Nodding their thanks to the now obsequious gateman, the two scientists hurried up the ladder that had been dropped for them; again came the shouted "Cast off," and the huge liner, impelled by powerful motors, rose rapidly to the high altitude at which she traveled. "Message for you, sir," said a pleasant voice at Holden's elbow, and he turned. A neatly uniformed boy held out to him a thin envelope. Breaking the seal, he read rapidly. "Will you show us in to the Captain, please," he addressed the boy as he finished the message. The lad nodded, and led them down a long hall to the bow of the ship and up to the bridge. "Mr. Holden, I presume? And Professor Erickson? I am Captain Linet." The Captain was an immense man, well over six feet, with the build of a prizefighter. His face was pleasant, but there was an expression of intense sorrow in his deep blue eyes. "I understand that you have been appointed to head an expedition to the moon, the nature of which has not been revealed, but which will do away forever with the earthquakes which have become so prevalent. I wish to join that expedition. My beloved wife was in New York at the time of the last quake. You understand." Holden nodded sympathetically. He would be glad to have all the men like this he could find, and he expressed that opinion to the Captain. "Thank you. I will resign my position when we reach San Francisco, and will await your orders." "But, Captain," Holden asked, "how did you know that I was head of the expedition?" "Oh, the news has been broadcast everywhere, with instructions to give you any aid possible. But no information was given as to the exact nature of the trip. Could I be trusted--?" "Why certainly. We are going to destroy the moon, wipe it out of existence, so that it will cease to exert the tremendous gravitational pull that has been causing--." At that moment a petty officer appeared behind the Captain. "Have you any further orders concerning the cargo to be dumped at New Orleans?" "No. I thought I gave you to understand that there were to be no more additions to that cargo. Didn't you hear me?" "I beg your pardon, sir," the man said, and walked away. "I wonder how much of our conversation he heard?" mused Erickson. "But then, I suppose it makes no difference." After a few minutes of conversation, Holden asked the Captain if they could be shown their cabins, so that they could get a few hours of rest before reaching their destination. The request was readily granted, and in a few minutes Holden was alone in a neat little room, furnished with a comfortable chair, tables along two walls, and a very pleasant looking berth built into the third side. The professor had a similar place a few doors down the hall.