"Yes, or I shouldn't go. But I can't have much comfort if I don't have my meals right, for I can't cook very well, and as for Jack and Mark--" "Hu! Dem boys can't cook wuff a cent. Is dey gwine t' go 'long?" "We sure are," answered Jack. "Hu! Den I 'spects I'se got t' go," said the colored man, scratching his head in perplexity. "I can't let de perfesser go alone, wid nobody t' do his cookin' fer him. Well, I'll go, but--but I'se mighty skeered, jest de same." "You needn't be, Washington," said Mr. Henderson kindly. "We will be perfectly safe in the Annihilator, and when we get to Mars I am sure you will like it there." "I've got to, wedder I does or not," said Washington simply. "Well, t' t'ink ob me seein' dis work goin' on, day after day, an' me nebber suspectin' dat yo' was goin' on sech a transmigatory flight in de direction ob an interplanetary sphere what transmits effulgent rays transversely an' pyritiferilously changes 'em inter crimson light most advantageously." "I guess you're all right now, after getting that out of your system," observed Mark. It was two days after this that Jack and Mark, who were working in the shop with Mr. Roumann, suddenly heard him utter a cry. "Has anything happened?" called Jack, dropping his tools and hastening to the engine-room, where the scientist was. "Yes!" cried the German. "What?" He was pacing rapidly up and down the contracted space, waving a piece of metal above his head. Jack thought he might have hurt himself. "I have discovered what was the matter with my Etherium motor!" exclaimed Mr. Roumann. "I didn't bend this piece of metal properly. That was why the machine did not work satisfactorily. Now it is all right. We can start in a week." "That's good!" said Mark, who had joined his chum. "Are you sure it will work now, Mr. Roumann?" "Quite sure. But we will have a test to make certain. Send Professor Henderson here, Please." The other scientist came from the house, and the test was made. To the delight of all the Etherium motor worked perfectly. The slight adjustment of the piece of metal had been all that was needed. "Now we can get ready to leave in a week," repeated the German enthusiastically. In fact, the projectile was finished, and all that was necessary was to put in the stores and some supplies, turn on the power, and they would be off through space. The actual starting of the Annihilator was, of course, to be left entirely to Mr. Roumann. He had not disclosed to his companions the secret of the force that was to make it move, nor had he told them how to work the Etherium and atmospheric motors. He would start the machinery in operation, and he had promised to show the professor and the boys how to control it, but the secret of the wonderful power he kept to himself. "I think we can let the two machinists go now," said Mr. Henderson at the conclusion of the tests. "We shall not need them any more if we are almost ready to start."