The article went on to detail, to the extent of some eight or ten pages, the main features of the exploration. Hill, however, did not stop to read it all just then. He looked up, his thoughts flying to the strange scene in the room up-stairs. "What are they doing--recuperating?" "Not exactly." Mrs. Kinney was a little disappointed. "Here--let me point out the paragraph." And she ran a finger down the column until it indicated this line: Among other things they have learned how to visit other worlds without themselves leaving their planet. They do this by a kind of telepathy. "That's the explanation," Mrs. Kinney said quietly. Hill fairly blinked when he read the paragraph. "They are trying out one of the Venusian experiments?" "Of course; you know the doctor. He couldn't resist the temptation. And I must say the others are just as bad. "Mr. Smith is quite as much interested as Mr. Van Emmon. Mr. Smith is an electrical engineer; the other man is a geologist, and a very adventurous spirit. As for Mrs. Van Emmon--" "But this account mentions"--Hill referred to the magazine--"'E. Williams Jackson.' Who was he?" "She--not he. Mrs. Van Emmon now; she used to be an architect. She had the other three fooled for ten days; she passed herself off as a man!" But Hill was too absorbed in the general strangeness of the affair to note this amazing item. He again glanced at the article, opened his mouth once or twice as though to ask a question, thought better of it each time, and finally got to his feet. "Let me have this?" referring to the magazine. Mrs. Kinney handed over the rest of the collection. "I am sure the doctor would want you to read them. I remember he said, just before they started away, that he wished you could have gone with him." "Did he?" much pleased. Hill made some affectionate remark, under his breath about "the star-gazing old fraud"; then, evidently in a hurry to get off by himself and read, he made his excuses and left the house. Mrs. Kinney returned to the book she had been reading, glanced at the clock, and noted that it was almost at the hour, previously agreed upon, that she should arouse the four up-stairs. She put the book down and started toward the stairs. At that instant a large gong sounded in the hall. In the study up-stairs, the doctor's hand moved away from a pushbutton. He stirred in his chair; and as he did so, the other three awakened. First Van Emmon, then "Billie," his wife, and lastly the engineer. Next second all four were sitting bolt upright, and looking at each other eagerly. II BACK ON EARTH "Talk about results!" Billie was first to speak. "Why--where do you suppose I found myself? Out in mid-ocean, in a small boat, with the spray flying into my--that is, into the face of--" She broke off, confused. "Your agent?" the doctor put in. All Billie could do was to nod; Van Emmon was bursting to talk.