telescope in their observatory.

My listeners were indeed amazed and were about to pour upon me a volley
of interrogations. I assured them that I would answer no more questions
until I knew whether my request would be granted.

This necessitated a consultation with the chief astronomer who, upon
learning of my peculiar request and of my unnatural formation, hastened
to the museum to see the monstrosity.

I knew from what I had previously learned that this gentleman was the
greatest living astronomer on Jupiter. He peered at me in the cage and
was dumfounded. He exchanged a few sentences with the professor and
again turned to me:

"At what time do you want the telescope?" he asked.

"Immediately."

"You shall have it, just to satisfy our curiosity," he said as he
hastened from the room.

I heard the professor caution him strictly to tell no one of my
presence, so as to avoid a rush from the student ranks.

In less than an hour I stood at the side of the largest telescope in our
Solar System, watching the deepening shadows of night as they fell upon
Jupiter.

[Illustration: Viewing Our Earth from Jupiter.]