Instantly everybody rushed to the laboratory, to find that though no one was injured much damage had been done to the apparatus, and on inquiry it transpired that Gilbert had prepared to obtain a sample of the outer air for analysis, and knowing that the pressure must be so much greater—inconceivably greater—than Earth-minds could estimate, he had provided a specially thick box, sheeted and clamped with strong steel, and had placed this over the net-covered valve, specially designed for such purposes, when, the instant the valve was opened, the accident occurred. Whether it was the enormous pressure outside, or the composition of the outer air which burst the box, could not be told, but it had been blown to little pieces and the air was filled with dry and acrid fumes, some of which were collected for examination. By a miracle Gilbert was unhurt, and he picked up several pieces of the broken box and handed them round. So great had been the pressure and so fierce the heat that in the momentary opening and closing of the valve, the vapour collected in that short time had completely destroyed what had been deemed a fireproof casing and fused the steel shell almost through before the explosion, which Gilbert said was instant. Although there were more of these boxes, it was decided that for their general safety they would sample no more outer air, for the present, at least. The gas which had been collected was soon found to have been metals in tenuous vapour, and now carbon and metallic dust in very fine division. It seemed most remarkable that although only a small quantity of vapour had entered, there should be so great a residue of this dust, for almost everything in the room was covered with the fine, impalpable powder. On analysis, this powder was proved to contain many of the metallic and other elements found on Earth and others at present unknown; all the deposit was carefully collected and stored in sealed jars for more searching analysis later.