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."