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Through Space to Mars

R >> Roy Rockwood >> Through Space to Mars




"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 d-at 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

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