We took an electric carriage to the station, and from there went by the
tubular road to the metropolis. This was a great city whence there was
direct communication to all the principal centers of population on the
planet. As we had not been in any haste in making the changes necessary to
reach this stage of our journey, it was now late in the day, and I began
to wonder how we were to continue the trip without being out in the night.
When I mentioned my thought to Thorwald, he removed the difficulty in a
moment by saying:

"We simply travel west and leave the night behind us. You know the surface
of Mars, even at the equator, goes east at the rate of only five hundred
miles an hour, and as our modern cars take us much faster than that, it is
easy for us to keep ahead of the night by going in the right direction. So
in making long trips we try to travel west."

"But suppose you want to go east?"

"Then we go west to get east, and we arrange the speed so as to get to our
destination in the day-time."

We left our car and found another just ready to start for the distant city
in which our observatory was situated. It was a small car comparatively,
and we had it all to ourselves. There were all sorts of conveniences in
it, and we composed ourselves for a good rest. After a ride of several
hours we reached our destination. It was now about noon, so that we had
actually made nearly half a day, besides the time spent in sleep while
riding. I know some of my friends on the earth, who say the day is too
short for them, would appreciate such an improvement as that if they could
have it.