"Did you cotch it, Mistah Sudds?" asked Washington anxiously.

"I didn't 'cotch' it," answered Andy with a grin. "I killed it.
I guess the chickens will be safe now, Wash. But I'm hungry.
I've been hiding out there by the chicken coop all the afternoon.
But what brings you boys back from college?"

"We came home because we are going to take a trip to Mars,"
explained Jack.

"Mars! Mars! Good land! Where'll you folks go next?" exclaimed
Andy. "Wash, pass me some of that cold ham."

"You said you would tell us now how we were to get there, Mr.
Roumann," said Jack, who was anxious, as was Mark, to hear the
particulars.

"And so I will," replied the scientist. "You must know that I
have long been interested in the planet Mars, for several
reasons. Some reasons I will tell you now, and the others I will
disclose at a future time."

"Mars, you know, is the fourth major planet, computing their
positions in distance from the sun. First there is Mercury,
then--"

"I know," interrupted Jack; "Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars,
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. I learned them at school."

"That's right," said Mr. Roumann. "But, while Mercury is only