"We have many good observatories," continued Thorwald, speaking to the
doctor and me, "some of which are noted for one line of study and some for
another. The one that has given the most attention to observing the earth
and that has the best instruments for that work is situated on the other
side of our planet."

"Then, of course," said I, "we will choose one nearer home for our visit."

"Why so?" asked Thorwald. "It is always wise to get the best when you
can."

"Yes, but we do not want you to take the time and trouble to make a
journey half around your world just because I said I would like to see the
earth."

"Oh, our time is yours, and we will not make trouble of it; we will call
it a pleasure trip. We may as well take the children, Zenith; they will
enjoy it. How soon can you all be ready?"

"In five minutes," answered Zenith.

"Then we had better get off at once," said Thorwald.

And without further words this remarkable family scattered to different
parts of the house and in five minutes were ready to begin a journey of
five or six thousand miles, and the only reason they did not start at once
was that the doctor and I were not quite so expeditious. We were soon on
our way, however, having locked no doors behind us and leaving everything
just as if we were to return in an hour.