“It certainly is difficult to imagine how it can be accomplished, but going home ought not to be any more impossible than our coming here. Perhaps we had better bestir ourselves, for Mars is now getting farther away from the earth every day. Thorwald says the two planets were nearer each other at the recent opposition than ever before since their records began, and this is probably what drew our moon here, so fortunately for us. For the return trip we might get these generous people to loan us Demios or Phobos.” “What are they?” “Why, don’t you know? They are the little satellites of Mars, named after the favorite horses of the war god.” “But seriously now,” I asked, “how are we to get home?” “Well, seriously, I don’t know,” the doctor answered. “Some accident may happen to send us away from here in a hurry.” “You know this is not the right world for accidents,” I said. “I am not able to see,” he replied, “how they can be sure that they are entirely free from accidents. They have been so long without them that it seems to me it would not be strange if a big one should come almost any day. One must be due, as we say.” In the morning Thorwald met us with a pleasant greeting, as usual, and then said: “I have been surprised that you have not shown more curiosity on one subject of vast importance to us. You have not once asked to see our comet.” “We have talked of it by ourselves,” said the doctor, “but we have been too much engrossed in studying your history and customs to think much of a topic so far above our comprehension as the comet. Your civilization is much higher than we can appreciate, and I am sure we should make small progress in attempting to investigate a development that is so much beyond yours.” “Your excuse,” returned Thorwald, “is as complimentary as it is ingenious. But should you not like to see an object which possesses so much interest for us?” “Certainly,” the doctor made haste to reply; “and just as soon as you choose to take us. You told us it was at the door of a large city. Is it far from here?” “Yes,” Thorwald answered, “a long way in miles, but not far in minutes if we go by the tubular route. But if it is agreeable to you, suppose we take the air line and make a leisurely excursion of it.” We both assured him that we were delighted with the prospect, and I suggested that Zenith and the children should accompany us. “Yes,” said Thorwald, “and in anticipation of your consent to go on the expedition, I invited some other friends of yours last night to share the pleasure with us. And here they are now,” he continued, rising and stepping to the door.