’That station we can seize this very night,’ Fumenta again declared. ’It is at a place called Crudia, some two hours’ journey from here, and, as I have already said, I happen to know that it is at the present moment weakly held. But we have no time to lose, for one of the first things Agrando will do will doubtless be to reinforce the garrison as a precaution. Extra men and airships may even now be on their way there, so if we desire to get there first we must hasten. Which of these airships will you choose, sir, to sail in yourself?’ Rapidly Fumenta ran over the list of their sizes and special characteristics. At the end of it, Ivanta decided that he would keep to his own yacht. ’My two yachts,’ he reminded his new friends, ’are, with the exception of my great vessel, the _Ivenia_, the fastest craft in the world. When they cannot fight they can always run away,’ he went on meaningly. ’It may sound strange, perhaps, to some of you to hear me talk thus of running away; but there are others doubtless among you who will understand my meaning. Of late years you have not seen much fighting in the air, but you may nevertheless be aware that in such warfare swiftness and quick manoeuvring often count for as much as size and numbers.’ The cheers which greeted this speech showed that his words were understood and their meaning appreciated; and the few remaining preparations were quickly completed. Half an hour later Ivanta and Alondra, in their respective yachts, sailed off at the head of a strong squadron of airships, all filled with crews of enthusiastic followers. *CHAPTER XXXVI.* *THE OLD WELL.* Like weird, gigantic night-birds the fleet of flying craft sailed onwards through the night. The two moons of Mars—to which our astronomers have given the names of Deimos and Phobos—were just then in sight at the same time. The former was near to setting, while the latter had but just risen. Together they were throwing a faint, mellow light over the landscape, dimly illuminating hill and dale, rocky height and sombre valley, slumbering villages and isolated dwellings, as they seemed to slip away beneath the swift, silent airships. Alondra was busy on board his yacht serving out tridents and shields and other necessary articles. ’You are forgetting me, Prince,’ Jack presently observed, after patiently waiting some time, and finding that he had been left out in the distribution. ’And me,’ Gerald put in. ’What have we done, friend Alondra, that we should be left out?’ Alondra looked perplexed. ’Well, you see,’ he said hesitatingly, ’you are our guests. It is not fair to you to call upon you to take part in our quarrels, or help in fighting our battles.’ ’Pooh, what nonsense!’ exclaimed Jack. ’Why, what new idea is this? You did not talk like it in the pavilion, when we had to defend ourselves.’