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But I think we have seen enough for the present, so we'll stay in the rest of the day and plan for farther trips." "Aren't we going to look for those diamonds?" asked Jack, who had almost fully recovered from his recent experience. "Oh, yes, we will look around for them," assented Mr. Roumann. "I think, after a day or so, we will move our projectile to another part of the moon.
"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.
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.
Roumann. "And could we go farther than to the moon if we wanted to?" inquired the bandaged figure mumblingly. "Farther? What do you mean?" asked Professor Henderson quickly. "I mean could we go to Mars if we wanted to?" "You don't mean to say you want to go back there, and run the chance of being attacked by the savage Martians, do you?" asked Jack.
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.
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.
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.
"Are we going to move any faster than this?" asked Jack, who seemed possessed of a speed mania. "Not right away," replied Mr. Henderson. "Professor Roumann wants to thoroughly test the Cardite motor first. Then, when he finds that it works all right, we may go faster. But we will be at the moon soon enough as it is.
"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.
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."
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