys resumed their studies at school, +and Professor Henderson devoted much of his time to writing a +book describing some of the peculiar conditions on Mars, while +Mr. Roumann invented a new motor to run with Cardite, he having +revealed the secret of the Etherium one to Professor Henderson. + +As for Washington White, he is learning new big words, while Andy +says he is glad to be back on a world where a bullet is a bullet +and a gun a gun. + + +THE END + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Through Space to Mars, by Roy Rockwood + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THROUGH SPACE TO MARS *** + +***** This file should be named 6717.txt or 6717.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/6/7/1/6717/ + +Produced by Sean Pobuda + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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