’Yes; so it was when we came to it. We have only been here a year or so.’ ’I see. Well, my master hoped to find the place still uninhabited, and that he would be able to hide the _Ivenia_ away here this time, as he did before, when no one upon the Earth was ever the wiser, save the one or two I have referred to. He had brought with him a yacht of his own. She made a bit of a stir, being unlike anything previously seen, but no one suspected the truth. In her he made a tour of the world, travelling about for three years, during which time he and his chosen companions picked up English, a little French, and so on. They also picked me up, and I also saved the king’s life, even as you have done, though in a different manner. He was so grateful for what I did that he told me his secret, and offered to enrol me in his service and take me back to Mars with him. I had nothing particular to tie me here, and I am fond of adventure, so I took him at his royal word. Now you can begin to understand how it is that I, an Englishman by birth, Kendal Monck by name, engineer by profession, happen to be here, in these days, in the suite of this great king from another planet, and talking to you in your own tongue!’ ’Yes, sir, I understand,’ answered Gerald, his face aglow with interest and excitement. ’It’s very, very wonderful! What strange, marvellous scenes and adventures you must have passed through!’ ’I have that, my lad! I have passed through many grave dangers too; have had many hair-breadth escapes in the service of my royal master, who is of a very adventurous disposition. His search after knowledge has led us into queer places, I can assure you. But he is a wonderful being! This marvellous airship was constructed from his own inventions and designs. And then, as a man—— Ah!’ Here the stranger drew a long breath. ’His is a character which makes you feel you would go through fire and water for him!’ ’I ’m sure of it!’ cried Gerald with enthusiasm. ’I felt it the first moment I set eyes upon him! How I should like to do as you have done—go with him to Mars and back! What an experience!’ ’Ah!’ exclaimed the engineer again, ’it would do you good, my lad. It would do anybody—everybody—good, physically, morally, in every way. It gives you a different, a more glorious, outlook on life when you realise that the mighty works of the Creator are not confined to this globe on which we live, but extend through endless "universes" in space. Even comparatively near us there are great planets compared with which this Earth is scarcely more than a big football. There is Saturn, for instance. When we were there’—— ’You have visited other planets, then, as well?’ Gerald gasped.