pounds weight falling from this height--10,000 feet--would reach the earth at the end of the twenty-fifth second, and would have, at that moment, a velocity of 802 feet per second." "There would not be much resemblance to a human being left," ejaculated Hugh, intently interested, and looking over the rail as if he already saw the body falling toward the earth. "No." Cobb shook his head in a decided manner. "No; I should say not. The body would strike the earth with a force of 146,000 foot pounds per second, and would become but a shapeless, pulpy mass." He ceased speaking a moment, as if lost in thought, then quickly added: "But enough of this subject. Let us take a turn on the forward deck, and then retire to the cabin." The two men moved forward, and crossed to the starboard side of the Orion. Here the air was a trifle warmer, or, rather, the wind caused by their forward movement was less strong and piercing. The great perpendicular rudders of the vessel were inclined two degrees to the left to overcome the northern currents, which came strong and cold. It was now 21 dial, and the earth below seemed covered by a black pall. Around them were silence and darkness. No moon was visible, and the gloom below was only relieved by the beautiful sky, with its thousands of twinkling stars above them. Stopping at the rocket box, just to the right of the rudder chains, Cobb laid his hand upon the rail, and gazed fixedly into the depths below; and then, raising his eyes toward the horizon, he pointed his finger forward, and exclaimed: "Hugh, what are those bright lights away off in the ocean, and this one, almost under us?" Hugh looked in the direction indicated, and also leaned over the rail, and noted a beautiful, brilliant light almost underneath the Orion. Hesitating a moment, he cried: "Why, Junius, those are the Atlantic stations. We can see one--two--three of them. Yes, I am sure; and there is one behind us," pointing to a light directly in their rear. "Yes, they are the stations. That one behind us must be the first one, and this underneath, the second, from Newfoundland; that would agree with our position, which, I take it, is about a hundred miles east of the land." "Atlantic stations! Do you mean that these lights are on stationary vessels in the ocean?" asked Cobb, intently gazing at the bright lights. "Yes; those are ocean stations for the relief of distressed vessels and shipwrecked people. You see the lights; this one under us, and the one toward the west, and those two to the east. Ah! there is another! see it? away down on the horizon. That makes five. By Jove! I doubt if ever before five of these lights have been seen at the same time by one person!" with a pleased expression on his face.