“Fact,” put in Professor Palmer. “Could have done much better than that, but didn’t want to heat up the _Sphere_ uncomfortably by excessive air friction.” Henry looked very much as if he thought he might be the victim of a little spoofing. Such wild claims, uttered so coolly, confused him and aroused his natural skepticism. Robert resumed his narrative, with a touch of pardonable pride. Behind him Jarvis stood spellbound, mouth half open, drinking in every word. “So we flew over to New York, Boston and Baltimore, and looked them over. Great sport. We became so interested that twilight was upon us before we had given it a thought. “It was pretty dark by the time we got back this way. We forgot, too, that the sun is visible considerably longer from a great height than it is from the earth’s surface. “The result was that we could not find our way back here in the dark, without lights to guide us. So after a fruitless attempt, we gave up and landed in a large field. There we stayed until dawn, when, upon ascending again, we discovered that we were only a couple of miles from here.” “Moral: Carry a searchlight, and ye shall find,” contributed the professor. “And some sandwiches,” added Robert, returning to his interrupted attack upon the bacon and eggs. 7 The following weeks were crowded ones for the Palmer household. The account of the _Sphere_ and the activities at the laboratories were quickly connected by the sharp newspaper world, and acknowledged by Professor Palmer. A deluge of newspaper reporters followed. The first were a diversion; the rest quickly became a nuisance. Once more did journalistic imagination run wild. Though both Robert and the professor refused to commit themselves on the subject, the Palmer-Margard feud was revived, colored with a wealth of imaginary data concerning prospective trips to Mars in the _Sphere_. The _Sphere_ was photographed and sketched countless times, as were Professor Palmer and Robert. Even Henry came in for a share of publicity. But the professor had long since determined to attempt the trip to Mars in the _Sphere_. With this in mind he set about mastering the intricacies of its apparatus. The prospect of venturing into the unknown regions beyond the Earth’s attraction is not one that appeals to the faint-hearted. Even Professor Palmer frequently had moments of indecision when he all but decided to drop the project. It would be so easy, reasoned his weaker self, to drop the matter entirely. The _Sphere’s_ scope on the Earth was sufficient to make them both a vast fortune, and to bring them great fame. Nevertheless, he remained stedfast in his decision in spite of the advice and warnings of his friends, which were anything but reassuring. He was willing to be a martyr for the possible enlightenment of the world. It was Robert, though, who strengthened the professor’s determination, for he insisted upon accompanying him on the unusual journey.