Although I felt drowsy, I aroused myself with an effort and kept sharp eyes on the professor’s face. I do not think he was in earnest, but merely talking to see what effect his remarks would have on the three millionaires. "Corner, corner, corner," babbled Gilhooly; "make a corner, corner everything." Markham dropped his face in his hands, Meigs bowed his head, and I saw a shiver run through Popham. "Egad," muttered Popham, "this castle of yours, Quinn, is little short of a steel tomb. Inasmuch as we are safely interred, what’s the use of living? Gilhooly is the only fortunate one among us, for his reason is shattered and he cannot realize what he is facing." "You are talking less like a man, now, Popham," reproved Quinn, "than like a driveling idiot. While there’s life there’s hope. How many brilliant minds have been overthrown as a result of your manipulations of stock in Wall Street? How many bright futures have been wrecked by an adverse trend of the speculative market? Were those unfortunates any better off because thrust into madhouses and unable to realize the fate that had overtaken them? For shame, sir!" "You are perfectly sure, are you, professor," I struck in, attempting to give a more pleasant twist to the conversation, "that we shall come out all right in the end?" "I have my plans, Mr. Munn," he answered, not unkindly, "and the success or failure of them will depend largely upon the mental attitude of these gentlemen." This was too deep for me, and I cast about for some equally important question which would bring a less indefinite response. "Anyhow," said I, "we have plenty of food for a long journey? It would be a fearful thing to have a famine so—so many miles from a base of supplies." "The food supply, Mr. Munn," answered the professor, "is adequate. There will be no famine." "And the water, the oxygen, the——" "I have looked after everything necessary to our safety and comfort." I had confidence in Quinn. He had shown that he was an able man, and that his promises were to be taken at face value. With a sigh of relief, I settled back in tolerable comfort. Meigs took the role of questioner out of my hands at this point, and, although I was eager to hear all that was said, "tired nature’s sweet restorer" got the better of my curiosity and I fell asleep on the bale. *CHAPTER VI.* *A LANDING EFFECTED.* It is not my purpose to cumber this narrative with the smaller details of our journey, novel and thrilling though some of them proved to be. It is with our experiences on the planet which finally claimed us that this account has mostly to do, so I shall glide over intermediate incidents in a somewhat cursory manner. Our faculties, keyed to an understanding of earthly conditions only, found themselves continually at bay; and at nothing did they stand more aghast than at the lightning-like speed with which we shot through space.