about thirty-six millions of miles from the sun at its nearest
point, the closest it ever comes to the earth is fifty-seven
millions of miles, while, as I told you, Mars is now but thirty-five
millions of miles away, a difference in favor of Mars of
twenty-two millions of miles, quite a distance when one has to
travel it. Neptune, the farthest of the major planets, is two
billion eight hundred millions of miles from the sun, and it is
separated from this earth by--"

"By two billion seven hundred and eight million miles," said Mark
quickly.

"How do you make that out?" asked Jack in some surprise.

"By subtracting ninety-two millions of miles, which is the
distance from the earth to the sun, from the number of miles
Neptune is away from the sun," said Mark.

"That's right," admitted Mr. Henderson. "You're very quick at
figures, Mark."

"Well, let's get to Mars," said Jack. "Maybe Andy can find some
new kind of game there."

"Me? I'm not going to any place so many millions of miles away
from here," answered the old hunter, looking up from his plate.
"It's good enough hunting here."

"Wait until you see," said Mr. Roumann with a smile. "I expect
to find many marvels on Mars."