Cobb surveyed the vessel very carefully, examining every part, and looking at every detail of the mechanism of the machinery. The gas bag was critically inspected, and then the area of the deck measured. With a smiling, satisfied air, Cobb turned to Hugh, and said: "It rests with you, Hugh, whether this vessel take us to the north pole or simply makes a tour of the States." "You astonish me!" exclaimed Hugh. "You certainly will not ask me to make an attempt which others have declared impossible?" "I mean to ask you to do it," calmly replied the other. "But I certainly will not grant your request," with a decided movement of the head. "But you will not only grant my request, but you will, with me, reach the pole before a week has passed." There was a quiet, cool assurance in his words that gave Hugh a feeling that the man was not talking at random, but had some grand scheme in view, which, to him, gave promise of success. Feeling this to be the case, he framed his next words accordingly: "Tell me what you mean? How is this to be accomplished? Explain yourself." Without replying to the questions, Cobb simply asked: "Will you get the authority for a few simple changes in the construction of this vessel? Can you do this?" "Yes; I think I can; that is, if it is to improve the ship." "Then, get that permission, and have the changes made, a list of which I will give you this evening; they can be finished by day after to-morrow. Also, have 10,000 pounds of meteorite and 200 gallons of nitric acid put aboard the vessel, and 2,500 pounds of meteorite and fifty gallons of acid near at hand. Increase your supply of lipthalite sufficiently to run the engines twenty-five days." "But will you not be adding too much weight for buoyancy?" suggested Hugh. "How much will the hydrogen which is used to inflate that bag weigh?" asked Cobb, pointing to the folded envelope. "Well," replied Hugh, thinking a moment, "the capacity is two million cubic feet, and a cubic foot of air weighs nearly eight hundredths of a pound; that would give about 160,000 pounds. Assuming the specific gravity of air at one, that of hydrogen would be sixty-nine thousandths, and the weight about 11,000 pounds." "Correct," said Cobb, who had made a mental calculation of the weight. "Now I ask you to put on the vessel 12,000 pounds of meteorite and acid. Very well; if your ship can take care of 6,000 of these pounds, I will reduce the weight of the gas in the bag to 5,000 pounds, thus providing for the other 6,000 pounds." "But you cannot do it!" cried Hugh. "Hydrogen is the lightest gas known; you cannot reduce its weight." "I can." Cobb looked calmly into the face of his friend. "You, perhaps, think you can," insinuated Hugh. "I know I can," firmly replied the other. "Then the changes shall be made." "And day after to-morrow, at 12 dial, we sail for the north pole?" asked Cobb. "Is it to be so?" "As you wish, Junius."