early, for at the last moment many little details needed to be settled.
The Cardite motor had been thoroughly repaired, for the damage caused
by the unknown enemy had done no permanent harm.

When the injured one appeared the bandage on his head seemed larger
than ever, and his features were almost hidden. He still wore his arm
in a sling.

"Well, how do you feel?" asked Jack, looking narrowly at the figure. He
could not get rid of a suspicion that something was wrong with Mark.

"Oh, I'm feeling pretty fair," was the mumbled answer. "I didn't sleep
much, though."

"Well, take care of yourself," advised Jack. "We are about ready to
start. We'll get off about noon, Professor Henderson says. Don't try to
do anything and injure your broken arm. You certainly had a tough time
of it."

"Yes, I guess I did. I can't do much to help you."

"You don't need to. We're all but finished. Just hang around and watch
me work. There isn't much to do."

But though Jack gave an invitation to remain near him, the other seemed
to prefer being off by himself. He wandered in and out of the
projectile, now and then helping Andy or Washington to carry light
objects into the _Annihilator_. But all the while he was careful not to
disturb the bandage on his face, and several times he stopped to
readjust it. Nor did he talk much, which Jack ascribed to his statement