*CHAPTER VII*
*OFF ON A TRIP TO MARS.*
'Our last morning upon the Earth, Jack, for many a day to come! Thinkof it! It scarcely seems possible, does it?'
'It's true enough, though, old chap! In a few hours we shall "sailaway," as the song says, and shall be winging our way through space!'
'Fancy gazing down and taking our last look at our own globe! Thedaring of the thing gives me a bit of a shock, now that the event itselfis so near at hand! How is it with you?'
'Well, I confess, Gerald, that I have to brace my mind up to it, as itwere. But it's always the same when you start upon a journey or a newadventure. One never exactly likes saying good-bye to the old familiarplaces.'
Many months had passed since the events recorded in the last chapter.King Ivanta had been to Europe and finished the business he had inhand--for it was generally understood, amongst those who knew of hispresence on the Earth, that he had come here on his second visit forsome definite purpose. What the purpose was remained for the present asecret confined to the Martian monarch himself and the few he chose totake into his confidence.
Amongst those who shared the secret Mr Armeath was probably one; for hehad grown high in favour with the illustrious traveller, and had beeninvited to accompany him in the forthcoming trip to Mars and back. Hehad also been accorded the privilege of taking with him his two wardsGerald and Jack, and his two servitors Tom Clinch and Bob Reid; and thelatter, loyal and faithful followers that they were, had not shrunk fromthe risks of the adventure.
There were some other passengers also--namely, Amos Zuanstroom themulti-millionaire (the well-known 'Diamond King'), his son Silas (whowas about the same age as Jack), and a much younger lad, named FreddyWhitcomb, his nephew.
Why King Ivanta should choose these particular persons from all themillions of inhabitants of the Earth was another matter which waswrapped in mystery, and which, for the time being, he kept strictly tohimself.
As the engineer Mr Monck had predicted, Gerald had good reason tocongratulate himself upon the fortunate chance which had enabled him torender so great a service to the Martian king. The latter had shownhimself extremely grateful, and had conferred upon the young fellow manymarks of his favour. In particular, he had confirmed the offer Mr Monckhad made, and had graciously extended it, as stated, to his guardian andhis chum.
And now, behold them all, then, on board the _Ivenia_, the colossal'chariot of the skies,' awaiting the moment when she should rise in theair and commence her tremendous journey.
She lay in a sort of natural harbour in the island, a spacioussalt-water lake almost landlocked.
From this she presently rose easily and smoothly, like a huge birdwending its way upwards in a series of graceful circles. Like a bird,too, she had at first enormous wings spread out to the air. But after atime, as she gained the upper air, these were folded away, the uppercovering was replaced, and she became once more the great, egg-shapedmass she had appeared when she had arrived beside the island. How,afterwards, she continued to force her way upwards against theattraction of the Earth, was King Ivanta's own secret. It was believedthat he had discovered a means of using the sun's more powerfulattractive force, and so controlling it as to make it do whatever herequired; but that was probably only a guess. What is certain is thatthe whole structure continued to rise steadily and smoothly upwards,till presently Gerald and Jack were called by Mr Armeath and theengineer, Mr Monck, to come to a sort of periscope, from which theycould take their last look at the Earth.
They stepped forward and stared through the opening in startled wonder.There, they saw our globe, looking like an enormous ball. The greatairship itself was perfectly steady, and appeared to be absolutelymotionless. Not a tremor was to be felt, and it seemed as though it wasthe Earth which was receding from them at a rapid rate, not they fromthe Earth. No longer, however, could they make out details upon itssurface; the distance was already too great. All they could distinguishwere the respective masses of land and water, broadly mapped and markedout as they are upon a school globe representing the Earth. The sidethey were looking at showed the New World--the great continents of Northand South America and the oceans surrounding them--and that was all.
Who shall attempt to describe their feelings, or guess their thoughts,as they stood there gazing at this strange appearance of the planet uponwhich they had lived all their lives? Probably they then for the firsttime fully realised the actual nature of the risks they were running;and it is more than likely that they were wondering whether they werelooking their last upon the Earth, as they watched it sinking silentlyaway into the immeasurable distance!