proceeds along the regular course, making no stops until it reaches the
mineral station where it takes a new supply of the various kinds of
metals necessary for manufacturing and for all other purposes.

Then perchance it passes a city or two that is lying in dock for trade
purposes. The next stop will be at one of the several tropical stations
where a fresh supply of fruits is purchased and a number of vehicles
sold or delivered.

After this the city passes several apparel cities moored to an immense
dock, taking on board large bales of a cotton-like substance used in
making texture.

So continues the interesting journey along a safe route mapped out
centuries before. Storms arise, of course, but what harm can they do
except to send the ponderous waves dashing against the bulwarks of the
city and rock it gently, all of which becomes so familiar that no one
thinks of these things as serious barriers to the floating-city life.

Perhaps in one tour of four hundred days thirty stops are made. You may
wonder how these huge floats are stopped and started. This is
accomplished by a series of border propellors which can be put into
service at any time if speed is desired or contrary winds are
encountered.

These cities have done much to civilize the darker races of Plasden. The
manufacturing floats, coming into contact with the shores of all lands,
naturally have an uplifting influence on its peoples, some of whom go on
board to learn trades.